UK press picks for Wine Relief

Jancis Robinson MW and her husband Nick Lander started Wine Relief in 1999 and since then more than £4 million has been raised for Comic Relief.

For this year’s Red Nose Day, which takes place on Friday 15 March, some of the UK’s biggest wine retailers will be donating 10% from the sale of selected wines to Comic Relief.

So far Naked Wines, Virgin Wines, Waitrose, Oddbins, Laithwaite’s, Selfridge’s, Marks & Spencer and Majestic have all confirmed they will be taking part in Wine Relief.

A number of UK wine writers have picked out their recommendations from the wines that are available for Wine Relief; Matthew Jukes described one as “a near perfect wine” and another as “one of the finest value Chardonnays on the planet”.

2011 Arc du Rhône, Côtes du Rhône-Villages, France (£7.99, reduced to £6.39, Waitrose).

This was a popular choice and was recommended by Matthew Jukes in the Daily Mail, Anthony Rose in The Independent, Fiona Beckett in The Guardian and Olly Smith in the Mail on Sunday.

Jukes wrote: “A perennial favourite, Arc is a medium-weight, juicy red with hints of red and black berries and a touch of spice. It is not a forceful wine but a mellow, charming, multi-talented-food-matching, crowd-pleaser and at this bargain price is it a must.”

Janeil Gros Manseng/Sauvignon Blanc Côtes de Gascogne 2011 (Oddbins, £7)

Fiona Beckett put this wine at the top of her list. She wrote: “A light, zippy citrussy white of the kind you’d drink in the shower, according to the Oddbins website. Don’t be distracted by the Gros Manseng bit – basically this tastes like sauvignon.”

Domäne Wachau Grüner Veltliner 2011 (Waitrose, £7.39)

Olly Smith picked out this wine from those on offer at Waitrose. He wrote: “It’s as fresh as an Alpine meadow, punches well above its price and is utterly scrumptious with fish and chips. Dive in!”

2010 Yalumba, The Scribbler, Barossa Valley, South Australia (£13.99, reduced to £12.59 for Wine Relief, Selfridges)

Matthew Jukes described this as a “near perfect wine”, adding: “If you don’t have this awe-inspiring wine in your wine rack then you should. I cannot bang a drum loud enough for this epic Cabernet/Shiraz blend from one of the most famous companies in Australia.” This wine was also recommended by Olly Smith and Anthony Rose.

Fincas del sur Malbec 2011 (Virgin Wines, £12.99)

This is another that is picked out by Beckett, she wrote: “Malbec looks like replacing Rioja as everyone’s favourite red and this sumptuously lush example from Argentina’s Familia Zuccardi shows why. The ‘majestically ripe tannins’ as they put it, may be a little soft for some – you can almost sink into them but it should make any meat-lover very happy.”

2012 Honeycomb, Journey’s End Chardonnay, Stellenbosch (£9.99 reduced to £7.99 until 1 April, Marks & Spencer)

Matthew Jukes describes this wine as “one of the finest value Chardonnays on the planet”. He added: “With sumptuous honeyed, pear and almond fruit, this is a lusty, irresistible wine with masses of style and integrity.”

2011 Paul Cluver Noble Late Harvest Riesling, (£14.99, Marks & Spencer)

Anthony Rose described this dessert wine as “outstanding”. He added: “Only a half-bottle but an elixir of liquid crystallised citrus and peach fruitiness to bring a smile to your Red Nose day.”

BVC Barossa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 (£9.99, Majestic)

This is another pick from Fiona Beckett in The Guardian, who wrote that “Cabernet from South Australia tastes like that from nowhere else – gloriously ripe and velvety-smooth”.

In describing this wine, she added: “It’s very hard to see why anyone wouldn’t fall for this, except perhaps for the rather naff label. It’s worth buying a bit extra to age too (thus donating more money to Wine Relief).”

 

Click through the following pages for the full list of wines that are available for Wine Relief.

