16 Best Cabernet Sauvignons Under $20 [Outstanding Value!]
Twenty dollars is the unspoken sweet spot for Cabernet Sauvignon. Some of these wines can legitimately compete with bottles costing $50, you've just got be a bit more open minded when it comes to location.
Argentina and Chile produce world-class Cabernet for under $20, with these countries known for earthy, herby wines.
You can also pick up fantastic fruity Cabernets from the US and chewy and intense wines from France. The New and Old World produce table-worthy varietals of varying intensity, ensuring a Cabernet for every taste.
This guide reveals some of my favorite Cabernet Sauvignon for less than $20, spanning both the Old and New World.
16. 2018 Maquis Cabernet Sauvignon
The 2018 Maquis Cabernet Sauvignon is a ripe and elegant Cabernet with notes of allspice, stewed black fruits, and cocoa. It is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 3% Carmenère, and 1% Petit Verdot.
It's a real crowd-pleaser, classically high in tannins with a fruit-forward nose and palate. Dried herbs, blackberry, and bell pepper aromas lead to blackcurrant and strawberry jam flavors, with subtle notes of black olive and cinnamon on the finish.
Robust tannins and moderate acidity carry the fruity flavors. At less than $20, this wine is excellent value with the complexity and spiciness to please connoisseurs. Pair it with grilled lamb, lamb chops, venison, and oxtail for a sensational dining experience.
15. 2020 Freakshow Cabernet Sauvignon
This is a big, bold Californian Cab that behaves exactly as you'd expect the larger than life bottle art would have you believe.
It's a bit punchy at 14.5% ABV and needs a long decant to bring it in line but it's an enjoyable Cab that's far from delicate but well balanced and very approachable.
Dark fruit is the theme here with big notes of plum, black cherry, and blackberry leading into a lighter strawberry and a hint of smoke, vanilla, and light oak.
On the palate, the dark fruit becomes jammier and finishes with light spice and white pepper.
It's a bold wine that would pair perfectly with some BBQ or steak.
14. Château La Freynelle Cabernet Sauvignon
Despite being a Bordeaux wine, Chateau La Freynelle Cabernet Sauvignon isn’t a blend – it’s a 100% Cabernet made in the traditional way, aged for 12 months in the tank with regular withdrawals to provide aeration to develop natural tannins.
It pours garnet in color with purple hues, with an expressive aroma of blackcurrant, charred wood, and green peppercorn. The palate delivers swathes of cassis and plum with subtle cigar-box and spice notes. There’s a hint of vanilla on the finish.
The Château La Freynelle Cabernet Sauvignon a pure expression of Cabernet – intensely fruity, brightly tannic, and smooth. It goes perfectly with prime rib, braised short ribs, portobello mushrooms, and roasted vegetables.
13. 2018 Montes Alpha Series Cabernet Sauvignon
My second entry from Chile is an even spicier affair, with rich black pepper, bell pepper, and pastry notes.
The smooth mouthfeel makes it a crowd-pleaser, but not at the expense of structure, with robust tannins shining through.
The bouquet treats you with blackcurrant, mint, thyme, and freshly ground black pepper, with the palate adding black cherry, cassis, and hints of cinnamon. Fruity and dense, I love this wine’s chewiness and long, decadent finish.
This wine’s spicy, chewy profile makes it a match for bone-in ribeye, shoulder/loin of pork, lamb chops, and other fatty meats.
It also pairs well with aged cheeses, especially cheddar, gouda, and Pecorino (and, by extension, pasta).
12. 2018 Achaval-Ferrer Cabernet Sauvignon
Produced by one of Argentina’s most notable winemakers, Achaval-Ferrer, this Cabernet is an intense black fruit hit. If you adore chewy Cabernet laced with plum, blackberry, cherry, and oak, this is the one for you.
This is a 100% Cabernet, aged for ten months in French oak barriques. It delivers complex notes of oak, tobacco, and vanilla, with leather on the nose. The palate is intense, with black fruit and fig notes.
Hints of spice, cocoa, and fresh red cherry give Achaval-Ferrer Cabernet Sauvignon an intriguing profile bordering on fresh. It has a layered but relatively simple structure, ideal for pairing with sausages, burgers, and grilled meats.
