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Top 10 wines in the UK press

Jancis Robinson picks a wine from an area, which is, ”dramatically underpriced, and which produces a vast array of different wine styles,” while Matthew Jukes says, “make a note of this wine because it is a crazy price for a mature, oak-aged, plush Spanish red”.

Writing in the Financial Times, Robinson featured wine pricing and some possible inconsistencies.

She wrote: “Wine pricing is all over the place, and has never been a sure guide to quality.

“But this is particularly true about French wine. Certain regions – notably Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne – manage to command sky-high prices whereas others – Muscadet and Beaujolais spring to mind – are chronically underpriced.”

Meanwhile in The Guardian, Fiona Beckett goes in search of an affordable red wine for everyday drinking. But it’s not an easy task.

She said: “It’s easy enough to find a wine for a special occasion, but less so to find a reliable, inexpensive red for midweek drinking. When you do find one of those, it’s worth buying in quantity because you always get a discount for an unsplit case.”

Find out which wines these, and other wine critics in the UK press, have recommended over the course of the last seven days.

La Grange Des Combes 2010 St Chinian Roquebrune (£9.99)

In the Financial Times Jancis Robinson focused on wines from Languedoc. She said this wine gives, “a combination of sun-ripened fruit with the firm structure and chew of the schists in these dramatic hills.”

2007 Bin 99, Cabernet Franc, Cuyo (£6.99)

In The Times, Jane MacQuitty takes a look at Cabernet Franc wines, a grape she describes as “not very well known, but is very much loved by me”. She describes this wine as having a, “lovely, rich, red currant fruit. It’s really elegant and it’s a give away at the price.”

2010 Figure Libre Cabernet Franc Domaine Gayda (£15)

Another Cabernet Franc wine was recommended by Terry Kirby in The Independent, he said this wine, “is a simply gorgeous, savoury, spicy, multi-layered wine that would be ideal with a roast pheasant or quail”.

2006 Sainsbury’s Cariñena Gran Reserva (£5.99)

Matthew Jukes, writing in the Daily Mail, tells his readers to, “make a note of this wine because it is a crazy price for a mature, oak-aged, plush Spanish red and I love the spice and herb details on the nose and palate punctuating the lusty black cherry fruit. Decant it for even more impact.”

2011 La Forge Estate, Marsanne, Pays d’Oc (£9.99)

Jukes also picks out this wine which he says is, “a dreamy concoction with layers of meadow flowers, stone fruit nuances and a rich, nougat-scented finish. I cannot recommend the little-known Marsanne grape enough, so ditch your Chardonnays for a week and drink this decadent white”.

Paprapuda Pinot Noir 2011 (£5.99)

In The Guardian, Fiona Beckett bemoans the lack of a “reliable, inexpensive red for midweek drinking”, for less than £5. “You need to be prepared to spend £6 to get a red of any character”, she tells us. Beckett picked this Pinot Noir, saying it, “puts most sub-£12 Burgundy to shame and which you could happily drink with salmon or tuna as well as meat”.

Gigondas Domaine St Gayan 1990 (£30)

In the Daily Telegraph, Victoria Moore picked out this wine, which is, “the result of aging a good southern Rhône red: confit of red fruit and figs streaked with black olives.”

Pasico Old Vine Monastrell Shiraz 2011 (£5.99)

Terry Kirby in the Independent also recommends that his readers, “try the rich, spicy Pasico Old Vine Monastrell Shiraz from Jumilla, which is made in a more modern style than many Spanish reds, hence “Shiraz” rather than “Syrah” and a screwcap closure – unusual in Spain, even today.”

Château Saint Nicolas 2011 Côtes du Roussillon (£7.99)

Olly Smith, writing in the Mail on Sunday, picks this wine as a bonfire night special. He said: “Syrah, Grenache and Carignan unite in a bid to create a wine that kicks out spice while seducing with more summery fragrant appeal. The key moment comes after you’ve sipped it, when it fills you with a palpable warmth.”

2011 Oveja Negra Sauvignon Blanc Carmènere Reserva (£7.75)

And finally Brian Elliott in The Scotsman, featured New Zealand wines and picked out this red as a best but. He wrote: “Yes, you did read that right, this white uses some juice from the red grape Carmènere. The result is a wine with viscosity and greengage-style texture, although nothing compromises its fresh pink grapefruit and white peach flavours or its underlying softness.”

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