Vivino Reveals Most Popular French Wines Under $20

Vivino just released its report on the most popular French wines. The review platform now boasts over 22 million users and is the largest wine review app, giving it a wealth of insight into what people are drinking now.

It comes as no surprise that a bunch of Bordeaux first growths nabbed the top spot as the most popular wines from France. However, the most popular value wines under $20 are a little less obvious and are where things get interesting.

The keyword with the under $20 list is that these are the most “popular” wines, not “best”, on Vivino. While these wines did not receive the highest ratings, they are the most reviewed, and likely the most widely available.

After taking a closer look, our conclusion is that the St. Emilion Grand Cru stamp and Cotes Du Rhone AOC mark are sufficient quality thresholds to ensure quality at the under $20 price point. Bordeaux AOC and Bordeaux Superieur, however, are not sufficient guarantees of quality — buyers proceed with caution.

Union De Producteurs De Saint-Émilion Saint-Émilion Grand Cru ($13.19) – With an average rating of 3.7 stars on the 2015 vintage and 1 rating of 4.0 stars on the 2016 vintage, this Bordeaux might be your winner. Reviewers appreciated the dark fruit on the palate, ranging from blueberry to black cherry, along with some spice and tobacco notes on the palate.

E. Guigal Côtes-Du-Rhône ($14.98) – Great news: the most recent vintage, 2016, was actually rated 3.8 stars, which is a solid score on Vivino. Reviewers noted “smooth” tannins and dark fruit.

Famille Perrin Côtes-Du-Rhône Réserve Rouge ($10.98) – Interestingly, despite just 3.5 stars on the 2015 vintage, the reviews of Famille Perrin were the most positive of the most popular under $15 wines. Reviews noted red fruit, from cherry to raspberry, along with hints of herbs and pepper.

La Vieille Ferme Rouge ($7.98) – This is made in the Ventoux AOC, which is located in the Vaucluse region of southeastern Rhone. While reviews are mixed for prior vintages, with some liking the fruit-forward nature of this wine and others finding it a bit too acidic. The 2016 vintage looks promising, earning 4.1 stars from just 6 reviews to date.

Mouton-Cadet Bordeaux ($10.98) – Opt for the 2014 or 2015 vintages, which have slightly higher ratings than other recent vintages. Caveat: the reviews are mixed, with common descriptors ranging from “strong” in reference to the tannins and fruit flavor, to red fruit such as berry and cherry.

Château De Seguin Bordeaux Supérieur ($10.98) – Go for the 2015 vintage if you can find it. 2015 earned 4.0 stars relative to the 2016 vintage, which is currently sitting at 3.5 stars. Reviews, while mixed, commended the full-bodied nature of this wine and dark fruit on the nose.