20 Wines for Under $20

“I’m Barbara Walters and this is 20/20”, I would hear it every week growing up. Barbara (and let’s not forget about Hugh Downs) was second only to Stone Philips and Dateline in our home but it was a comforting bit of nostalgia to see the tributes to her on New Year’s eve. Over 7,000 people signed a petition to get Barbara Walters to do the ball drop in Times Square and although they weren’t successful, it did inspire me to do a 20/20 wine list - 20 wines for under $20 to celebrate the new decade.

These wines were sourced and priced at Binny’s in Chicago. Pricing and availability may vary according to your retailer.

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WHITE WINES

Frecciarossa, Sillery, Pinot Nero Bianco, Lombardy, Italy 2018 $17: Yes, a white wine made from Pinot Noir! The trick is to remove the skins before the juice absorbs the color from them. Skip your usual Pinot Grigio and opt for the this lovely, refreshing white wine instead.

Argiolas, Costamolino, Vermentino, Sardinia 2018 $12: Winters in Chicago can be a drag but a glass of Sardinian sunshine and a little imagination can go a long way. Vibrant and fresh with aromas of lemon peel and white peaches, pair it with a sun lamp and seafood.

Schloss Gobelsburg, Gruner Veltliner, Kamptal, Austria 2018 $15: Here’s a Gruner Veltliner that punches way above its weight. Notes of pear, lime zest and oodles of white pepper aromatics make this an incredible pairing for Vietnamese dishes or sushi.

Herdade do Rocim, Mariana Branco, Alentejo, Portugal 2018 $13: Perhaps you’ve resolved to try new things in 2020. Why not add more Portuguese wines to your life? Portuguese wines are still in the undiscovered gems realm and if you can get past not knowing some of the grapes, there’s some incredible deals to be had. Notes of apricots and honey with a touch of yellow flowers and fresh acidity.

Alpha Estate, Sauvignon Blanc, Amyndeon, Greece 2018 $18: I’ve been to Greece twice and on one occasion had a chance to visit Alpha Estate. It’s one of the most technologically advanced vineyards I’ve ever seen. I’ve always loved this Sauvignon Blanc because it’s not afraid to show the more intense side of the grape with notes of green guava, grapefruit, passionfruit and gooseberries.

LIGHTER REDS (AND ONE ROSE)

Chateau Trinquevedel Rose, Tavel 2018 $17: Rose comes in all shades and flavors but for a winter-style rose, I prefer one that is darker in color to pair with heartier meals. Tavel is the only appellation in the Southern Rhone that consists entirely of rose and Grenache is maxed out at no more than 60% of the final blend. Trinquevedel features 13% Syrah which gives the wine a deeper color along with aromas of Provencale herbs and red berries.

La Carraia, Sangiovese, Umbria, Italy 2018 $11: Enjoy this Umbrian alternative to a Tuscan Chianti with your weeknight meals. Bright and crunchy with notes of Morello cherries, mocha, strawberries and red currants. Buy it in bulk and call it your “house red”.

Durigutti, Bonarda, Mendoza, Argentina 2017 $16: Bonarda may not be as familiar to most as Malbec but it is the second most widely planted grape in Argentina and many sommeliers (myself included) consider it the country’s best kept secret. Bonarda is more elegant on the palate than Malbec, imagine if you added a splash of Pinot Noir to it. It has brighter acidity and lift on the palate and if Malbec is for meat then Bonarda is for your veggies.

Chateau Pesquie, Terrasses, Cotes du Ventoux, Rhone Valley, France 2017 $14: The Southern Rhone is a hotbed for bang for your buck drinking and the Ventoux appellation is its epicenter. Ventoux nights are considerably cooler than its neighboring districts making it more suitable for Syrah which yields wines with more complexity and richness than Grenache-based wines alone. Imagine cranking a pepper mill over a bowl of smoked black plums and thyme leaves. Pesquie is all organic and converted to biodynamic in 2019.

Ron Rubin, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley 2016 $19: I struggled with the decision to include a Pinot Noir on this list because it’s hard to find a good one for under $20 but what intrigued me the most about this wine is that it’s from the Russian River, a very pricey appellation and it’s only $19. The winery is owned by Ron Rubin, a dynamic entrepreneur and the owner of Republic of Teas. He realized a forty-year dream to start a winery and settled in the Green Valley, a sub AVA of the Russian River and one of the coolest AVAs in northern California. The style is classic Green Valley, more elegant and restrained on the palate than your Santa Barbara fruit bombs but you still get your essential Pinot Noir characteristics for under $20.