11. 2018 Donati Cabernet Sauvignon
The Donati Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 is aged in the barrel for 22 months, developing intense tannins with solid notes of oak, cigar box, and herbs, wrapped up in a black fruit medley.
This 100% Cabernet has abundant oak on the nose with notes of chocolate and plum. The palate offers up blackcurrant, blackberry, earth, and leather. A touch of graphite and blueberry on the finish complements the smooth mouthfeel.
This wine has excellent structure, taking you on a journey from red fruit and oak to black fruit, chocolate, and leather. It has moderate to high tannins and a tobacco finish. Pair with butterflied lamb and game birds.
10. 2018 Juggernaut Hillside Cabernet Sauvignon
Produced with grapes from mature vineyards on the hills of the Russian River Valley, the 2018 Juggernaut Hillside Cabernet Sauvignon is aged for over 12 months in a mix of new and used French oak barrels to create a rich, vibrant Cabernet.
Oak, cassis, fig, and cocoa aromas give this wine a mouth-watering nose. The palate explodes with oak, vanilla, plum, blackberry, and fig, with a touch of anise. The finish is long, with subtle notes of blueberry and pastry.
This wine has lots of structure and oak, jammy, and fresh fruit flavors, making it a crowd-pleaser. It’s a perfect sipping wine, or you can pair it with roast beef, ostrich, game birds, turkey, and grilled chicken. It's one of my favorite bottles of Cab on this list and one that can certainly compete with pricier expressions.
Bonus points for some really amazing bottle art too! But, awesome art aside, this is a really tremendous bottle of wine that doesn't disappoint. Great value right now at $19.99.
9. 2020 Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon
The 2020 Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon is a fruit-forward Cabernet with intense black cherry, plum, and baking spice notes. It’s aged for 14 months in French and American oak barrels, with 90% old barrels for rich, silky tannins.
The wine is filtered during barrel aging to refine the fruity flavors, extracting as much smoke as possible from the finished product. The result is a fruity Cabernet with black and red fruit on the nose and palate, dominated by blackberry and cherry.
The mid-palate notes of vanilla, chocolate, and oak are topped with a remarkably bright raspberry finish. Acidic but smooth, this wine goes a treat with pork loin, lamb chops, and roasted dishes seasoned with garlic and thyme.
At just $16, we're firmly in exceptional value territory here! If this is a price you like the sound of then don't miss our guide to cab for less than $15 next!
8. Bonanza Cabernet Sauvignon Lot N.V.
Created by Chuck Wagner of Caymus Vineyards, Bonanza Cabernet Sauvignon Lot N.V. bursts with vanilla, oak, and chocolate on the nose and palate. The brooding character is a hallmark of spending over 12 months in oak.
This wine pours magenta with mixed berries, toasted oak, and leather on the nose. The palate introduces mocha, plum, fig, and blackberry, erring to the jammy side with a dense mouthfeel and chewy tannins.
A touch of cinnamon and toast gives this wine a luxurious character. It goes beautifully with aged and blue cheeses, stews, casseroles, and roasted vegetables. Pair it with stuffed mushrooms and peppers for a cheesy feast.
It's available at just $16 on vivino.com. If you can catch it at this price then buy, buy, buy!
7. Austin Hope Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon N.V.
Austin Hope Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon is our favorite oaky Cabernet from Paso Robles. It’s a dark ruby delight with abundant black fruit, forest floor, earth, and oak, intense tannins, and a dense yet smooth mouthfeel.
A bouquet of black fruit, vanilla bean, and hints of mocha greets you upon first sniff. Baking spices, blackberry, cherry, and tobacco layer up on the palate, giving you a rich wine-tasting experience.
This wine is great by itself because it has complexity to savor, but it is equally pleasurable with high-end meats like wagyu, filet mignon, and lamb cutlets. Don’t let any drops go to waste – it is that good!
Available online for just $20. Another amazing deal that's worth filling up on.
Related: The 2020 vintage is another great Cab that's available at some Costco stores.
6. Field Recordings Neverland Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet blends typically go one of two ways – oaky with black fruit or spicy with red fruit. Neverland Cabernet is a delicious blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Carignan, and 5% Cabernet Franc from Santa Barbara.
