Another year has passed which means it's time to update our annual list of The Best Red Wines Under $20!
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. Which also means there are LOTS of great wines that didn't make this list. Check out our other "Best Of" lists for those.
That said, this year's list just happens to focus in on the USA and Italy (with a wine from Uruguay thrown in for good measure.) It's a combination of the absolute best tasting wines we had this year as well as those with the most extreme value. Covering a number of different varieties and styles, there's something for everyone on our list of the best red wines under $20.
Looking for white wines and rosés? Check out our Top 10 White and Rosé list here!
A perfect 10 Taste rating from us and lots of big scores from others.
If you have yet to explore Barbera from Amador then you, my friend, are missing out! This estate grown beauty is a great example.
Read the full review and check out our other Insider Deals as well as more of our favorite Barbera.
An over-the-top delicious Bulk Buy.
We found ourselves disappointed at a lot of the Napa Valley selections at Trader Joe's this year as they tended to be VERY young and not yet ready for primetime. One of the exceptions, however, was this ripe and ready Meritage blend.
Read the full review, check out more of the Best Wines From Trader Joe's and find the rest of our favorite red blends here.
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.
Read the full review and check out our other Insider Deals
A can’t miss Costco pick for the Cab lovers!
We've reviewed (and loved) this wine so many times over the past 8-10 years that we've lost count. When we find a wine priced this low that is this impressive year after year, we can't help but sing its praises.
Read the full review, see a listing of local retailers and find more of the Best Wines From Costco and our favorite Cabernet Sauvignon.
Terrific Tannat from Uruguay!
We're huge fans of Tannat and there are some fabulous examples coming from Uruguay. This one makes a return to our Top 10 list.
Read the full review, see a listing of local retailers and find more of the Best Wines From Costco.
A pair of Perfect 10 Taste Ratings!
Spot #5 is a two-fer with these two excellent wines from Scott Harvey. While our Insider Deal price is expired, these wines have been some of the most popular we have ever offered so we will no doubt be looking to bring them back.
Read the full review and check out our other Insider Deals here.
Bulk Buy Barbera from Piedmont.
As you can tell, we were on a bit of Barbera kick this year, exploring the best from all over the world.
Read the full review, see a listing of local retailers and check out more of our favorite wines from Italy.
Now this is some good Merlot!
The tiny Chalk Hill AVA is located in the northern corner of the Russian River Valley, just to the south of Knights Valley and Alexander Valley. The soil, while not actually chalk, is made up of white volcanic ash. With only 5 wineries within the AVA, this is an exclusive area with not many bottles available under $20 so we were quite excited to see this one at Trader Joe's.
Read the full review, check out more of the Best Wines From Trader Joe's and find the rest of our favorite Merlot here.
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.
A stunningly delicious blend of 80% Syrah and 20% Petit Verdot.
We could have just as easily put the Stolpman Vineyards La Cuadrilla, the Meeker ZSM or the Onesta Mentida in this spot but we didn't want to dominate this list with all Insider Deals - suffice to say that we mean it when we say that we source our very favorite wines for our deals!
Read the full review and check out our other Insider Deals.
And that's it for the 2021 list! Curious which wines made the list of the best cheap red wine in previous years? Check out the results below.
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.
