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Slideshow
Top 10 wines in the UK press
2014 Château de Sours Rosé, Bordeaux, France
This “simply stunning” rosé was recommended by Matthew Jukes writing in the Daily Mail.
He said: “This pre-Budget offer, which carves around £3 off a bottle, is only available until the big day on Wednesday. If the Chancellor doesn’t cut the duty on wine the UK wine trade will be furious. It’s not too late to register your support for our campaign – see www.droptheduty.co.uk. Either way, I cannot urge you enough to do your summer rosé shopping today!”
Price: £8.94, until 18 March, www.privatecellar.co.uk
Quinta do Crasto Douro red, The Douro, Portugal
Also writing for the Daily Mail, Olly Smith recommended this Portuguese red blend from Quinta do Crasto – a stunning estate perched high up in the Douro valley.
He said: “And outstanding blend of local Portuguese reds. This is both scented and spicy and the ultimate red wine for a barbecue.”
Price: £12.95, winedirect.co.uk
Château Margerots Bordeaux Supérieur 2009
“It may be one of the most famous wine regions in the world, but that doesn’t guarantee a great bottle”, said David Williams of Bordeaux writing in The Guardian.
He said: “While en primeur has largely been good for lining the pockets of top Bordeaux châteaux owners, it would be hard to say the same for wine drinkers. As Robert Parker said at that London press conference, it used to be possible to buy one of the region’s great reds, Château Lafite, for $25. These days, even a mediocre vintage, such as 2013, will set you back at least 10 times that. But if there’s something alienating about the barely suppressed greed at the top of contemporary Bordeaux, it is still possible to find decent affordable claret.
Own-labels from merchants such as Corney & Barrow, Berry Bros & Rudd (Good Ordinary Claret 2012, £9) and The Wine Society (The Society’s Côte de Bordeaux 2011, £8.95) are consistently good, while Tesco has a mellow example of the fine 2009 vintage from Château Margerots.”
Price: £9.99, Tesco
Castelnau de Suduiraut Sauternes 2009
Williams also recommended this “particularly refined and silky” Sauternes.
He said: “Another way into Bordeaux that doesn’t require a banker’s salary is to search lesser-known sub-regions. If, say, you have enjoyed the softer, fleshier, merlot-dominated styles of St-Emilion, it’s worth looking to neighbouring Côtes de Castillon, and a wine such as the very pretty, pure Château Beynat 2012 (£13.99, thesolentcellar.co.uk; Vine Trai). In great vintages, such as 2009 and 2010, second wines from the classed growth (cru classé) producers can also offer something approaching value: Les Fiefs de Lagrange 2009 from Château Lagrange in St-Julien (£28.95, leaandsandeman.co.uk) is particularly refined and silky, while the exotic Castelnau sweet white of top Sauternes producers Suduiraut is flat-out gorgeous.”
Price: £11.99, 37.5cl, Majestic
Domaine Bruno Sorg Gewürztraminer 2013 Alsace, France
Cooking with dates? Susy Atkins of The Telegraph has the wines for you, starting with this Gewürztraminer from Alsace.
“For savoury dishes that have sweet ingredients, make a date with medium-dry whites”, she said.
Of this example, she said: “Rich in texture, and intriguing, with notes of rose petals, Turkish delight, gala melon. A medium-sweet white that works with dates, date syrup and tahini dressing.”
The Wine Society, £11.50
Stepp Riesling ‘S’ Kallstadter Saumagen 2013 Pfalz, Germany
Of this German Riesling from the premium region of Pfalz Atkins said: “Very tangy, mouthwatering riesling with grapefruit and lemon peel, and an off-dry finish. A class act for the salad of dates with fennel and orange.”
Price: Marks & Spencer, £15
Domaine Paul Blanck Gewürztraminer 2013, Alsace, France
Jamie Goode of The Express picked 10 “heady, floral whites to welcome in brighter spring days”.
He said: “There’s a time for heavier, richer whites, but this week we’re going for ones with delightful, enticing and floral aromas.”
Of this example he said: “The Gewürztraminer grape has lovely aromas of rose petals, Turkish delight and fresh grapes, and this is a really delicious example with a bit of sweetness on the finish.”
Price: £15.49, Waitrose
Danebury Vineyards Reserve 2010, England
This unusual combination of grape varieties produced by English estate Danebury was also recommended by Goode.
He said: “Auxerrois Blanc, Schönburger and Madeleine Angevine aren’t grape varieties that most will be familiar with, but here they’ve made a lovely floral wine with a nice smooth texture. It even smells of spring.”
Price: £14.99, Laithwaite’s
Frares Priorat 2012
Mother’s Day might have passed, but there is still reason to test out these celebratory wines recommended by Terry Kirby writing in The Independent, including this “gem” of a red from the premium Spanish region of Priorat.
She said: An unoaked and full-bodied blend from old Carignan and Grenache vines, this has spicy, juicy flavours of liquorice, plums and mulberries. Fresh and enticing – so watch the 14.5% abv.”
Price: £13, Marks & Spencer
Mumm Cordon Rouge Brut NV
Finally Kirby recommended a bottle of fizz for treating your mum, which is still available at a cut price.
He said: “Loads of discounted Champagne around for Mother’s Day, but this is one of the best. Instantly recognisable from the red Légion d’Honneur bottle slash, Mumm is a reliable marque producing top-notch sparkling: poised, balanced fruit-and-brioche flavours.”
Price: £24.99 (until Tuesday; normally £33.49)