Notes of blackberry, raspberry, mint, and cedar on the nose lead to blueberry, tobacco, and vanilla bean flavors. Hints of cherry and strawberry give it a lighter profile than your typical Cabernet without sacrificing robust tannins.
Pair this wine with cured meats, aged cheeses, sausages, hamburgers, pizza, and savory snacks, making it perfect for parties. It also offers enough structure for veal, venison, oxtail, and fatty cuts of beef like ribeye.
If you're a Whole Foods shopper you're in luck as that's the last place I saw it at this price.
5. 2020 Diamond Reserve Stags Leap
The 2020 Diamond Reserve Stags Leap is a Trader Joe’s exclusive, and it’s well worth the trip with luscious dark fruit, oak, and vanilla notes steeped in earthiness. It has an attractive balance of fruit and tannins, delivering a smooth, approachable tipple.
Diamond Reserve wines are Trader Joe’s rarest varieties and don’t stay on the shelves for long. The nose is well integrated with the palate, with notes of vanilla bean, baked plum, cassis, and anise, underpinned by oak and cedar.
High acid, high tannins, and a chewy texture make this wine pleasurable with fatty meats and soft cheeses. The richness is dreamy, with flavors delivered in layers, ensuring a delightful wine experience with just the right balance.
Related: Ready to splurge? Our guide to cab for less than $50 has got you covered!
4. 2021 Kirkland Signature Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
What’s a Cabernet under $10 doing on my list of $20 wines? I’ll tell you what it’s not doing – looking out of place!
This cheap Cabernet from Costco is a brooding hit, with dark ripe fruit, vanilla, and spice.
Kirkland Signature wines offer exceptional value for money and this is a wine that is well undervalued at just nine bucks
It's aged for 16 months in oak, giving it incredible intensity with robust tannins and a lovely spicy finish.
I tasted and reviewed this Kirkland Cab recently, and I was seriously shocked at the quality of winemaking.
For more great Costco wine, don't miss our comprehensive guides to their best Pinot Noir, rosé, Chardonnay, white, and boxed wines!
3. 2018 Louis M. Martini Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon
Cedar, oak, and smoke define this brooding Cabernet from Louis M. Martini, one of California’s finest winemakers. Ripe blackberry and black plum flavors give it a zingy quality with hints of mocha and baking spice.
The intense nose has bold blackcurrant and black cherry aromas, with oak and cedar carrying a subtle twang of raspberry. Flavors of cherry, blackberry, baking spice, and oak give it a refined character. Expect lots of tannins and bright acidity.
With 2% Petite Sirah, this Cabernet has a welcome dose of red fruit, helping lift the chewy dark flavors. It pairs perfectly with spaghetti and meatballs, beef hotpot, butterflied lamb, and creamy cheeses served with crusty bread.
2. Robert Mondavi Private Selection Bourbon Barrel Aged Cabernet Sauvignon
Winemaking hasn't escaped the recent trend of whiskey barrel aging anything you can get your hands on. This Cabernet Sauvignon is aged in a mix of new oak and used bourbon oak.
The bourbon influence is a bit strong at first and it needs some to breathe. However, once it settles it becomes a really interesting wine with notes of smoke and caramel complementing the blackberry, blackcurrant and cherry.
I've got a full write up on this wine in my recent review. You can also watch the video version below.
1. Woodbridge Cabernet Sauvignon
The final wine on this list is produced by Robert Mondavi with choice grapes from Woodbridge. A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, and Merlot, it has deep blackberry and tobacco flavors with hints of toast and brown sugar.
The nose reflects the palate, wrapping cassis, plum, and blueberry in toast and caramelized sugar. A hint of vanilla on the mid-palate gives way to cedar, dark cherry, spice, and toasted marshmallow. And all for $10 or less!
No other Cabernet offers such tremendous value. Pair it with portobello mushrooms, stuffed peppers, and roasted vegetables. Ribeye, prime rib, venison, lamb cutlets, and pork chops also go beautifully with this great value wine.
What do you think of my recommendations? Agree? Disagree? Got one to add?
Let your fellow readers know down below!
