Here are Big Reds rated as "Best Buys" by Wine Spectator, Wine Press NW, Wine & Spirits, and the Seattle Times. All are under $30, most are under $22. All offer outstanding value and quality.

1. McCrea Cellars "Non Sequitur" $20.25/$22.50
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Seattle Times Paul Gregutt says: "Here is a one-time-only gem showing the dazzling winemaking skills of Doug McCrea. Long story short, he latched onto some Cabernet franc, not your usual Rhone Ranger grape, and not knowing what else to do with it, tossed in about 1/3 syrah to come up with this nonvintage red blend that will take the enamel off your teeth while its dense fruit flavors knock the socks off your ankles."

1.5 Andrew Rich Coup D'Etat Rhone Red 03 $19.75/$21.95
A classic, and classy, Rhone blend with a northwest twist. Andrew goes to France every summer to hone his skills and this wine shows it. Andrew is a master at the grapes of the Rhone (remember he worked with CA Rhone Ranger Randal Graham of Bonny Doone Winery before moving to Oregon). A blend of 40% Grenache, 50% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah from famed Ciel du Cheval Vineyard. Rustic, big, classic "country french" with a WA twist.

2. Mark Ryan "Dissident" Red 04 $22.45/$24.95
New for 2006. Made from all the "dissident" fruit that wouldn't "conform" to Mark's premium red blends.

Marcus says: "If juice like this didn't fit into Mark's premium red blends, you've got to be excited about the 2004 Long Haul, Dead Horse, and Gun Metal. The Cabernet/Merlot/Syrah blend is as delicious as any good value I've tasted from Washington in months. Big and rich, yet easy to get into right away, the Dissident is a perfect bridge between the sold-out 2003 big reds and the upcoming 2004s. Don't be shy...get a case."

2. Gordon Brothers Merlot 03 $14.80/$16.45
Wine Spectator 90 points and "Best Buy" 7/06. "Rich and spicy, with a glowing core of ripe raspberry, strawberry and red cherry balanced with juicy acidity and a lavish blanket of creamy oak. It all mingles well, and the finish lingers. Drink now through 2010." H.S.

Wine Press Northwest - 2004 Platinum Judging – Platinum rating
“This was the top Merlot in the Platinum thanks to aromas of baker’s chocolate and smokey cherries and flavors of blackberries and rich coffee with a hint of white pepper on the finish. Well-managed tannins give this approachability now.”

3. Basel Cellars Claret 02 $18.41/$20.45
They reduced the price a lot and this is now one of Walla Walla's best deals. From a winemaker, Trey Busch, who's one of WA's rising stars, and most of whom's wines sell for $40+.

4. StoneCap Cabernet Sauvignon 04 $9.45/$10.50
Second label for Goose Ridge Winery, younger vine Estate fruit and nice round, balanced flavors at a simply great price.

5. Ryan Patrick Rock Island Red 04 $14.80/$16.45
Wine Spectator 88 points and "Best Buy": " Not a big wine, but remarkably persistent, framing its green olive-scented blackberry flavors with fine tannins that let the finish linger enticingly. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2010."

6. Chinook Winery Red Yakima VI $10.75/$11.95
Expect smooth, rich flavors suitable for pairing with summer cuisines from thie food-oriented winery. Nice medium bodied blend of Cab, merlot, Cab Franc.

7. Gordon Brothers Cabernet Sauvignon 03 $18.41/$20.45
Wine Spectator 90 points: "Supple and generous, a lush mouthful of ripe currant, plum and blueberry flavors, shaded with deft wafts of white pepper and cream as the finish picks up a hint of a smoky note. Tannins need cellaring to soften. Best after 2007."

8. Velocity Winery Red Wine 02/03 $26.99/$29.99
Wine Spectator rating 88 points for 02: "Smooth and polished, with a spicy edge to the harmonious currant and herb flavors, finishing with grace. Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah. Drink now through 2009." H.S.

