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Top 10 wines in the UK press

Furleigh Estate Classic Cuvée 2009

Olly Smith picked this English sparkler as his “wine of the week” in the Mail on Sunday, writing: “A rich national treasure to revel in, this ace bubbly won the English Sparkling Wine Trophy at the International Wine Challenge.”

Domaine Paul Mas Claude Val Blanc 2012

This wine is recommended by David Williams in The Observer, who reminded his readers “that independent wine merchants are just as ready with a deal as the supermarkets, offering discounts if you buy 12 or sometimes six bottles.”

He added: “This bargain of a white from the prolific and consistent Languedoc producer Paul Mas, for example, drops to £5.83 at Noel Young Wines if you go for a case of 12. A blend of several grape varieties, it has peachy fruit and a wild fennel-in-the breeze freshness that fits with leafier, greener salads as well as leeks. (from £6.95, jeroboams.co.uk; nywines.co.uk; jamesfearonwines.co.uk)”

Domaine de la Mordorée La Dame Rousse Rosé 2012

Williams also recommended this wine, writing: “Rosé may be popular in the UK, but it’s still not taken all that seriously – and certainly not worth crossing the £10-a-bottle rubicon for. You can understand why: with many it’s as if the winemaker has tapped some commands into a machine, choosing from a menu of pale to livid pink with flavours to match. Top Rhône red producer Domaine de la Mordorée goes about it differently, however, and the intensity of berry fruit and plumpness of texture mean it can cope with full-flavoured dishes such as roast pepper and artichokes. (from £14.30, fourwallswine.com; Berry Bros & Rudd; sheldonswines.com)”

Terrunyo Block 27 2009 Carmenère

This wine is recommended as a drop to enjoy with Sunday lunch by Terry Kirby in The Independent. He wrote: “From the Concha y Toro stable, drawn from selected single vineyards, with special soils and microclimates in Chile’s Maipo Valley. Powerful upfront flavours of raspberries and underlying ones of chocolate and tobacco, this will mellow wonderfully with bottle ageing. Or drink now, with lighter game dishes or steak. £18.95, winedirect.co.uk; £19.95, slurp.co.uk.”

Monferrato Rosso 2011

At the other end of the scale is this “bargain basement” wine picked out by Kirby. He wrote: “A great-value everyday red here, from Piedmont in north-west Italy, made from Barbera and Merlot grapes. A versatile pizza’n’pasta wine, it is soft, fresh and juicy, with plenty of autumnal plum and blackberry flavours and more depth of flavour that might normally be expected for the price. £5.49 (until 29 September, normally £6.49), Marks & Spencer.”

Casa d’Aragona 2010 Salice Salentino

Victoria Moore, in the Daily Telegraph, picked out this as one of the “wine deals of the week”, writing: “Italy’s heel is a great source of rich, round, warming, let-it-all-hang-out reds. This tastes of frankincense and bramble jelly: good with a pizza covered in fatty salami, sweetly caramelised fried red onions and a bit of chilli. (13%, Majestic, £6.99 down from £8.99 when you buy two).”

2011 Tanners, Mosel Riesling

This is the wine that Matthew Jukes describes as “one of the most captivating white wine styles on the planet”, in the Daily Mail.

He added: “This off-dry Mosel beauty is made at a 300 year old estate by the charismatic Dirk Richter for one of the most professional wine merchants in our land – Tanners. Give it a whirl. (£10.95, Tanners tel. 01743 234455 & www.tanners-wines.co.uk).”

2012 Mâcon-Villages, Uchizy, Raphäel Sallet

Jukes also recommended this wine, writing: “Brand new and bristling with energy and vivacity this nervy chardonnay is the epitome of Southern Burgundy in the glass. Elegant, sophisticated and gripping with any fish dish. (£10.99, Marks & Spencer).”

2012 Mâcon Rouge

This wine recommendation comes from Hamish Anderson in the Sunday Telegraph, he wrote: “Good Burgundy under a tenner is a rarity, and will be particularly so for the 2012 vintage, which was catastrophically small. But quality was high, as exemplified by this Mâcon. Darker in profile than usual, thanks to the vintage, it is none the less juicy and satisfying. (£9.99, Marks & Spencer).”

2012 Laudun Reserve du Boulas

And finally Rose Murray Brown MW, in The Scotsman, recommended this wine, writing: “This white Côtes du Rhône Villages from the Southern Rhône has that appealing long, textured and savoury flavours the region does well but its herbal influences are of fennel. There are also touches of orange to embellish the major red apple flavours but, since no oak is used in the wine’s production, those fruit flavours shine through brightly. (£8.49 at M&S).”

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