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    The Best Red Wines of 2022

    By: Jon Thorsen Published: December 16, 2022 Last Updated: March 3, 2023

    Another year has passed which means it's time to release our list of The Best Red Wines of 2022!

    For the 2022 list, which is a combination of both the absolute best tasting wines we had this year as well as those with the most extreme value, we haven't strictly limited ourselves to wines under $20, although almost all of our selections land there.

    And once again, we tasted so much great wine the past year that it is extremely hard to narrow this list down to just 10 wines. That means there are LOTS of great wines that didn't make this list -- check out our other "Best Of" lists for those.

    Covering a number of different varieties and styles, there's something for everyone on our list of The Best Red Wines of 2022. Let's get to it!

    10) Revelation Cabernet-Merlot – An Eye-Opener 

    Revelation Cabernet-Merlot – An Eye-Opener

    Your daily drinking options just got a whole lot better.

    This Bulk Buy blend of 55% Cabernet and 45% Merlot makes a return to our Top 10 list and it's easy to see why with its excellent taste and $6.99 price tag from Trader Joe's.

    Read the full review and check out more of the Best Wines From Trader Joe's.

    9) Nino Negri Quadrio Valtellina Superiore - A Beauty of a Wine

    Nino Negri Quadrio Valtellina Superiore - A Beauty of a Wine

    Value-priced Nebbiolo.

    A Barolo like wine without the Barolo like price tag. A beautiful Bulk Buy rated wine from the Valtellina region in Lombardy, Italy on the slopes of the Alps.

    Read the full review and find check out the rest of our favorite wines from Italy.

    8) Kirkland Signature Bordeaux Superieur - A Bordeaux Bargain From Costco

    Kirkland Signature Bordeaux Superieur - A Bordeaux Bargain From Costco

    Quite the find at only $6.99!

    60% Cabernet and 40% Merlot aged 12 months in French oak and it is only $7? Smooth, juicy and with some decent aging potential too, you can't ask for much more at this low price.

    Read the full review and check out more of our favorite Kirland Signature wines as well as all our favorite finds from Costco.

    7) Trader Joe's Grand Reserve Barossa Shiraz Lot 109

    Trader Joe's Grand Reserve Barossa Shiraz Lot 109 Review

    A fine find from down under via Trader Joe's!

    This is not your typical grocery store Shiraz. Meaty and delicious, this is a wonderful wine.

    Read the full review and check out more of the Best Wines From Trader Joe's.

    6) Kirkland Signature Brunello di Montalcino – True To Form

    Kirkland Signature Brunello di Montalcino – True To Form

    A new producer and a new price turn out to be a very good combination...

    Tasty Brunello under $20! Enough said...

    Read the full review and check out more of our favorite Kirland Signature wines as well as all our favorite finds from Costco.

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    5) Marietta Old Vine Red Lot Number 73

    Marietta Old Vine Red Lot Number 73 Review

    A widely available, multi-vintage blend that lives up to the hype.

    Made predominantly from Zinfandel, this is a delicious, cohesive joy to drink. It also makes a fantastic cheeseburger wine. Best of all, it's widely available for as low as $12.

    Read the full review and check out more of favorite red blends here.

    4) Peterson Winery Tollini Vineyard Zero Manipulation Red - Honestly Delicious

    2017 Peterson Winery Tollini Vineyard Zero Manipulation Red

    This single vineyard, dry-farmed, naturally made beauty gets a Perfect 10 Taste rating and one of our highest overall scores ever!

    A blend of 68% old vine Carignane, 27% Grenache and 5% Syrah aged 31 months in neutral oak barrels that is so rich and full of flavor that it makes you wonder what's wrong with a lot of the other wines you've been tasting. This wine is currently available in our Insider Deals All Stars Intro Pack.

    Read the full review and check out our other Insider Deals here.

    3) El Enemigo Cabernet Franc - Substantial

    El Enemigo Cabernet Franc - Substantial

    A wine you can really sink your teeth into!

    The latest vintage of the deep, dark and absolutely delicious El Enemigo Cabernet Franc knocks it out of the park once again, especially at the Costco price.

    Read the full review and find the rest of our favorite wines from Argentina here.

    2) Onesta Cinsault – Scintillating Cinsault From 131 Year-Old Vines

    2017 Onesta Cinsault

    My goodness I love this wine.

    Drink a little bit of history with a wine made from the oldest Cinsault vineyard in the world, the incredible 131 year-old vines of the Bechthold Vineyard! (And it was 50% off through our Insider Deal!)

    Read the full review and check out our other Insider Deals.

    1) The Messenger Adelaide Hills Cabernet - Spectacular

    2019 The Messenger Adelaide Hills Cabernet Sauvignon

    Our #1 Wine Of The Year!

