Finding the best "cheap" red wine to pair with your meal or event is as easy as plucking a grape from the vine, so long as you follow a few simple rules. For starters, "cheap" doesn't always mean what it appears and when shopping for red wine it's best to refer to what your seeking as "inexpensive" or "modest." You walk into a wine shop and ask for a cheap bottle of red wine then you're most likely to be directed to the $5 rack where most of those bottles will be until they die. Rather you should approach the shop manager or assistant with a query like, "Can you recommend a decent, inexpensive bottle of red wine for my dinner party?" This way you appear to be concerned for not only the right wine to side with your meal, but also concerned about showing up with something that won't turn everyone's nose to the ceiling.
As a member of the Southern Wine & Spirits sales force for the past two years I was introduced to so many wines that it became hard to tell most of them apart... However, I found myself drawn to the more modestly priced wines that my customers were flipping for week after week. So began my own search to answer the call of the wild grapes: what makes these ostensibly "cheap" wines so much better than their high dollar counterparts? The answer, my fellow sippers, is all in the glass. Never be put off or let a merchant steer you away from purchasing a less expensive wine because of its name or growing region or the fact that is costs less than $10. You will discover along your quest that so many wines priced under $15 will undoubtedly become your favorites; returning time and again to their easy drinkability, conversational themes and characters, as well as their flat-out delectability.
Below is a list of some of the best red wines you will ever taste for under $20, so long as you avoid buying them in the grocery stores in favor of smaller local shops and neighborhood boutiques...
MERLOT:
Columbia Crest Grand Estates - From the great wine making state of Washington comes this bold and nuanced gem that boasts aromas of plum, nuts, vanilla and cherry. So smooth and so inviting every time, this will most likely become your go-to Merlot for just about any occasion. (Should be in the $10 to $12 range, though some stores - Total Wine - offer it for as low as $9!)
14 Hands - Another tasty treat from Washington, this seductive Merlot tastes as good as it smells! Big nose on this wine - everything from aromas of plum, chocolate, cherries and vanilla - followed by a long lasting finish on the palate that will leave you with a calming rhythm to help ease you into your next sip... and the next... and the next... (Should be under $15)
Oyster Bay - New Zealand is renown for their incredible Sauvignon Blanc, but this little secret snuck into the States and introduced Merlot lovers unto a whole other world of flavors. Soft, unctuous and creamy is the best way to describe this wine as it will catch you so pleasantly off guard that you're likely to think you're drinking a Napa Valley Cabernet. It may be hard to find, but if you ask your favorite neighborhood shop owner to bring it in, both of you will be grateful. (Should be under $15)
CABERNET:
14 Hands - Like its Merlot cousin, this label presents Cabernet lovers and neophytes with one of the most enjoyable wine drinking experiences you may never have expected from such a "cheap" bottle of wine. Bursting with aromas of cherry, chocolate, vanilla and butterscotch(!), this powerhouse Cab has been turning heads for a few years now as each vintage gets better and better. One sip and you'll be drinking this awesome wine for the rest of your life. (Should be under $15.)
Alterra - This is Napa Valley juice in all its glory. Big and bold in its color and nose, it answers on the palate with a soft cherry kiss that gets you at the last moment before dissolving down the pipeline with simplicity and grace. Somewhat of a new Napa wine, this one will certainly be around for a very long time. (Should be around $12.)
Sagelands - Washington State has proven year after year to be an incredible source of great red wines and this Cabernet from their enriched soils is a prime example. Plenty of character on the nose - bing cherries, mocha - and stern in its consistency of flavor, this is a rich red wine that will impress you and your party guests with every sip. (Should be under $15.)
337 - Named for the clone grape from which it's made, the 337 Cabernet comes boldly from Lodi, California and swirls its deep ruby charms right into your soul. Enticing aromas of chocolate-covered cherries, vanilla and cedar will have you diving into your glass for the truth - which presents itself firmly on the palate. Great with steaks and burgers, the 337 is a Cab lovers reverie come to life. (Should be under $15.)
BLENDS:
Menage A Trois Red - This is not only a fun conversation starter but a truly wonderful "red table wine" that gets its sexy moniker from the three grape varietals with which it is blended - Cabernet, Merlot and Zinfandel. Other wine makers have tried to do just that, but Sutter Home succeeded with aplomb as this red wine is currently the #1 selling red wine in the country! Spicy is a good adjective for this wine, but rewarding may be the best way to describe it. Get some and find out what all the buzz is about. (Should be under $12.)
Veramonte Primus - Wow is this an amazing bottle of wine! A magical blend of Cabernet, Merlot, Carmenere and Syrah, this South American potion is any red wine drinker's cloud nine. Bold and spicy, then soft and soothing... then back to life as it makes its way down. One of those truly wonderful wines that must be experienced. (Should be around $15.)
PINOT NOIR:
Oyster Bay - Perhaps New Zealand's finest red export thus far, the Oyster Bay Pinot Noir is a mesmerizing juice that is so soft and light that you would never expect it to perform so delectably on your palate. Awarded a double gold medal at the San Francisco World Wine Tasting in 2008, this should be in every Pinot Noir lover's wine cellar at all times. (Should be around $15.)
Muirwood - A perfect example of prime Californian Pinot Noir. This wine is alive inside and is just waiting to introduce itself to you. Such great character and flavor brought to you on a firm delivery that you will never see coming. RUN to the store and buy this wine. You will not be disappointed. (Should be under $20.)
Erath - Oregon is yet another source for some of the world's very best Pinot Noir and the juice they offer us in the Erath bottles is their way of telling us so. This crowd pleaser is light and luscious, re-inventing itself on the palate just as you think it may all be over. Take your time drinking this wine as it will develop further the longer it airs. (Should be under $20.)