Best Spanish Red Blend Wines Under $20

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Are you looking for best Spanish red blend wines?

Some of the best value in Spanish wine today comes from inexpensive red blends, which are simply a combination of different grape varieties. When done well, these blends allow the winemakers to essentially take the best of each variety and combine them for what is often much greater than the sum of its parts.

In this category we highlight the best Spanish red blends under $20 in both of those distinct styles so you can decide what you like best! Only those wines that can deliver exceptional quality for the price are reviewed here.

 

Red Blends Under $20 from Rioja, Spain

 

La Antigua Classico Crianza 2011,  $19.99

La Antigua Classico Crianza 2011

La Antigua Classico Crianza 2011 Winemaker Notes

Sexy aromas of blackcurrant, cherry compote and smoky oak, with a subtle floral nuance emerging with aeration. Sweet and velvety on the palate, offering lively dark berry and coconut flavors and showing no rough edges. Closes smooth and very persistent, with repeating smokiness and a hint of mocha. These vines were reportedly planted between 1940 and 1955.

Critical Acclaimed by James Suckling, 91 points

A red showing ripe-strawberry, cherry and plum character. Some fresh mushroom undertones. Medium body, soft tannins and a subtle finish. Drink now.

 

Palacios Remondo La Vendimia 2015, $18

Palacios Remondo La Vendimia 2015

Palacios Remondo La Vendimia 2015 Winemaker Notes

La Vendimia, meaning “the harvest,” represents the quality potential of Spanish jovenes, wines that have been aged for less than six months in oak barrels. Made by famed Spanish winemaker Alvaro Palacios, whose father founded the Palacios Remondo winery, La Vendimiais is a blend of Spain’s two original star varieties: Garnacha and Tempranillo.
Lively and lucid, this wine has supple aromas of fresh orchard fruit, wild berries and ripe blood oranges. Fruit-forward and round on the palate, the aromas found on the nose are mimicked in the mouth and include additional notes of sweet spice and raspberry jam.

Meant to drink now through the next four years, this consumer-friendly wine can be served slightly chilled and is the perfect accompaniment to any dish.

Critical Acclaimed Wine Spectator, 90 points

This red shows good density, with black cherry, plum, espresso and black olive flavors mingling over firm tannins and balsamic acidity. Stays balanced and focused through the smoky finish. Drink now through 2027.

Critical Acclaimed The Wine Advocate, 90 points

The young and juicy 2015 Vendimia is produced with the grapes from younger vines (some from suppliers, some owned, but all organically farmed), mixing vineyards from the warmer and cooler zones. This is the first vintage that is 100% organically farmed and in this high-yielding year, there was a bit more Tempranillo, so it ended up being a 40/60 blend of Garnacha and Tempranillo fermented in stainless steel and matured in barrel for some four months. The oaking seems very subtle and the foreground is dominated by ripe fruit aromas. 2015 was the warmest vintage on record and produced a very tasty and juicy wine, but it keeps its poise and feels as long or longer, than wide. The Tempranillo is clearly noticeable here; this is the most robust wine at Palacios Remondo right now. This is a superb, young, fruit-driven Rioja that is sold at a very attractive price.

 

Palacios Remondo La Montesa 2013, $20

Palacios Remondo La Montesa 2013

Palacios Remondo La Montesa 2013 Winemaker Notes

#52 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2016

Full of Mediterranean orchard fruit aromas including nectarines, pomegranates, and oranges, the palate contains vibrant and rich flavors of ripe red fruit, discrete spice, citrus peel and exotic wood. Meant to enjoy now or age up to 10 years, this consumer-friendly wine is Alvaro’s tribute to Garnacha’s return to its historic homeland. Perfect when enjoyed by the glass on its own, La Montesa’s multi-faceted flavor profile will also pair well with any kind of cuisine.
Meant to enjoy now or age up to 10 years, this wine is very versatile and pairs well with flavorful cuisine.

Critical Acclaimed by Wine Spectator, 91 points

A thick texture carries plum tart, orange peel, toasted vanilla and anise flavors in this ripe version, balanced by juicy acidity. The spicy, berry-scented finish is long and pure.

 

 

Red Blend Wines Under $20 from La Mancha, Spain

 

Finca Antigua Crianza 2009, $14.99

Finca Antigua Crianza 2009

Finca Antigua Crianza 2009 Winemaker Notes

The combination of Tempranillo, Merlot, Cabernet and Syrah give this wine unique aromas of stewed fruits, leather, tobacco, and hints of blueberry. These luscious aromas are underscored by integrated alcohol, smooth, but present, tannins, and pleasing acidity.

Pair this wine with cured ham, Paella Morisco, and migas with lamb cutlets.

Critical Acclaimed by The Wine Advocate, 90 points

The 2009 Finca Antigua Crianza is a blend of 50% Tempranillo, 20% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Syrah raised in French and American oak for 15 months. It has a pleasant bouquet of black cherries, fresh fig and Christmas cake that is well-defined, hints of licorice developing with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent red fruit, well-judged acidity and a composed, sensual finish.