9. Dusted Valley Barrel Thief Red 03 $19.75/$21.95
Ugly monkey on the label, dense color, GREAT nose, smoky black cherry, hint of vanilla intertwined with smoke in nose and palate. Hearty, dense, but smooth, chocolate in the finish. Meaty, firm tannins but smooth and well integrated. Just a lush, big chunk of barbeque red wine for burgers & steaks. Nothing esoteric or fancy, just rich red wine to drink now at a really great price.

10. Owen Roe Sharecropper's Cabernet Sauvignon 04 $16.16/$17.95
This is a rich, full bodied, ready to drink wine, filled with fresh fruit flavors, a great value and excellent followup to the wildly popular Sharecropper's Pinot noir.

10.5 "Splendor" Red Wine $15.07/$16.75
A soft, approachable blend of Washington State fruit: 11% Sangiovese, 47% Cabernet Franc & Merlot, 42% Cabernet Savignon, fruit from Roas Mystica Vineyard and Alder Ridge Vineyard. Good value. Nose has sasparilla, cola, sweet red and black fruit, reiterated in the flavors, which include lots of toasty cocoa and espresso bean. Unusual, different, fun.

HOT LISTS ------- Highest Rated Pinots New Releases Highest Rated NW Reds Avalon Recommends 2002 Pinots Under $20 Pinots $20-$30 Pinots Under $30 Reds Wine Spectator Highest Rated Cab NW Ice Wine NW Dessert Wines Samplers & Gifts Oregon Wineries ---------- 720 Cellars A to Z Winery Abacela Adea Adelsheim Airlie Alpine Alloro Amalie Robert Winery Amity Vineyards Ana Vineyard Andrew Rich Ankeny Vineyard Antica Terra Apolloni Vyds Aramenta Cellars Archery Summit Argyle Ayoub Vineyard Beaux Freres Bella Vida Belle Vallee Bellepente Benton Lane Beran Bergstrom Winery Bethel Heights Big Fire Black Cap Brandborg Winery Brick House Briggs Hill Broadley Brooks Cancilla Cellars Capitello Wines Carabella Cardwell Hill Carlton Cellars Carter Vineyard Chehalem Cherry Hill Coleman Vineyard Cooper Mountain Cottonwood Cristom Cuneo Cellars Daedalus Cellars Dalla Vina David Hill Winery De Ponte Cellars Del Rio Vineyard Dimmick Cellars Dobbes Family Domaine Coteau Domaine Drouhin Dom. Meriwether Domaine Serene Dominio IV Dusky Goose Et Fille Wines Goldschmidt Vyd Elemental Cellars Elk Cove Elvenglade Eola Hills Erath Eugene Wine Cellars Evesham Wood Eyrie Vineyards Foris Vineyards Francis Tannahill Griffin Creek Gypsy Dancer Hamacher Cellars Harmonia Winery Harris Bridge Hatcher Winewks Highpass Holloran Hood River Iris Hill Iris Hill J. Albin J.K. Carriere Jezebel Jigsaw Kathken Vineyard Ken Wright King Estate La Bete Wines Lachini Vineyard La Dolce Vita Lemelson Lumos Maysara Mckinlay Medici Methven Mystic Wines Natalies Estate O'Reilly's Owen Roe Panther Creek Patricia Green Cellars Penner Ash Pheasant Valley Ponzi Vineyard Ransom Wines Raptor Ridge Rex Hill Ribbon Ridge Vyd Ribbon Ridge Wnry Rivers Edge Roads End RockBlock Syrah Roots R Stuart & Co RoxyAnn Winery Ruby Carbiener Sass Winery Scott Paul Secret House Sharecropper's Shea Wine Cellars Siduri Wines Siltstone Silvan Ridge Sineann Sokol Blosser Solena Cellars Solera/Matin Soleil Soter Vineyards Spindrift