I know that this is likely to sound insulting, but it is not intended as such. So at the risk of offending, here goes....

 

An anniversary is, of course, a special day. And the meals we have on those days are often the most memorable and extravagant of any we have the whole year.  I'm just not sure that such a special evening cries out for a $20 bottle of Cabernet. At that price point, you are really looking at grocery store level wines. In other words, these are wines that your brother and sister-in-law could pick up on a moment's notice at any supermarket. Not really what one might have in mind on an anniversary.  And if they choose to dine out on their anniversary, and bring along a special bottle, a high-end restaurant is not likely to look too kindly on a couple bringing in a supermarket wine.  But all is not lost.  I would take your estimated $240 budget (12 x $20) and use that to buy 4 or 5 bottles of wine in the $50 range. This will get you wine that is far more rare, far more age-worthy, and frankly, far more special.  With that budget, I would look for either the 2005 Drinkward Peschon Cabernet or the 2005 Ghost Block Cabernet. Both are highly rated, well regarded, and can be found right now for $50-$55 per bottle in California.  Go to www.wine-searcher.com (which is a search engine for wine shopping) and look for those. Several shops are carrying these wines right now, but may not for long. 

 

I think that a couple celebrating their anniversary would much rather have a "once-a-year" bottle on their special day as opposed to a "I can drink this anytime" bottle.

True and in that case it doesn't matter if it is or isn't expensive wine--the outcome is the same without the proper storage...

Dhaval