Best Merlot Wine Reviews Under $20

To many people, wine is a luxury that only the rich and famous have with dinner. Ranging from nine dollars to sometimes in the hundreds-a luxury most people just can't afford. While wine is much better for the body compared to beer, it is difficult to find that wine that is a perfect blend suitable for your taste. With the many different kinds of wines available, it is easy to make a mistake when picking a wine, but when there is family over for the holidays, picking the right wine means everything. So look no further than this list to find the best Merlot wines under $20.

2003 Fat Bastard Merlot- $9.99
This is a brand many new wine drinks buy for its hip name. The wine is simple and very casual. The back of the label says, "enjoy with food and friends," but don't expect to find any information about pairing suggestions. All the flavors are relatively weak. The dusty cherry flavor is quite mild and not very fruity and has a short finish, but it is a good causal drinking wine.

2000 Pedroncelli Dry Creek Valley Merlot- $15.99
On the label of this wine, it says "intensity and flavor," but doesn't say what kind of flavors. This wine is a tad fruity than the Fat Bastard wine, it was still a little lacking. The wine is thin where thin and thick refer to the mouthfeel of the wine. Thin means it has the flow of water and thick mean it has the flow of cream.

1999 Carmody McKnight Merlot- $15.99
This wine is perfect if you are looking for a spicy and smooth wine. It has a hint of sweetness that develops into nice fruit flavors as you drink. There is also a nice flavorful finish on the wine as well. Finish on a wine refers to how long the favor lingers in your mouth after you drink it.

2001 Tobin James Merlot- $16.99
For its price, it is a well balanced wine that is not too heavy but not to thin either. The flavors are spicy, rich and complex, but also nothing that stood out above the others that made it one flavor. This is the perfect mellow wine to serve with a dish that has a special flavor you want to appreciate. It won't overwhelm the food's flavors, but it is still nice to drink.