Domaine de la Prebende, Beaujolais, France 2018 $14: If you gave me 20 bucks to spend and given the choice between Pinot Noir and Beaujolais, I would definitely go with the latter. Gamay is an affordable dupe for Pinot Noir and you’re bound to get a higher quality bottle for the money. Will it taste exactly the same as Pinot Noir? Of course not but you will get a wine that is lighter-bodied and within the same family of juicy red fruit flavors: strawberries, red currants and raspberries. Pro tip: pop-it in the refrigerator for 15 minutes prior to drinking, it will heighten the fruit and tone down the acidic “bite”.

FULLER-BODIED REDS

Finca la Mata, Ribera del Duero 2017 $19: 100% Tinta del Pais (Tempranillo) from 60-year-old bush vines (featured on the label), aged in 8 months in French and American oak. Older vines yield wines with greater concentration, the vine simply produces less fruit as it ages. This is a dark, satisfying red with flavors of blackberries stewed with toasted coconut and cloves.

Izadi, Reserva, Rioja, Spain 2014 $17: I spent a lot of time considering Spanish wines for this list and it was hard to limit my selections to only three but when I saw the Izadi, it was a no-brainer for me to include it. We feature this wine at Terra and Vine and our customers go crazy for it. The Reserva is 100% Tempranillo aged for 16 months in mostly American oak (think flavors of Bourbon). The extended aging in oak mellows out the Tempranillo giving you a red that’s easy-drinking but with lots of layers. Izadi is owned by the Anton Family and in addition to operating several wineries, the have a Michelin-starred restaurant. Their commitment to quality is evident in everything they do.

Castaño, Solanera, Viñas Viejas, Yecla, Spain 2015 $14: This is a joint venture between the Castaño Family, their US importer Eric Solomon and French winemaker Jean-Marc Lafage. The Castanos are masters of the Monastrell grape which yields ultra-ripe and dark-fruited wines courtesy of the generous Yeclan heat. The Solanera tempers Monastrell’s jammy tendencies with the structure of Cabernet Sauvignon and a splash of spicy Grenache. If you like generous mouth-filling wines like Malbec, you’ll probably enjoy something like this as well.

Ramos Pinto, Duas Quintas, Duoro, Portugal 2016 $13: Portugal is justifiably well-known for the luscious Port wines but the vast majority of Portugal’s wine output is devoted to dry wines made from a treasure-trove of indigenous grape varieties. I firmly believe Portuguese wines are the “next big discovery” for American consumers, especially for the price-point. The Duas Quintas is made from virtually the same grapes that go into a fortified Port wine so you get the same ripe, blackberry jam fruit notes but fermented to complete dryness.

Brancaia, Tre, Rosso Toscana, Tuscany 2015 $18: Super-Tuscan blend of 80% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Sangiovese on its own can be light and elegant but add a splash of Cab and Merlot and you get something with more weight and heft. I often joke that the Super in Tuscan refers to the bloated price tag but the Brancaia Tre is a nice affordable alternative.

Emporium, Appassimento, Salento 2016 $15: I had originally selected a Valpolicella Ripasso (which I like to call a baby Amarone) but opted for this Appassimento Salento instead. Appassimento refers to the process of drying grapes to make a wine like Amarone. Wines made from raisins are stronger and riper in flavor. Ripasso is refermented on the lees of a wine made via the appassimento process, so you get a touch of raisin flavor instead of the full monty. This Salento is made from rasinated Negroamaro and Primitivo grapes. It’s ripe, robust and similar in style to a Zinfandel. Pair it with spicy tomato pastas, pizza and winter stews.

BORDEAUX UNDER $20

I never thought I would say this but some of the best wine deals on the planet right now are coming from Bordeaux and here are three options for your consideration.

Chateau Le Conseiller, Bordeaux Supérieur, France 2015 $16: Winemaker Jean-Philippe Janoueix trained in Napa Valley and brought his new-world wisdom back to his family estate in Bordeaux. In fact, he is one of the few Bordeaux Supérieur wineries to import American oak. 100% Merlot-based wine gives you a supple and easy-drinking red that belies its price-point.

Chateau Croix-Mouton, Bordeaux Supérieur, France 2016 $15: This is another wine from Jean-Philippe Janoueix but includes a splash of Cabernet Franc along with Merlot. It’s more fruit-forward in style so if you drink mostly California reds and are looking to try something French, this is a good entry-point.

Chateau de Saint-Pey, St. Emilion Grand Cru, France 2016 $18: Classic St. Emilion blend of mostly Merlot with Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon making up the rest. Plush but traditionally French in style with notes of tart red plums, cedar box, cassis, tobacco and chocolate.