The 15 Best Red Wines to Drink of 2024 (2024)

Wine lovers turn to cabernet sauvignon for intensity and to pinot noir for elegance—but if there's any grape that can match them both on each count, it's nebbiolo. Traditionally, the most celebrated nebbiolo hails from the Italian region of Piedmont, where the thick-skinned grape isn't harvested until late in the growing season, around when the autumn fog begins to roll in (nebbiolo takes its name from "nebbia," the Italian word for fog). And within Piedmont, two villages have long produced the finest nebbiolos in the world: Barolo and Barbaresco.

If there's one person who can take credit for putting Piedmont nebbiolo on the international map, it has to be Angelo Gaja. Beginning with the release of his first vintage of Barbaresco in 1961, Gaja began pioneering modern winemaking practices (green harvesting, aging in small barrels, etc.) that were previously unheard of in Piedmont. Although he was considered to be controversial in his early career, the more recent releases of Gaja's flagship Barbaresco may be considered among the region's most faithful and traditional in their expression. This means the wines display signature nebbiolo notes of violet and tar, along with wild berry, cherry, coriander, cedar, candied orange peel, baking spice, and dark chocolate—all complimented by great depth and gorgeous tannins that suggest they'd age well for several decades. This is a legendary wine from a legendary producer and a legendary drinking experience.

Region: Barbaresco, Italy | ABV: 14.5% | Tasting Notes: Violet, tar, cherry, baking spice

One of the top names in all of Burgundy is Louis Latour, and one of the most unique wines it produces is Château Corton Grancey—a blend of four Grand Cru vineyards (Bressandes, Perrières, Grèves, and Clos du Roi).

Delivering profound notes of black and red currants, blackberry fruit, blood orange citrus, and dried raspberries underscored by baking spices and dried red florals, this pinot noir is also a textural masterpiece with mouthwatering acidity and grippy cedar-like tannins.

Region: Côte Beaune, Burgundy, France | ABV: 14% | Tasting Notes: Red currants, blood orange, dried raspberries, baking spice

It's hard to think of a red grape that's more quintessentially Italian than Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, and it's hard to think of a producer who elevates the grape to its highest potential more consistently than Emidio Pepe. Since founding his winery in 1964, Pepe—who still oversees the production of the wines, along with his daughters and granddaughters—has earned a well-deserved reputation for producing rich, hearty, powerful Montepulciano using only the most traditional winemaking practices.

"It's farmed biodynamically, destemmed by hand, pressed by foot, and aged in cement tanks for a minimum of two years with no additives or manipulation," says Shane Lopez, wine director at Melanie Wine Bar in Los Angeles. "It's a pure, traditional, and age-worthy expression of place resulting in a stunningly complex and structured red that will only get better with time."

Region: Abruzzo, Italy | ABV: 13% | Tasting Notes: Black currant, raw meat, black olives

If Spain classified its wineries as they do in Bordeaux, with "first growths” dominating the pyramid of wineries ranked from first to fifth, Vega Sicilia would be at the top. This winery is owned by the Álvarez family and is located in Ribera del Duero.

A decade in the making, this 2009 vintage is a blend of 94 percent tempranillo with 6 percent cabernet sauvignon, aged six years in oak prior to bottling, remaining another four years in the bottle before being released. Beautiful ripe flavors fill the mouth, redolent of red cherries and spiced plums, while the palate reveals a fresh yet elegant wine wavering between deep forest underbrush, cigar box, and muddled blueberries. A special (and expensive) wine, this should really be enjoyed on a special occasion.

Region: Ribera del Duero, Spain | ABV: 14% | Tasting Notes: Spiced plums, forest underbrush, cigar box

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For far too long, Portugal was thought of as little more than the place where port wine came from, but consumers are finally discovering that the nation produces some excellent red wines that are often available at bargain prices. Owned by the Symington family, Quinta de Roriz first produced port two centuries ago, and today, the estate encompasses 222 acres. Half of the property is planted with Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca vines—Portugal’s widely planted and most popular red table wine grapes. They're beloved because they're capable of producing reds of great depth and character.

The Prazo de Roriz is a remarkably complex red wine for the price, showing gorgeous medium to deep ruby hues in the glass. Bright, wild berry aromas and fine French cedar spices join cranberry and raspberry, with a touch of blood orange and baking spices on the palate, supported by firm tannins.

