Best Cabernet Sauvignon Under $20: 8 Critic-Rated Bottles

The best Cabernet Sauvignon under $20 right now comes mostly from California’s large, sunny appellations, with good company from Washington and Chile. Our top pick is Hahn’s 2024 Cabernet Sauvignon, which Wine Enthusiast scored 91 points and which costs about $13 to $14. If you want to spend closer to $10, Bogle 2023 and McManis 2024 both earned 90 points. This list is for anyone who wants a dependable, full-flavored red for steak night or a weekday burger without paying Napa prices.

How we picked

We don’t taste the wines ourselves. Every bottle below has a published score from a professional critic for the exact vintage we name, and a typical shelf price we checked at two or more US retailers in October 2026. We then applied the price thresholds in our Blue Book Value method: a wine with 90 to 92 points is a Great Value at $20 or less, and a wine with 88 or 89 points is a Great Value at $15 or less and a Good Value up to $20. Prices vary by state and store, so treat ours as a guide, and check that the vintage on the shelf matches the one we list.

The best Cabernet Sauvignon under $20 at a glance

Wine	Critic score	Typical price (Oct 2026)	Verdict
Hahn Cabernet Sauvignon 2024 (California)	91, Wine Enthusiast	about $13–$14	Great Value
Bogle Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 (California)	90, Wine Enthusiast	about $9–$10	Great Value
McManis Cabernet Sauvignon 2024 (Lodi)	90, Wine Enthusiast	about $10–$12	Great Value
Joel Gott 815 Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 (California)	90, Wine Enthusiast	about $15–$20	Great Value
Josh Cellars Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 (North Coast)	91, Wine Enthusiast	about $18–$20	Great Value
Miguel Torres Cordillera de los Andes Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 (Maipo Valley, Chile)	91, Wine Enthusiast	about $20	Great Value
J. Lohr Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 (Paso Robles)	91, Wine Enthusiast; 88, Wine Review Online	about $16–$18	Good Value
Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 (Columbia Valley, Washington)	89, Wine Enthusiast	about $15 (range $13–$18)	Great Value

All scores are on a 100-point scale. Where a wine has only one professional score, we say so below.

Hahn Cabernet Sauvignon 2024

• Score: 91 points, Wine Enthusiast (July 2026 issue). This is the only professional score we found for the 2024.
• Price: about $13 to $14, checked October 2026 ($13.33 at Lisa’s Liquor Barn, $12.99 at Marketview Liquor, $13.99 at Binny’s).
• Verdict: Great Value.

Wine Enthusiast’s reviewer describes an opulent, red-fruited Cabernet: baked strawberry, raspberry and a little spice on the nose, then cherry and pomegranate with some grip from the tannins (the drying, mouth-coating feel that comes from grape skins and oak). At 14.5% alcohol it is a ripe, generous style. Our pick: this is the bottle we’d buy first from this list, because it pairs a top-tier score with a price well under the limit. Serve it with grilled sausages, burgers or a mushroom pizza.

Bogle Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

• Score: 90 points, Wine Enthusiast (May 2026 issue), the only professional score we found for this vintage.
• Price: about $9 to $10, checked October 2026 ($9.99 at Lisa’s Liquor Barn for the 2023, $8.99 regular price at Binny’s).
• Verdict: Great Value.

The reviewer found a focused, dark-fruited wine with black plum, licorice and vanilla, followed by blackberry, dried herbs and a bittersweet chocolate note. Bogle makes this Cabernet in large volumes, so it is one of the easiest bottles on this list to find. It works with meatloaf, barbecue ribs or a cheeseburger.

McManis Cabernet Sauvignon 2024

• Score: 90 points, Wine Enthusiast (July 2026 issue), the only professional score we found.
• Price: about $10 to $12, checked October 2026 ($11.95 at BuyWinesOnline and $11.99 at 67 Wine, both for the 2024; $9.99 at Binny’s).
• Verdict: Great Value.

This one comes from Lodi, in California’s Central Valley. Wine Enthusiast’s reviewer calls the 2024 concentrated, with blackberry, boysenberry and baking spice, and fresh acidity on the finish. In our view it is the best Cabernet here for under about $12. Try it with a weeknight steak sandwich or chili.

Joel Gott 815 Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

• Score: 90 points, Wine Enthusiast (April 2026 issue). Retailers also quote a James Suckling score, but we could not confirm which vintage it applies to, so the verdict rests on the Wine Enthusiast score alone.
• Price: about $15 to $20, checked October 2026 ($16.79 at Lisa’s Liquor Barn and $19.99 regular price at 67 Wine, both for the 2022; $14.99 regular price at Binny’s).
• Verdict: Great Value.

