Top 10 wines in the British press

You might think that the August Bank Holiday weekend would be a good time to talk about wine in the weekend papers – readers are in a holiday mood, and there’s a good chance they’ll want a few tips for a good bottle to go with a long weekend.

It seems that’s not always the case.

Several columns were missing this weekend, but here’s the best of the rest.

Chateau La Coste Rosé d’Une Nuit 2011 (£11.99 Adnams)

Terry Kirby in the Independent on Sunday suggests a well-chilled bottle of this “elegant, smartly bottled, pale-pink Provençal rosé, full of fresh berry fruits and a tang of herbs”.

La Capa Roja Tempranillo Grenache 2011 (£7.99 M&S)

For summer drinking, Terry Kirby also recommends this as “a great choice for those who want something undemanding and easily drinkable for a sultry evening or a light lunch” It’s part of a new range of 9.5 per cent ABV wines from M&S.

Tesco Finest Somontano, Spain 2010 (£5 Tesco)

David Williams in The Observer points to Somontano as “a region to watch” and this wine as “the kind of useful and (even when it’s not on offer) affordable red that is juicy and succulent rather than hefty, but has enough guts and bite to work with bangers and mash.”

Villa Maria Private Bin Syrah, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand 2009 (£9.99 x2, Majestic)

David Williams also highlights this Villa Maria offering: “reliable, yes, but never dull, they almost always come up with the goods and this peppery, pure, supple northern Rhône-like red is no exception”

Domaine Wachau Terraces Grüner Veltliner, Wachau, Austria 2011 (£7.39 Waitrose)

Jane MacQuitty in The Times [paid access] embraces “an old friend: a sparky, herby, white pepper and lemon zest-laced grüner, made from hand-picked vines grown in some of the best, steep, terraced vineyards in the Wachau.”

Cerro Syrah, Choapa Valley, De Martino, Chile 2009 (£7.99 M&S)

Jane MacQuitty also looks to Chile and “this brilliant, soft, ripe, spicy, squished blackberry, blackcurrant pastille and creosote-stashed ’09 […] punches above its weight.”

Les Jamelles Mourvedre Reserve 2010 (£6.99 Co-op)

Brian Elliott in Scotland on Sunday relishes this “excellent red from an unusual grape. It has concentrated damson and bramble fruit, rich clove and cinnamon spices with sweet edges and a beautifully smooth texture.”

Monte Vallon Chardonnay Languedoc 2011 (£6.99 Majestic)

Brian Elliott also points to this wine’s “New World-style peach and pineapple flavours” displaying “smoothness, careful oaking and restrained acidity”.

Bouza Albariño 2010, Uruguay (£16.50 South American Wines Online) 

Kate Spicer in The Sunday Times is refreshed by this: “Nutty, silky, citrus rind, becoming a European cult”

LA Cetto Petite Sirah, Mexico (£6.65 Albion Wine Shippers) 

Kate Spicer also warms to this, with a “salty edge to an intense, clean and crisp blackcurrant fruit”.