Region: Douro, Portugal| ABV: 13.8% | Tasting Notes: Cranberry, raspberry, blood orange, cedar

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In 1971, years before California wines were garnering much international esteem, botanist Michael Benedict and his friend Richard Sanford planted their eponymous vineyard in the Santa Rita Hills. They'd been seeking a cool-climate site that might yield grapes capable of producing wines with enough depth and elegance to rival the classics of Europe—and, half a century later, their experiment has proved a resounding success, with the Sanford & Benedict Vineyard establishing itself as the source of some of the most sought-after pinot noir grapes in California. Tyler winemaker Justin Willett has been lucky enough to craft a celebrated pinot from this vineyard for over a decade now.

"Utilizing cooler climate single vineyard sites with close proximity to the ocean, Justin Willett creates perfectly balanced pinots and chardonnays," says Lopez. "All of his wines are made the exact same to express the individual terroirs—and this juicy, vibrant, and salty offering is among the elite wines of all of California."

Region: Santa Rita Hills, California | ABV: 13.5% ABV | Tasting Notes: Black cherries, red currant, mocha

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Today, thanks to co-owner Peter Mondavi Jr.'s leadership, Charles Krug's winery is a pillar of Napa Valley. With longtime winemaker Stacy Clark at the helm, the wines are utterly delightful, classically structured, and decidedly age-worthy.

Sourced from five estate sites in Yountville, the 2018 vintage has an incredibly modest price and impeccable pedigree. Wonderfully rich blackberry fruits mingle with brown spices, tobacco, and vanilla bean. The cabernet sauvignon is full-bodied with black cherry, blackberry compote, and black currants—all supported by lovely fine-grained tannins.

Region: Napa Valley, California| ABV: 14.1%| Tasting Notes: Blackberry, brown spices, vanilla bean

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Featuring a maritime climate and famously situated on the same line of latitude as France's pinot-producing Burgundy region, Oregon's Willamette Valley has been recognized for decades as an excellent growing site for quality pinot noir. Cooper Mountain Vineyards, founded in the early 1990s by Bob Gross, always had its sights set on organic and biodynamic farming, from “earth to air,” as the estate itself claims.

The winery became organic-/biodynamic-certified more than 20 years ago and has been a pioneering force for responsible farming in Oregon. Now joined by Gross' daughter, Barbara Gross, Cooper Mountain’s pinots are reaching new heights. This delicious expression oozes with flavors of black cherries, cranberries, dried rose petals, and damp earth.

Region: Willamette Valley, Oregon | ABV: 13.5% | Tasting Notes: Black cherries, dried roses, earth

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Washington State is further north than Oregon—but, paradoxically, it's best known for producing grapes that thrive in warmer climates. That's because the majority of Oregon's vineyards are located west of the Cascade mountains, exposing them to maritime weather and creating ideal growing conditions for cool-climate grapes like pinot. Washington's vineyards, meanwhile, lie mostly east of the Cascades, so the maritime influences are blocked—resulting in long, warm growing seasons that are perfect for hearty reds like cabernet sauvignon.

Only the second winery to be established in Washington's prolific Walla Walla Valley, family-run Woodward Canyon has been churning out delicious reds since 1981, and their “Artist Series” cabernet is a blend of grapes sourced from some of the most highly regarded vineyards in the entire state, including the legendary Sagemoor Vineyard. "The result is a silky, medium- to full-bodied wine bursting with notes of ripe black cherry, blueberry, cassis, warm baking spices, cedar, black pepper, menthol, and cocoa," says Claire Coppi, a certified sommelier and a cast member on SOMM TV. "Wait about five years before opening, as the wine benefits highly from a little time to integrate in the bottle."

Region: Washington | ABV: 14.5% | Tasting Notes: Black cherry, menthol, baking spices

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Achaval-Ferrer's Quimera blend is a wine of remarkable precision: co-founder Santiago Achaval and winemaker Roberto Cipresso comb the vineyards, tasting grapes and hand-selecting vines specifically for this release. Their typical blend consists of malbec, cabernet franc, merlot, and cabernet sauvignon, all grapes that originally hail from France's Bordeaux region—with malbec, Argentina's most highly-regarded grape variety, playing the starring role.

Loaded with blackberry fruits and marvelous spices, this wine is intensely concentrated with layers of black cherry compote, salted dark chocolate, and cedar spices weaving in and out of vanilla and clove. There’s a palate-coating richness that builds to a serious 60-second finish, with rose petal and dried herb flourishes.

