20 Under $20: Reds

In difficult economic times, sometimes the best evening out is an evening in. Friends, good food and a good bottle of wine make life rich. And when the wine is affordable, life feels even richer. Although the popular belief is that to be great, a wine must be expensive, we are here to prove that there are many choices that are fantastic and affordable. We sent out a call to wineries across the state to share their best offerings priced under $20, and after a blind tasting of more than 100 wines, we selected the best of the bunch. While we found good wines across the board, one grape, in particular, rose above the rest. Of all the wines tasted, Riesling had the highest percentage of tasty bottles, and all of them had a lovely balance of fruit, acidity—and in some cases, sweetness. Also, we were surprised to find that in many cases our favorites were the most inexpensive. For your next summer barbecue or evening on the front porch, these lively whites and fruity reds are a delight to drink at a price that’s easy to swallow.

(Pictured left to right on previous page)

Eliseo Silva 2005
Cabernet Sauvignon
(Columbia Valley, $9.99)
Eliseo Silva is the second label of well established Wahluke Slope winegrower Mike Taggares’ Tagaris Winery.  Named after his longtime vineyard manager, all seven varieties of Eliseo Silva wines are priced at less than $10 a bottle and represent a serious value. This delightful Cabernet marks an auspicious start for new Tagaris winemaker Frank Roth. Big, rich and fruity, it packs a giant punch and is a real joy to drink. Pair it with: A cheeseburger or anything grilled.  

Revelry Vintners
2006 Merlot
(Columbia Valley, $14.99)
Revelry Vintners has made box wine cool—or tube wine, rather—and no lineup of value wines would be complete without them. This Merlot is a great all-purpose red, but is still well made and elegant, full of black plum, soft blackberry, spice and subtle oak flavors, and perfect for the wine table at a barbecue. Pair it with: Grilled steak with herbs and black pepper.

Seven Hills Winery 2006 Tempranillo
(Columbia Valley, $20)
Spanish wines have long been known for their food friendliness and great value, so it’s no surprise that one of Spain’s most prominent grapes, Tempranillo, which does well in Washington, is being grown by one of Walla Walla’s top wineries, Seven Hills, with strong success. This lighter-bodied red gives aromas of “garrigue” (gare-eeg)—dried herbs, sage, lavender and dust—all those sunny-climate aromas that are at home in eastern Washington as well as La Rioja. Pair it with: Lamb burgers.  

Kiona Vineyards 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon
(Washington State, $19.99)
One of the pioneering vineyard/wineries on Red Mountain, Kiona Vineyards and Winery has been quietly producing really good wine since 1980. The current winemaking team of Scott Williams and Glen Fukuyama consistently makes wines with class, structure and more than a little personality. This multifaceted, raffish Cabernet, though not all from the estate vineyard, has Red Mountain’s signature structure, nicely balanced by aromas and flavors of cassis, violets, plum and smoke. Pair it with: Braised short ribs.