Wines recommended in the press

After the excess of Christmas and New Year it can be difficult to know what wines to enjoy in January, but the UK press’s wine experts have some tips for you.

Matthew Jukes picks out an Italian red, which he describes as a “luxurious wine with a huge amount of appeal for the price tag”, while Victoria Moore highlights “one of the best cheap sweet wines around”.

With the winter chills firmly fixed in January, Olly Smith picks out a late bottled vintage Port, which he says has, “sweet spank and kicking exuberant fruity flavours”.

Take a look through the following pages to see what other wines have been recommended in the UK press.

2011 Pasico Old Vine Monastrell/Shiraz, Jumilla

In the Daily Mail Matthew Jukes said that “Spain is home to some of the best value reds on the planet”, and he picks out this wine, adding, “This chunky, engaging Spanish red is another model of balance between its spice, black fruit and silky texture elements.”

2011 M&S Negroamaro, Puglia

Jukes also recommended this wine, saying: “With impressively punchy blackberry fruit flavours punctuated with classy coffee and plum notes this is a really rich, luxurious wine with a huge amount of appeal for the price tag.”

Delamotte Brut NV, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Champagne

David Williams at The Observer said of this wine: “Whatever else you might say about the very rare Champagne Salon – and those who have tried it tend to go into raptures – you’d never describe it as a bargain. But, despite operating somewhat under the radar, the Champagnes made at sister house Delamotte most certainly are – they’re much better value, at any rate, than the more widely available bigger names. This one is elegant and subtly insinuating, with that classic Champagne tension between tingling acidity and fruit-and-patisserie richness.”

Sandeman Late Bottled Vintage Port 2007

Olly Smith in the Mail on Sunday picks out this Port, describing it as a “superlative bottle of Port to pair with Stilton. Complex, concentrated and aromatic with arresting spicy thrust, a sweet spank and kicking exuberant fruity flavours”.

Gran Tesoro Garnacha 2011, Campo de Borja

In the Sunday Telegraph Susie Atkins picks out this red wine, which she describes as, “A soft and simple red, cassis at its core, with a twist of clove and dab of mocha. Mellow enough to drink on its own”.

La Grille Sauvignon Blanc 2011, Loire

If you are looking for a white wine that is “perfect with salty snacks”, then Atkins recommends this Sauvignon Blanc. She said: “This is a light, subtle, cool-climate sauvignon with tangy gooseberry, a twist of lemon peel and mere hints of green pepper and grassiness.

Sainsbury’s Muscat de St Jean de Minervois NV

Victoria Moore, writing in the Daily Telegraph, describes this as “one of the best cheap sweet wines around”. She adds: “Floral and fragrant, it’s from Muscat grapes to which spirit is added to stop fermentation, leaving the white wine sweet but with an alcohol level of 15%. Try a glass with a slice of panettone.”

Baron de Ley Varietal Graciano 2009

Will Coldwell in The Independent suggests taking a look at this Rioja. He said: “A vibrant Rioja made with the less well-known Graciano grape, as opposed to the Tempranillo. With its cherry and chocolate flavour and woody notes, a glass of this would go well with fish.”