Region: Mendoza, Argentina| ABV: 14.5%| Tasting Notes: Cherry compote, salty dark chocolate, cedar spice

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Penfolds, unquestionably the greatest winemaking estate in Australia, is best known for its iconic wine, Penfolds Grange. Chief winemaker Peter Gago made it his mission to produce well-structured wines with deep flavors and, as he puts it, “a propensity to age.”

While both cabernet sauvignon and syrah (known in the southern hemisphere as shiraz) originally hail from France, tradition and geography dictated that they typically weren't ever blended together in that country. The Australians, however, discovered a real fondness for the iconoclastic pairing, and Penfolds' Bin 389 combines 54 percent cabernet sauvignon with 46 percent shiraz—a characteristic Aussie blend. Often referred to as Baby Grange, the Bin 389 is offered at a more approachable price than the Grange, making it a recognizable crowd-pleaser that can be enjoyed by enthusiasts the world over.

Region: South Australia, Australia | ABV: 14.5%| Tasting Notes: Black cherries, cassis, new leather, fruit cake

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With its cool climate and mountainous terrain, New Zealand is home to some of the world's best regions for growing quality pinot noir. Deep, dark-fruited, lively, and breathtaking wines are being made in places like Central Otago.And in the heart of this region lies Felton Road, maker of several complex pinots.

Their Cornish Point Vineyard is planted on an old gold miners' settlement and is unique in being bordered by water on both sides, which helps to minimize frost. The rows of vines are orientated to 345 degrees so that the grapes receive an extra hour of morning sun and one less of the hotter afternoon sun. Coupled with biodynamic farming, the result is a deeply creamy wine with fleshy red berry flavors, dried cherries, subtly dusty tannins, and a mocha-tinged finish. It's all supported by juicy and racy acidity.

Region: Central Otago, New Zealand | ABV: 13.5% | Tasting Notes: Red berries, dried cherries, mocha

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Perhaps the greatest new Bordeaux release in decades, Légende wines come from the exceptional Bordeaux house of Domaines Barons de Rothschild (owners of Lafite, which was established as a First Growth in the 1855 classification). Truly value-driven, these wines represent the expression of Bordeaux’s notable appellations, from Médoc to Saint-Émilion to Pauillac.

This Bordeaux Rouge is packed with red berry fruit, warm wild berry compote, vanilla, earth, and sweet oak spices. Best of all, this wine retails for an affordable price.

Region: Bordeaux, France | ABV: 12.5% | Tasting Notes: Berry compote, earth, sweet oak spice

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This winery, under the watch of winemaker Dan Petroski, doesn't just focus on making world-class wine. Petroski helps shed light on the necessary work for studying climate change, and in 2015, Larkmead converted to organic farming practices.

Cabernet collectors should stockpile wines from the 2016 vintage, which are high in naturally vibrant acidity due to a moderate growing season. Hallmark signifiers are deep, dark fruit and a distinct freshness, all of which the 2016 Larkmead has in spades. Adding to that are incredibly alluring brown spices, fresh-turned earth, and tobacco wrapped in dark chocolate, with mouthwatering purple violet notes and firm, dusty tannins.

This is a wine to contemplate over many hours—and, ideally, over the next decade, with a bottle or two every year.

Region: Napa Valley, California| ABV: 14.7% | Tasting Notes: Dark fruit, tobacco, fresh-turned earth, dark chocolate

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Italy is home to some truly legendary red wines, from the Brunello of Tuscany to the Barolo and Barbaresco of Piedmont, to the Amarone of the Veneto. Further south, hulking reds made from aglianico and sagrantino are establishing themselves as contemporary legends in their own right. All of these wines are brooding and full-bodied, however—what about a breezy Italian red that you can serve chilled but still offers serious flavor and character?

If you’ve never explored the world of earthy Sicilian reds, specifically from Etna, we can’t recommend them enough. These complex, terroir-driven wines are grown in the ash-laden volcanic soils of the region, which impart an undeniable mineral quality to the juice. This mouthwatering expression oozes with flavors of red berries, smoky ash, black pepper, and clove.

Region: Etna, Sicily, Italy | ABV: 13.5% ABV | Tasting Notes: Red berries, ash, black pepper, clove

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