The top 10 wines in the UK press

Terry Kirby gives his tips to wine bargain hunters, while Matthew Jukes picks out a “superb and hearty” South African red.

Writing in The Independent Kirby said that “this time of year is good for bargain hunters as supermarkets clear surplus stock”. With that in mind he recommends a “robust red” from the South of France.

Matthew Jukes, writing in the Daily Mail, picks “some new season beauties for you to reward your palates with”. He recommends that his readers “tuck in” to the South African red as it is “great value and ever so rewarding”.

He also recommends a Spanish red, which he writes is a “staggeringly smart offering”.

Click through the following pages to find out more about these and other wines recommended in the UK press over the last seven days.

2009 Lions de Suduiraut Sauternes

Hamish Anderson, writing in the Daily Telegraph picked out this wine, which “is the first release of Lions from Château Suduiraut, one of Sauternes’ great estates”. He added: “Pitched as an early drinking accessible style, the stunning quality of 2009 has produced a wine that massively over-delivers.”

Acustic Vinyes Velles Nobles Bodegas Acustic 2010 Montsant

Also in the Daily Telegraph, Victoria Moore recommends this “very delicious red”, which is made from Garnacha and Cariñena. Moore writes that the wine “has an incredibly silky feel, and like a classic dish refined by a great chef it manages to achieve richness and lightness at once.”

Gavi di Gavi Ascheri 2011

Moore also recommends this wine, which she wrote is “as pristine and cooling as a white sail on the blue Med.” She adds: “This white is made in stainless steel – no oak – from Cortese grapes. Tinged with the tang of preserved lemons and grapefruit pith, cleanly floral, a favourite of mine.”

2010 Trimbach Riesling, Alsace

Jane MacQuitty, in The Times picked out this wine, she wrote: “Twelve generations of Trimbachs have made gorgeous, dry, structured Rieslings in Ribeauvillé. This stunning, steely, lime zest and kerosene-laced Riesling is a triumph.”

Tyrrell’s Vat One Hunter Valley Semillon

Writing in The Observer, David Williams said: “There is nothing quite like wines made in Hunter Valley anywhere else in the world.” He added: “A classic of the style, Tyrrell’s Vat One is gossamer light in texture and alcohol but penetrating in flavour, and at seven years old is just beginning its life.”

2010 Plaisir de Merle, Petit Plaisir

This is the South African red picked out by Matthew Jukes in Daily Mail and he describes it as a “delightfully spicy Shiraz, Cabernet, Merlot blend and it is a superb, hearty, spring-like red with a medium-weight chassis and mouth-watering cranberry and mulberry fruit notes.”

2008 Torres, Gran Coronas

Jukes also recommends this Spanish red wine, writing: “The superb Torres dynasty makes this epic Cabernet/Tempranillo blend and it is likely to appeal to those of you who love juicy, ripe Bordeaux or lusty Rioja.”

Cuvée Extreme, Côtes Du Roussillon 2009

Terry Kirby highlights, in The Independent, that with supermarkets clearing surplus stock, “this time of year is good for bargain-hunters”. He wrote of this wine: “With a typical local blend of Syrah, Carignan and Grenache, aged a little in oak and bursting with spicy, herby flavours that would be perfect with a big bowl of pasta with meatballs after a cold journey home.”

The Olive Branch Grenache 2010

Olly Smith, in the Mail on Sunday, said this wine is “a belter with roast lamb”. He added: “A Grenache that’s robed in wild, juicy berry flavours, with a jolt of spicy stimulation and fistfuls of fine tannin that practically demand pairing with a top feast.”

Extra Special Vignes de la Citadelle 2010, Côtes de Bourg

In the Sunday Telegraph, Susy Atkins described this wine as “a decent introduction to Bordeaux”. She added that the wine “bucks the trend for dull inexpensive supermarket clarets, with its soft, plummy quality, dab of fresh mint and lively finish.”