2041 | Great Red Wines Under $20, Wine

"The 2009 Chianti Classico Riserva is striking. Succulent dark cherries, flowers, mint and licorice burst from the glass in this exuberant, sexy Riserva. The tannins are nearly buried by the opulent fruit, but the wine retains great balance, while avoiding any sense of heaviness. The 2009 captures the heat and richness of the year while never abandoning its classic sense of structure. This is a superb wine from Monsanto with plenty of upside potential. Sweet floral notes add an elegant, feminine touch to the finish."

"The opaque purple-colored 2010 Tarima Hill exhibits notes of chocolate fudge, pen ink, graphite, blueberries and blackberries. This full-bodied, 100% Monastrell should drink well for a decade or more. These amazing efforts taste more like they should cost $30 to $50 as opposed to the mid-teens." -Robert Parker

"Inky purple. Ripe black raspberry and cherry liqueur scents are brightened by zesty pepper and allspice nuances. Plush and sweet, with powerful cherry and red berry compote flavors given lift by juicy acidity. Gains flesh and depth on the impressively long, spicy finish, which is given shape by fine-grained tannins."

"Aromas of toasty oak, graphite, balsamic, incense, and black fruits are followed by a dense, powerful Tempranillo from the great 2009 vintage. Rich, savory, and pleasure bent, it is a great value."

"The 2010 Chianti Classico is beautiful, pointed and articulate. Sweet red berries, anise, flowers, spices and licorice are some of the many notes that flow from this gorgeous Chianti. The freshness and vibrancy are pure 2010."

"It reveals a deep ruby/purple color as well as copious notes of creme de cassis intermixed with hints of wood smoke and charcoal. Medium to full-bodied, juicy, succulent and sensual, it should drink nicely for 3-4 years." -Robert Parker

"A big, thick, juicy, dense purple-colored effort, it reveals lots of blackberry and cassis fruit intermixed with hints of camphor, licorice and spicy oak. This medium to full-bodied, luscious, fruity, crowd-pleaser should keep for 3-4 years."

"An excellent bargain, this 100% Tempranillo (80-100-year old vines) was aged completely in stainless steel. Patrick Mata told me that the village from which it emerges has only 95 residents, all of whom are grape farmers! This may be the “bargain of the year” in my tastings. It boasts a deep ruby/purple color as well as copious notes of black cherry jam, licorice, blackberries and subtle hints of earth, pepper and meat. Drink this medium to full-bodied, rich, layered red over the next 2-3 years." -Robert Parker

"Another stunning value from Yecla, the 2011 Vinos Sin Ley Monastrell (100% Mourvedre from organic vineyards) possesses a dense purple color as well as a big, sweet bouquet of blueberries, blackberries, and chalky, earthy soil, and a heady, rich, full-bodied finish. It combines elegance with richness despite the fact that this area is known more for the rusticity of its wines than their finesse." -Robert Parker

"It reveals copious aromas of raspberry jam, black currants, kirsch, flowers and forest floor, full body, terrific fruit, lots of complexity already, and a multidimensional mouthfeel."-Robert Parker