 

 

 

Red Blends Wines Under $20 from Jumilla, Spain

 

Bodegas Ego Fuerza 2013, $10.99

Bodegas Ego Fuerza 2013

Bodegas Ego Fuerza 2013 Winemaker Notes

Intense red cherry color with violet shades. Delicate black fruit aroma with high roast and smoky features. Structured, subtle and smart palate, ripe appetizing and sweet tannins marked by elegance.

Critical Acclaimed by Wine Spectator, 90 points

Cola, sassafras and clove notes frame a deep core of plum and currant fruit in this dense red. The texture is plush and polished, supported by well-integrated tannins and balsamic acidity. Monastrell and Cabernet Sauvignon.

 

Borsao Berola 2013, $15

Borsao Berola 2013

Critical Acclaimed by The Wine Advocate, 90 points

The outstanding 2013 Berola is a blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon with the Grenache from a vineyard planted in 1956, the Cabernet Sauvignon from a vineyard planted in 1990, and the Syrah from the youngest vines planted 15 years ago. The wine is fermented in stainless steel, but unlike the previous wines, the wine then spends ten months in a combination of French and American oak of which about 30% is new. This is a seriously endowed, full-bodied wine from Borsao with plenty of blackcurrant fruit, a touch of graphite and camphor, a luscious, nicely textured mid-palate and finish. The wine is pure, rich and impressive. Drink now-2018.

Critical Acclaimed by James Suckling, 90 points

A fresh and fruity nose of red berries, currants and hints of soft spices. Full body, lots of fruit and a light, jammy finish. A little one-dimensional. 70% garnacha, 20% syrah and 10% cabernet sauvignon.

 

Red Blend Wines Under $20 from Montsant, Spain

 

Bodegas Zerran Tinto 2014, $17

Bodegas Zerran Tinto 2014

Bodegas Zerran Tinto 2014 Winemaker Notes

This is a new wine from Jorge Ordonez from the region of Montsant with soils just like it’s neighbor, Priorat. Zerran Tinto is made from Syrah and very old Garnacha vines and Carignan (aka Mazuelo) aged 16 months in French oak. The red has very concentrated black fruit flavors and overtones of crushed stone.

Critical Acclaimed by Vinous / Antonio Galloni, 91 points

(fermented in stainless steel tanks and then aged for ten months in used French oak barriques): Opaque purple. Fresh black and blue fruit aromas are sharpened by a smoky mineral nuance and a sexy flourish of fresh lavender. Sappy and seamless in texture, offering juicy boysenberry flavors and a jolt of enlivening minerality. Finishes silky, precise and very long, with lingering florality and harmonious tannins. There’s pretty remarkable value here.

 

Other Red Blends Wines Under $20 from Spain

 

Marques de Grinon Caliza Red Blend 2012, $18.99

Marques de Grinon Caliza Red Blend 2012

Marques de Grinon Caliza Red Blend 2012 Winemaker Notes

eep purple in color with ruby reflections, this wine shows alluring notes of blackberries and cassis with undertones of cinnamon and minerality. On the palate, it is beautifully full-bodied and silky with refreshing acidity and flavors that unfold into the long-lasting finish.

Pair this wine with Spanish-style sirloin, prime rib, rich terrines, or pisto manchego.

Blend: 70% Syrah, 30% Petit Verdot

Critical Acclaimed James Suckling, 90 points

Dark plums and rich black cherry fruit aromas with dark stony minerally accents that lead to a palate with plush blackberry and cassis flavored fruit.

Critical Acclaimed by The Wine Advocate, 90 points

The 2012 Caliza is named after the limestone (caliza is the Spanish word for limestone) dominant in the Valdepusa Estate soils in Toledo. It’s a blend of 40% Syrah and 30% each Petit Verdot and Graciano. Most of these reds mature in newish French barriques for some ten months. The oak is nicely integrated and there is a core of ripe black fruit and balsamic notes. The palate is soft and juicy, with fine-grained tannins. Very pleasant.

 

Bodegas Triton Tinta de Toro 2014, $14.99

Bodegas Triton Tinta de Toro 2014

Bodegas Triton Tinta de Toro 2014 Winemaker Notes

At the dawn of Roman Mythology, Neptune and his son, Triton, were gods of rivers and lakes and were depicted astride gallant stallions which represented waves upon the waters. The river Duero plays a very important role in the history of the wine. The ancient vines were planted in gravel strewn sandy soil created by the river. The wretched soil prevented infestations that devastated vineyards throughout the world.

Enjoy this elegant wine created from old vines of Tempranillo from the best areas in the south of Zamora province. Meticulously vinified in small lots and aged in the best French oak for fifteen months, the wine has a distinctive balance of ripe red fruit flavors and a delicate spiciness. A hint of dark chocolate completes the long finish.

Critical Acclaimed by Vinous / Antonio Galloni, 91 points

Vivid purple. Fresh, focused scents of ripe dark berries, candied flowers and peppery spices. Silky and appealingly sweet, offering sappy blueberry and cherry-vanilla flavors that tighten up slowly on the back half. Shows depth as well as vivacity and finishes with strong floral persistence, the harmonious tannins fading into the wine’s clinging dark fruit.

