Chef Kevin's Top Ten Red Wines Under $20.

With cooler weather upon us (even though it doesn't feel like it today), I thought I'd get away from Peoria politics for awhile and post something of useful fun: My top ten red wines under $20. Now what makes them my top 10.

I look for a couple of things. 1. I can get them locally. It does no one any good if they aren't available here and can't get them shipped from California, etc. 2. I can usually find them in several different places, but that isn't as important as 1. 3. Well balanced. Real fruit bombs or oak monsters may be tasty in their own right and the critics may wet their pants over them and they may even reach my normal top ten, but I'm looking for well balanced and well made wines for the buck. These are in no particular order.

Bogle Phantom (Old Vine Zinfandel, Mourvedre and Petit Sirah Blend)
Borsao Tres Picos Garnacha (Grenache)
Edgebaston "The Pepper Pot" (Mourvedre, Tannat and Syrah Blend)
Ridge "Three Valleys" Zinfandel
Four Vines "Old Vines" Zinfandel
Bodegas Olivares Jumilla Panarroz (Mourvedre, Grenache, Syrah Blend)
Bodegas Tarima Monastrell (Mourvedre)
Lapostolle Casa Carmenere (Carmenere Merlot Blend)
Los Rocas Vinas Viejas (Old Vine Grenache)
Thorn Clarke Terra Barossa Shiraz

Going through my notes, it became increasingly hard to remember all the great attributes of these wines and single them out from a few others. So, if you act now and call in the next ten minutes, I'll include free and at no extra charge, not one, not two, not even three (kinda sounds like Monty Python's Holy Hand Grenade) but FIVE, yes, FIVE runner ups.

Dehesa de Rubiales "Alaia". (Prieto Picudo (a Spanish indigenous varietal), Tempranillo, Merlot) Note: Can't say I've seen this of late, but haven't really looked for it either.
Vinos Sin Ley Traza Gra2. (100% Graciano)
Castano Monastrell
Bodegas Castano "Solanera" Vinas Viejas (Monastrell, Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnacha)
Bodegas Atalaya (Monastrell, Garnacha Tintorera, and other "Indigenous" red grapes)

So, there are 15 red wines, under $20, for drinking enjoyment this fall and winter.

BUT HOLD THE PHONE!! If you drag your mouse farther down the page, there are TWO (yes a whole 2) more red wine suggestions!!

For $2 extra bucks over the $20 limit (plus the few extra cents in tax) is the Four Vines Sophisticate Zinfandel. This bad boy will REALLY slap your tastebuds around and call them Sally. And this fall, I gotta plug my boss's latest, which is sitting in tanks right now, waiting label approval. It is a wine called Noiret (which is a grape). Medium-heavy bodied red with black fruit flavors and some light oak. Will be a great BBQ wine.