Wine Ratings & Reviews Under $20
The Wine Site for Everyone
Price: $13.95
Tastes Like:
Cherry, Alcohol
Sean’s Take
We don’t come across many wines from Mexico, and there might be a good reason for that. This wine features cherry as the predominant flavour and that’s about it. The tannins are hard and the alcohol is hot making for a “not great” mouth feel. This kind of wine certainly appeals to some people but I can point you towards more pleasing wines for $13.95 or less.
Pro tip: The label talks about Cabernet Sauvignon in general but says nothing about this particular bottle of wine. Red flag.
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El Abuelo Organic Tempranillo Monastrell 2020
El Abuelo Organic Tempranillo Monastrell 2020 El Abuelo Organic Tempranillo Monastrell 2020
El Abuelo Organic Tempranillo Monastrell 2020
Price: $10.45
Tastes Like:
Blackberry, Leather, Cedar, Light Smoke
Serve With:
Red Meat
Chuck’s Take
Extra dry with a full to medium body. The flavours are a bit muted and muddled. On the finish your tongue will be left bone-dry from the oak tannins. Not bad overall, but also not seeking it out again terribly soon.
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Price: $14.95
Tastes Like:
Candied Lemon, Ripe Apple, Honey
Serve With:
Spiced Popcorn, Devilled Eggs, Buttered Noodles
Sean’s Take
Coming in at 12% alcohol this is on the lower side of what you’re probably used to. If you’re not a fan of the hot or tingly feeling in your mouth some wines give you’ll enjoy this one. All the fruit is soft and supple, no one thing really stands out.
At two dollars cheaper and more interesting I’d recommend this Canadian Pino Grigio
Remember: three star reviews are good wines, it’s the one and two stars you want to consider carefully
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Price: $8.30
Tastes Like:
Licorice, Raspberry, Oak, Plum
Serve With:
Chocolate, Mexican, Tapas
Chuck’s Take
Here’s a good value pickup to have around when you need a weekday wine. It’s a balanced blend of tempranillo and merlot where the best of both come through. The spicy/earthy side of tempranillo against the round/juicy side of merlot. The price is pretty much the lowest you can find a bottle of red for in my area. Overall I’d say that for the price this wine does punch above it’s weight. It also just so happens to go well with a box of chocolates!
The label is not only full of useless knowledge of bulls (and things of bull related nature), but Sean and I also noticed that his bottle had a “sticker score” of 94 and mine had one saying 90. Shady? What’s in a sticker anyways? Listen to me us. Online strangers have mentioned theirs didn’t live up to the rating of 96. Do I again need to say the bottle is under $9?
Sean’s Take
This wine gets a lot of hype, especially after being featured in a major newspaper. Medium bodied, easy to drink with or without food. I think the Merlot is there to round the edges off the Tempranillo and it worked perfectly. Raspberry, red berries, and a bit of spice. A very well made wine at a great price. Will become a house staple.
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Price: $8.95
Tastes Like:
Citrus, Green Apple, Floral
Serve With:
Charcuterie, Rissoto, Roasted Potatoes
Sean’s Take
It’s a nice little wine, fresh with slight acid making it a bit tart in a good way. The citrus (mostly lemon) is pretty apparent right away. The floral scents showed up once the wine warmed up a bit.
For the same price point, I’d recommend our recent 5-star discovery from Portugal
It’s a solid table wine which I would definitely cook with. Remember, don’t cook with wine you don’t like. Cooking only intensifies the things you don’t like about the wine.
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Cave Spring Riesling Dry 2019
Cave Spring Riesling Dry 2019 Cave Spring Riesling Dry 2019
Cave Spring Riesling Dry 2019
Price: $15.95
Tastes Like:
Lime, Green Apple, White Grapefruit
Serve With:
Pasta Primavera, Salads
Chuck’s Take
Extra dry with big acidity gives this new world riesling from Niagara, Ontario a nice tartness that finishes quick and clean. It’s very different from an old world German riesling, but good it it’s own Canadian limestone and clay soil kind of way.
