The Best Cabernet Sauvignon Wines Under $20

This deep violet-colored wine offers a bouquet of blackberry, caramel and dried thyme. Luscious blackberry, black cherry, dark chocolate, licorice and violet flavors are encased in a sheath of opulent tannins that recedes into an enduring finish. Best Buy. 94 Points — Mike DeSimone

This densely flavorful yet relaxed wine rests on a cushion of plush, fine tannins that carry its earthy, black fruit, baking spice and dark chocolate flavors across the palate and into a soft finish. Best from 2026. Best Buy. 92 Points — Stacy Briscoe

Lush and lovely aromas of black currant, violet and fruit-topped ice-cream sundae pull the nose into this hedonistic bottling. Those fresh, juicy flavors of blueberry sorbet and boysenberry syrup are dusted in cocoa on the finish, where the tannins hold firm. Best Buy. 92 Points — Matt Kettmann

Refreshing acidity and delicious, lively aromas of rose petals open this elegant wine. Vanilla, raspberries, strawberries and garrigue flavors carry the palate, while medium tannins balance it all out. Best Buy. 92 Points

Ripe red plums, wild blackberries, sweet herbs and savory spice open the aroma of this polished wine. The well-structured palate is fresher than that of most Cabernets, with vibrant acidity, lifted flavors, floral notes and fine tannins on the finish. Best Buy. 92 Points— Jeff Porter

Deep violet-red in the glass, this Cabernet Sauvignon has a bouquet of black currant, dark chocolate and clove. It is smooth in the mouth, with polished tannins and blackberry, black cherry, cocoa powder and licorice flavors, with a touch of dried thyme in the satisfying finish. Best Buy. 92 Points — M.D.

From a historic producer based in the Hunter Valley, on the other side of Australia, this expresses its origins in the west with a touch of east coast personality. Heady herb-and-spice aromas of green peppercorn, bay leaf, tobacco and eucalypt are bookended by seaweed and graphite notes. Somewhere in between lurks plump plum and currant fruit. There’s a silky succulence and cranberry tang to the mid-weight palate. The fruit flows to the finish where granular tannins creep up slowly. Best Buy. 92 Points — Christina Pickard

Hints of nutmeg and rosemary make the strawberry and cherry nose more interesting and aromatic. It’s full and savory, with chocolate notes adding an extra layer of flavor. Berries and green bell pepper mingle on the smooth palate and set the stage for a lasting eucalyptus finish. Best Buy. 91 Points— Jesica Vargas

This superb value strikes first with a marine-themed nose of a salty ocean breeze, a driftwood beach fire, blackberries, olive oil and a trace of bacon fat. Smooth and viscous, with dark plum and bittersweet chocolate-covered cherries coating the palate. Best Buy. 91 Points— Michael Alberty

Lucid aromas of mint, thyme, green peppercorn and pencil shavings are layered onto a core of plump cherry and raspberry fruit. Granular, hulking tannins cinch the tongue, but they leave ample space for the juicy red-berry fruit on this unmistakably Aussie Cab. Best Buy. 91 Points — C.P.