The reviewer describes a fresh style with wild red berries, plum and cassis (blackcurrant), a touch of citrus and toasty oak. It is a little brighter and less heavy than some California Cabernets at this price, which makes it flexible at the table: roast chicken, pork chops or a cheese board all work.

Josh Cellars Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

• Score: 91 points, Wine Enthusiast (May 2026 issue), the only professional score we found.
• Price: about $18 to $20, checked October 2026 ($19.99 at Binny’s and $17.99 at Lisa’s Liquor Barn, both for the 2023).
• Verdict: Great Value.

This is the “North Coast Reserve” bottling, not the cheaper California Cabernet in the same brand family, so check the label. Wine Enthusiast’s reviewer found dark cherry, blackcurrant, toasty oak and mocha, then blackberry and vanilla on the palate. It is the richest, oakiest wine in this list and a good match for a grilled ribeye. For more steak ideas, see our guide to wine with steak.

Miguel Torres Cordillera de los Andes Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

• Score: 91 points, Wine Enthusiast (October 2026 issue), the only professional score we found.
• Price: about $20, checked October 2026 ($19.96 at Astor Wines, labeled “Reserva Especial, Cordillera de los Andes”, and $19.95 at BuyWinesOnline).
• Verdict: Great Value, right at the $20 limit.

This one comes from Chile’s Maipo Valley. The reviewer describes a fresher, more savory style than the California wines here, with red fruit, mountain herbs, lively acidity and fine but firm tannins. Our pick for anyone who finds California Cabernet too sweet-tasting. It suits lamb chops, empanadas or grilled vegetables. Check that the label says “Cordillera de los Andes”.

J. Lohr Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

• Scores: 91 points, Wine Enthusiast (April 2026 issue); 88 points, Wine Review Online (May 2026). The middle of those two scores is 89.5, which counts in the 88 to 89 band under our method: a median between two bands goes in the lower one.
• Price: about $16 to $18, checked October 2026 ($17.99 at Lisa’s Liquor Barn for the 2023; $15.99 at Binny’s, which doesn’t state the vintage online).
• Verdict: Good Value.

Seven Oaks is a widely sold Paso Robles Cabernet, and the two critics see it a little differently. Wine Enthusiast’s reviewer calls it a well-made crowd-pleaser without big surprises, while Wine Review Online’s reviewer liked the dark fruit and chocolate-coffee notes but found it light in body for the price. That split is why it lands as a Good Value rather than a Great Value. If you like Paso Robles reds, our Paso Robles wine tasting guide covers the region.

Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

• Score: 89 points, Wine Enthusiast (December 2025 issue), the only professional score we found. One retailer lists 91 points for this vintage, but Wine Enthusiast’s own page shows 89, so we use 89.
• Price: about $13 to $18, checked October 2026 ($17.95 regular price at BuyWinesOnline and $14.99 at 67 Wine, both for the 2022; $12.99 at Binny’s).
• Verdict: Great Value (typical price about $15).

This is the Washington pick, from the Columbia Valley. The reviewer found a straightforward, lighter-bodied wine with blackberry, dark chocolate and espresso. It is the lightest red here, which suits pasta with meat sauce, pizza or a mid-week roast.

What to look for in a Cabernet under $20

• A broad appellation. Most good Cabernet at this price says “California”, “Lodi”, “Paso Robles”, “North Coast”, “Columbia Valley” or “Maipo Valley” on the label. A bottle that says “Napa Valley” for under $20 is unusual and worth checking against a review before you buy.
• A score that matches the vintage. Shelf tags often show an old score next to a newer bottle. Look for the publication name and vintage on the tag.
• The style you like. Big, oaky Cabernets taste of vanilla, mocha and ripe black fruit (the Josh Reserve here). Fresher ones lean to red fruit, herbs and acidity (the Torres and Joel Gott). If you prefer softer reds, compare our guide to Merlot wine, Cabernet’s rounder Bordeaux partner.

Tip: Young Cabernet can taste tight straight from the bottle. We’d suggest pouring it into a jug or decanter about 20 to 30 minutes before dinner, and serving it slightly cool, around 60 to 65°F.

How to find more good-value wine

Prices and vintages change through the year, so the best way to keep finding good Cabernet is to read the shelf tag like a critic. Check who gave the score and for which vintage, and compare the score with the price using our thresholds. Our guide to wine ratings explains what the numbers mean and why critics disagree, and we recheck the prices on this page at least every three months.