    A stunning, perfect 10 Cabernet (with a bit of our absolute favorite variety, Sagrantino, blended in) this wine comes from some of the most sought-after grapes in all of Australia. It's the 2019 Messenger Adelaide Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 614 from the famed Block 1A of the Amadio Kersbrook Vineyard.

    Read the full review and check out our other Insider Deals.

    And that's it for the 2022 list!

    Looking for white wines and rosés? Check out our Top 10 White and Rosé list here!

    Curious which wines made the list of the best red wine in previous years? Check out the results below.

    The 2021 Top 10 Red Wines:

    10) Andis Wines Barbera d'Amador - Deliciously Delicious

    9) Trader Joe's Grand Reserve Napa Valley Meritage Lot 86 - Ripe and Ready

    8) Peterson Winery Tollini Vineyard Zero Manipulation Red - Honestly Delicious

    7) Substance Cabernet Sauvignon - A Stunner

    6) Bodega Garzon Tannat Reserve - Bring It On

    5) Scott Harvey Mountain Selection Barbera and Zin - Autobuy!

    4) Vite Colte La Luna e i Falo Barbera d’Asti Superiore - Excellent

    3) Trader Joe's Reserve Chalk Hill Merlot - The Quintessential Burger Wine?

    2) Kirkland Signature Brunello di Montalcino – True To Form

    1) Stolpman Vineyards Para Maria Red Blend - Perfect


    The 2020 Top 10 Red Wines Under $20:
    10) Revelation Cabernet-Merlot – An Eye-Opener

    9) Allegrini Palazzo Della Torre – A True Italian Beauty

    8) g3 Cabernet Sauvignon - Gorgeous

    7) Kirkland Signature Cotes du Rhone Villages - A Whole Lot of Complexity For $7

    6) Amavi Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon – A Walla Walla Wonder

    5) Zuccardi Q Cabernet Franc - An Impressive Start

    4) Y Rousseau Tannat - Tantalizing Tannat $25 Off Per Bottle (Sold Out)

    3) Tinto Rey Tempranillo – Ole!

    2) Scott Harvey Mountain Selection Barbera – That's Amore!

    1) Palacios Remondo La Montesa – Darn Good Garnacha


    The 2019 Top 10 Red Wines Under $20:
    10) Kirkland Signature Toscana - A Sensational Super Tuscan

    9) Exquisite Collection Malbec - All Day, Every Day

    8) Nino Negri Quadrio Valtellina Superiore - A Beauty of a Wine

    7) La Paca Sonriente Garnacha - A Trader Joe's Top Pick!

    6) La Gitana Gold Rioja Reserva – Gold Indeed

    5) Pedroncelli Mother Clone Zinfandel – Hit The Mother Lode

    4) Substance Cabernet Sauvignon - A Stunner

    3) Bodega Garzon Tannat Reserve - Bring It On

    2) Trinitas Cellars Mataro – Totally Bodacious!

    1) Bonny Doon Vineyard Le Cigare Volant Cuvée Oumuamua - Still Scrumptious


    The 2018 Top 10 Red Wines Under $20:
    10) La Posta Armando Bonarda - A Bonanza From Mendoza

    9) J Bouchon Pais Viejo - More Pais Please

    8) Locations E Spanish Wine - An A+

    7) Vigilance Cimarron Red Blend - One Finely Crafted Cuvée

    6) Quinta De La Rosa Douro Red - Perfection From Portugal And It's Not Port

    5) Kirkland Signature Rioja Reserva - Costco Scores Again

    4) Feudi Di San Gregorio Rubrato Aglianico - Delightfully Good

    3) Chronic Cellars Purple Paradise - Mouth Awakening

    2) Gerard Bertrand Minervois - A Mosaic of Mouthwatering Flavors

    1) La Posta Pizzella Malbec - Dark, Inky and Delicious


    The 2017 Top 10 Red Wines Under $20:
    TIE 10) Castello di Gabbiano Chianti Classico Riserva – Classic Indeed!

    TIE 10) Pontificis - A GSM Blend for the Masses

    9) Kirkland Signature Series Columbia Valley Red Wine - Something Special

    8) Cameron Hughes Red Mountain Red Blend - A Wine To Wow

    7) Locations F French Wine - Vive la France!

    6) Confidencial Reserva Tinto - An Age-Worthy $8 Wonder

    5) Locations OR Oregon Red Wine - Absolutely Delicious

    4) Michael David Winery Petite Petit - Big-Time!

    3) Carlos Serres Reserva - Silky Smooth Rioja Goodness

    2) Chateau Ste Michelle Indian Wells Red Blend - Oak So Good

    1) Santa Julia Reserva Mountain Blend - Much More Than Malbec

    Want more of our favorite picks? Be sure to check out our "Best Of" listings for individual lists by variety and region.

    Filed Under: Best Of Lists, Featured, Top 10

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    About Jon Thorsen

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