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Spier Signature Collection Cabernet Sauvignon
Spier Signature Collection Cabernet Sauvignon Spier Signature Collection Cabernet Sauvignon
Spier Signature Collection Cabernet Sauvignon
Price: $12.95
Tastes Like:
Chocolate, Raspberry Jam, Vanilla
Serve With:
Chicken Pot Pie, Spiced Hummus, Sangria
Sean’s Take
For around $13 there are many other bottles that can compete for your hard earn cash. The fruit and oak were hard to pick out and I didn’t find myself going back for a second glass.
For the same price, I suggest one of my top picks Fuzion Organic Malbec Cabernet
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Open Pinot Grigio 2020
Open Pinot Grigio 2020 Open Pinot Grigio 2020
Open Pinot Grigio 2020
Price: $12.95
Tastes Like:
Candied Almonds, Citrus, Pear
Serve With:
Chicken Fajitas, Baked Brie, Mixed Nuts
Sean’s Take
Sometimes I skip the Pinot Grigios from Italy because they can be so sharp and acidic. Sometimes that’s a good thing with rich foods, but not for sipping on a Sunday afternoon. This Canadian made Pinot Grigio is completely different than its Italian cousins. Bursting with fruit flavours and a nice citrus scent. Easily a crowd pleaser.
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LCBO | Wine Searcher
Primus The Blend 2018
Primus The Blend 2018 Primus The Blend 2018
Primus The Blend 2018
Price: $19.95
Tastes Like:
Raspberry, Black Cherry, Blueberry
Serve With:
Smoked Turkey, Souvlaki, Goat Cheese Frittata
Sean’s Take
This red blend is a really well made medium bodied wine. Great choice if you’re looking for something a little more subtle and less in your face bold like a Zinfandel and most Cabs. It just makes the No Snob Wine price cutoff but it easily competes with its peers. It is very easy to sip on its own and will easily pair with a wide variety of foods.
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Robertson Winery Chenin Blanc 2021
Robertson Winery Chenin Blanc 2021 Robertson Winery Chenin Blanc 2021
Robertson Winery Chenin Blanc 2021
Price: $9.95
Tastes Like:
Pear, Lemon, Green Apple
Serve With:
Popcorn, Omelettes, Quiche
Sean’s Take
This wine was a bit of a surprise being under ten dollars. It has a distinctly citrus/lemon scent when you smell it. On the taste, I found melon, apple, and very ripe pear. The challenge I found with the wine is that it’s all a bit smashed together. Reminds me of those fruit cups in a tin drowned in syrup. Every bite tastes different and simultaneously the same. Strong mouthfeel, coats your mouth, almost oily. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes we like a good fruit cup.
Chenin Blanc is a very underrated grape and can range from tropical to honey in flavour. I highly recommend everyone try it. It’s like a Chardonnay and a Dry Riesling had a baby.
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Malamatina Retsina
Malamatina Retsina Malamatina Retsina
Malamatina Retsina
Price: $6.20
Tastes Like:
Lemon, Pine, Clove
Serve With:
Spiced Olives, Ginger Cookies, Rosemary Chicken
Sean’s Take
Yes, you read that correctly, pine. The lemon or citrus is immediately clear on the first sniff, then the surprise. Retsina is an ancient style of wine where pine resin was used to seal the wine vessel imparting a pine taste to the wine. Today pine resin is introduced in the winemaking process to achieve the flavour. This is very different from what you’re probably familiar with and a bit of surprise on the first sip. It’s not offputting but takes a few sips to get oriented. It’s a fun wine to try for just a few bucks. It’s…an experience.
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Adobe Reserva Sauvignon Blanc Organic 2020
Adobe Reserva Sauvignon Blanc Organic 2020 Adobe Reserva Sauvignon Blanc Organic 2020
Adobe Reserva Sauvignon Blanc Organic 2020
Price: $13.95
Tastes Like:
Citrus, Pineapple, Mineral, Honeydew
Serve With:
Fresh Fruit, Asparagus Pasta
Chuck’s Take
When looking for a Sauvignon Blanc I’d typically go New Zealand but this Organic, non-GMO vegan wine from Chile is a hit for the price point. Light-medium body, extra dry with a lime zest finish.
Sean’s Take
First thing notice is how inviting the smell is. Bright and clean taste with a nice balanced aftertaste. Light touch of pepper makes it very interesting! Summer crowd pleaser & patio sipper. Organic wine bonus points.