 

Bodegas Sierra Salinas Puerto Salinas 2010, $18

Bodegas Sierra Salinas Puerto Salinas 2010

Bodegas Sierra Salinas Puerto Salinas 2010 Winemaker Notes

Deep red cherry color, bright. An intense bouquet of ripe black berries with a very subtle balsamic background. A fresh and fruity mouthfeel, with mineral notes and a slightly spicy touch. Well balanced and good structure.

Critical Acclaimed by James Suckling, 91 points

Rich and opulent nose of black fruit with some prunes and hints of hay. Medium body, ripe and soft tannins and a medium, spicy, bitter finish. Some tar undertones. Drink now.

 

Mustiguillo Mestizaje 2014, $14.99

Mustiguillo Mestizaje 2014

Mustiguillo Mestizaje 2014 Winemaker Notes

Deep in color with an intriguing nose of black fruits, violets, cedar and black pepper. The fleshy dark fruit flavors of blackberry and black currant are lifted by brink mineral acidity (this is where those limestone soils come through) and fine tannins. Leaves you on a nice sweet and spicy finish, a perfect pair with anything cooked over fire and smoke.

Critical Acclaimed The Wine Advocate, 90 points

The red 2014 Mestizaje is the entry-level blend of Bobal with some 10% Syrah, 6% Garnacha, 5% Merlot and a 2% pinch of Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo; the grapes comes from head-pruned, dry-farmed vines planted mostly in the early 1990s. Each variety is fermented separately and then aged for one year in oak vats and barrels. The wine has seen a change since 2012… In 2013 it’s 100% grapes from the Terrerazo estate—and therefore a Vino de Pago—but more important, the percentage of Bobal has increased and they look for a fresher profile, which means the wine has gained in drinkability. There are no more notes of chocolate that were very prominent in 2006, 2007 or 2009; they have taken the Tempranillo out of the blend, a grape that has a tendency to get very ripe in the zone; and the wine is better balanced and focused. The palate shows also some chalkiness (all the grapes now come from vineyards in Finca Terrerazo, where there is a high content in limestone), and a Mediterranean character, but without heat. A very tasty and drinkable Mediterranean red.

 

Otazu Premium Cuvee 2011, $15

Otazu Premium Cuvee 2011

Otazu Premium Cuvee 2011 Winemaker Notes

Cherry red in color. The wine has an intense and complex nose dominated by black fruit. Notes of plums and blackberries, cinnamon, nutmeg and balsamic. On the palate, round tannins with an elegant finish of marked fruitiness.

Critical Acclaimed by Wine Spectator, 90 points

Plum, spice and dark chocolate flavors mingle with herbal and smoky notes in this plump red. Firm tannins and clean acidity give this structure and balance. Generous, but remains fresh.

 

Bodegas Castano Solanera 2013, $15

Bodegas Castano Solanera 2013

Bodegas Castano Solanera 2013 Winemaker Notes

Dark cherry-red color. Ripe fruit, pleasant wooden notes. Complex nose, spiced and elegant. On the palate is rich, balanced, with elegant sweet round tannins. Enjoy with strong-flavored dishes such as Cochinillo al horno or Roast suckling pig and cheeses, such as Manchego.

Critical Acclaimed by The Wine Advocate, 92 points

Even better is the 2013 Solanera is a “Vinas Viejas” that differs from the Castano (100% Monastrell), as this blend is 70% Monastrell, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15 % Grenache, aged 10 months in French and American oak. Another difference from the Hecula is that it was aged equal parts in tank and the other half in French oak. The Solanera, which comes from relatively high-altitude limestone soils at 900 meters, has a dense purple color, a big sweet kiss of blueberry and blackberry fruit mixed with crushed chalk, a full-bodied mouthfeel, beautiful purity, density and richness. The oak is well concealed by the lavish fruit–the wine just amazing. Drink it over the next 2-3 years, as these powerhouses are best consumed in their exuberant and extroverted youth.

 

Celler del Roure Vermell 2014, $17.99

Celler del Roure Vermell 2014

Celler del Roure Vermell 2014 Winemaker Notes

This young red blend Celler del Roure, is made with Monastrell, Garnacha Tintorera, Mandó.

Critical Acclaimed by James Suckling, 91 points

This shows blackberries and some grilled-meat aromas and green-olive character. Soft and fruity with an easy, fun finish. Now is the time.

Critical Acclaimed by The Wine Advocate, 90 pionts

The entry-level red from the ancient style range, the 2014 Vermell is a blend of Garnacha Tintorera with 15% Monastrell and 10% Mandó fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts and matured in 2,600-liter amphorae for six months. It shows hints of higher ripeness, with black rather than red fruit that needed some time in the glass to settle down and slowly showed some red berries too. Perhaps the company of the new Safrà was disturbing too… This is quite fruit-driven and straightforward, but not banal, with subtle elegance, a pleasant red blend without complications, immediate and easy to drink, without much depth and complexity. The palate is nicely balanced and the effect of the old amphorae is subtle. I see that the integration of the amphorae with the wines is much better when the amphorae are old (and possibly buried), like these ones.

 

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