Top Bargain Red Wines of 2012

This is a list of the top bargain wines we tasted in 2012. The members of the Vintage Wine Tasting club tasted and evaluated an estimated 350 bargain wines in 2012. Most were done individually and others were tasted together at our formal blind tasting meetings. Occasionally, we get together to sample wines for special social media events like Tweetups and international-designated wine days such as #Cabernet Day.

We have 15 bargain red wines on our list for 2012. The main requirement in selecting the bargains wines is that they must be available today. That means we have left off some of our top favorites of the year. It seems useless to have a wine on the list that is no longer on the shelves. This list is, in a sense, a shopping list for readers of this blog. We double-checked and each wine should be available from the retailer we have listed for each wine.

Top Bargain Red Wines of 2012

• Robert Mondavi 2009 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon – $17-$20 various – 90 Pts.
• Masperla Priorat 2007 Spain – $16.99 Redwood City Costco – 90 Pts.
• Columbia Crest 2009 Horse Haven Hills H3 Merlot $10.99 Costco – 90 Pts.
• The Zolo Reserve Gaucho Select 2009 Malbec – $10.99 BevMo – 90 Pts.
• Locations E Spain 2011 – Weimax Wines, Some Safeway Stores $16.99 – 89 Pts.
• Bodegas Nekeas “El Chaparral de Vega Sindoa” – KL Wines $12.99 - 89 Pts.
• Renato Ratti Barbera D’Alba – $18.99 Weimax Wines – 89 Pts.
• Tres Picos Campo de Borja 2009 Garnacha – $15.99 at Bev Mo – 89 Pts.
• Pedroncelli 2010 Friends Red – $10 Weimax Wines – 89 Pts.
• Manzanita Creek 2009 3 Vines Zinfandel – Costco $15.99 – 89 Pts.
• Colonia Las Liebras Bonarda $8.99 Weimax Wines – 89 Pts.
• Urban Uco 2011 Malbec Tempranillo $8.99 – $9.99 Costco, KL Wines - 88 Pts.
• Shenandoah Vineyards 2010 Amador Valley Zinfandel – KL Wines $9.99 – 88 Pts.
• Velo 2010 Malbec – $12.99 Weimax Wines – 88 Pts.
• Pascual Toso 2011 – $8.99 Costco, others stores – 88 Pts.