Odoardi Rosso, "1480" - 2015

On the hunt for quality red wines under $20, I always recommend folks look to overlooked regions for the values. In this case, we travel to Calabria and find Odoardi, a small, multi-generational family estate that by no means has ever sought the spotlight, but has always endeavored to maintain winemaking traditions of their region. '1480' is their table wine, primarily Gaglioppo along with a smattering of indigenous southern Italian grapes, with enough bottle age to add a spicy complexity. Medium-to-full bodied with zippy acidity and cutting tannins, this could be a stand-in for your everyday Chianti Classico. But there's also abundant fruit, and a smoky edge, qualities you'd find in a good Pugliese Primitivo. Either way, this a lovely choice for red sauce, and would be just perfect with a bone-in veal parmigiana.