Cellars Stafford Hill Stag Hollow St Bartholomew's St Innocent Stevenson Barrie Stoller Vineyd Stonecroft Stone Wolf Stony Mtn Table Rock Terrapin Ridge Territorial Vineyard The Pines 1872 Thomas Trium Winery Tualatin Tyee Tyrus Evan Van Duzer Velocity Winery Viento Wines Walnut City Westrey White Rose Willakenzie Willamette Valley Wine By Joe Winters Hill Witness Tree Zelko Winery Zerba Cellars Washington Wineries-- Abeja Wine Alexandria Nichole Amavi Cellars Andrew Will Apex Winery Arbor Crest Badger Mtn Barnard Griffin Basel Cellars Bergevin Betz Bookwalter Bridgman Buty Winery Cadence Camaraderie Canoe Ridge Canon del Sol Cascade Cliffs Cayuse Ch Ste Michelle Chandler Reach Chatter Creek Chinook Winery Col Solare Colvin Columbia Crest Columbia Winery Cote Bonneville Cougar Crest Covey Run CR Sandidge Di Stefano Domaine St Michelle Donedei Wines Dunham Winery Dusted Valley Fidelitas Fielding Hills Five Star Cellars Forgeron Cellars Fort Walla Walla Cellars Gamache Vintners Genesis Wines Goose Ridge Gordon Brothers Hedges Cellars Hightower Hogue Cellars Hogue Genesis Inniskillin Ice Wine Isenhower Cellars Jackson Triggs James Leigh Januik Wines JM Cellars Kestrel Vintners K Vintners Kiona Winery Knipprath Cellars L'Ecole No 41 Leonetti Cellar Lone Canary Long Shadows Mark Ryan Maryhill Winery McCrea Nelms Road Nicholas Cole Northstar Merlot Nota Bene Novelty Hill Owen Roe Owen Sullivan/ O-S Patit Creek Pepper Bridge Portteus Powers Preston Quilceda Creek Red Diamond Reininger Russell Creek Ryan Patrick Sagelands Saviah Cellars Seven Hills Sheridan Silverlake Six Prong Red Sky River Mead Snoqualmie Soos Creek Winery Spring Valley Stephenson Cellars Syncline Syzygy Wines Tamarack Cellars Terra Blanca Three Rivers Townshend Cellar Va Piano Vierra Vineyards Walla Walla Vintners Washington Hills Waterbrook Winery Whitman Cellars Willow Crest Woodhouse Woodward Canyon Zefina Winery Zerba Cellars British Col & Idaho-------- Inniskillin Jackson Triggs Sawtooth Winery Hells Canyon Red or White Varietal- Cabernet Franc Cabernet Sauvignon Gamay Noir Grenache Malbec Meritage Merlot Nebbiolo Pinot Noir Rhone Blends Sangiovese Syrah Tempranillo Zinfandel Red Misc. WHITE WINES Aligote Chardonnay Chenin Blanc Fruit - Berry Wine Fume Blanc Ice Wine and Port Gewurztraminer Melon Muller Thurgau Muscat Moscato Organic Wines Pinot Blanc Pinot Gris Riesling Rose Sauvignon Blanc Semillon Sparkling Wines Dessert Wine Viognier White Misc. Black Cap Pinot noir 04 $37.76/$41.95 Gordon Brothers Merlot 03 $14.80/$16.45 "Best Buy" 7-31-06 And 90 Points! McCrea Cellars Mourvedre 04 $26.95/$29.95 Donedei Wines Cabernet Sauvignon 02 $34.61/$38.45 Belle Pente Yamill Carlton Pinot noir 04 $22.45/$24.95 Beaux Freres Belles Soeurs 04 $40.50 Capitello Pinot noir 03 $29.66/$32.95 St Innocent PN Shea 04 $32.36 Dusted Valley Barrel Thief Red 03 $19.75/$21.95 Evesham Wood Chardonnay Puit Sec 05 $16.16 Chardonnay 05 $9.85 Blanc Du Puit Sec 04 $11.64 Amalie Robert Pinot noir Dijon 04 $33.26 Amalie Robert Pinot noir Amalie's Cuvee 04 $40.46