Oddbins

Lurton Gros Manseng/Sauvignon Blanc, France – £7.00

Portal da Águia branco, Tejo – £7.00

Portal da Águia tinto, Tejo – £7.00

Lurton Syrah/Grenache, France – £7.50

Villasilos, Rueda – £8.50

Villasilos, Toro – £8.50

Ch d’Or et de Gueules, Les Cimels rouge, Costières de Nîmes – £10.00

Ch d’Or et de Gueules, Les Cimels blanc, Costières de Nîmes – £10.00

Waitrose

Canaletto Pinot Grigio, Veneto – £5.89

Canaletto, Chianti – £5.89

Arc du Rhône, Côtes du Rhône-Villages – £6.39

Finca Labarca, Rioja – £6.39

Zalze Shiraz/Mourvèdre/Viognier, Stellenbosch – £6.39

Waitrose Cava – £7.19

Domäne Wachau, Terraces Grüner Veltliner, Wachau – £7.39

Cune, Rioja blanco – £7.59

The Ned Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough – £7.99

Lanson, Black Label NV Champagne – £26.39

Laithwaite’s

Gooseberry Bush Sauvignon Blanc, Robertson – £6.99

Le Prince de Courthézon, Côtes du Rhône 2011 – £8.49

Gran Valle de Niebla Riesling 2011 Bío Bío – £8.79

Palacio de Menade, Rueda – £8.99

Laithwaite’s Sauvignon Blanc, Bordeaux – £8.99

Waxed Bat Shiraz/Cabernet/Malbec, Mendoza – £8.99

Gran Bombero 2010 Cariñena – £8.99

Visionario 2011 IGT Venezia – £9.99

Champ des Étoiles Pinot Noir, France – £9.99

Kora Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough – £10.99

Le Grand Chai, Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – £11.49

Selfridges

Artesa, Organic Rioja £8.99 Sherwood Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough – £10.79

Selfridges Selection Chianti – £10.79

Selfridges Selection Chablis – £11.69

Selfridges Malbec, Argentina – £11.69

Yalumba, ‘The Scribbler’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Barossa – £12.59

Moët et Chandon Brut NV Champagne – £37.79

Moët et Chandon Rosé NV Champagne – £49.49

Marks & Spencer

Rockridge Sauvignon Blanc, South Africa – £7.99

Rockridge Merlot, South Africa – £7.99

Crow’s Fountain Sauvignon Blanc, Stellenbosch – £7.99

Crow’s Fountain Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch – £7.99

Crow’s Fountain, Shiraz/Merlot/Pinotage, Stellenbosch – £7.99

Ken Forrester, Workhorse Chenin Blanc, South Africa – £7.99

Six Hats, Fairtrade Chenin Blanc, Western Cape – £7.99

Six Hats, Fairtrade Rosé, Western Cape – £7.99

Six Hats, Fairtrade Shiraz, Western Cape – £7.99

M’Hudi Sauvignon Blanc, Elgin – £8.99

Journey’s End, Honeycomb Chardonnay, Stellenbosch – £8.99

Stonedance Viognier/Grenache Blanc/Roussanne, Western Cape – £8.99

Old Block Sauvignon Blanc, Swartland – £8.99

M’Hudi Merlot, Elim – £8.99

Journey’s End, Kendal Lodge Merlot/Cabernet, Stellenbosch – £8.99

Stellenrust Pinotage, Stellenbosch – £8.99

Houdamond Pinotage, Stellenbosch – £9.49

Crow’s Fountain, Traditional Bush Vine Sauvignon Blanc, Stellenbosch – £9.99

Charles Back Viognier, Paarl – £9.99

Vergelegen, Amphitheatre Sauvignon Blanc, Stellenbosch – £9.99

Villiera, Brut Natural Chardonnay, Stellenbosch – £10.99

Villiera, Traditional Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch – £11.49

Paul Cluver, Ferricrete Riesling, Elgin – £11.99

Iona Chardonnay, Elgin – £14.99

Paul Cluver Late Harvest Riesling, South Africa – £14.99

Land of Hope, Reserve Chenin Blanc, South Africa – £15.99

Land of Hope Pinot Noir , Western Cape – £15.99

Virgin Wines

Perez Cruz, Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 Maipo – £9.99

The Magnificent Crowing Cockerel Grenache/Mourvèdre 2009 South Africa – £9.99

Vina Leyda Gewurztraminer Reserva 2010 Leyda – £9.99

Elisa 2010 Gavi – £9.99

Clarity Sauvignon Blanc 2011 Adelaide Hills – £9.99

Freehand Sauvignon Blanc 2011 Marlborough – £10.99

Atalaya do Mar Godello 2010 Monterrei – £10.99

Sancho Garcés, Selección Especial Crianza 2008 Rioja – £11.99

Ch Fayau 2009 Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux – £11.99

Fincasdel Sur Malbec 2011 Mendoza – £12.99

Majestic

Loosen, Dr L Riesling 2011 Mosel – £7.99

Allegrini, Naiano 2011 Bardolino – £8.49

Dom des Garrigues 2011 Lirac – £8.99

Ch de Pennautier, Terroirs d’Altitude 2009 Cabardès – £8.99

Gérard Bertrand, Dom de l’Aigle Pinot Noir 2010 Languedoc – £9.99

Gérard Bertrand, Dom de l’Aigle Chardonnay 2011 Limoux – £9.99

Peter Lehmann, BVC Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 Barossa Valley – £9.99

Luigi Bosca, Testimonio 2010 Argentina – £10.99

Beringer, Founders’ Estate Chardonnay 2010 California – £10.99

Louis Latour, En Paradis 2011 Pouilly-Vinzelles – £12.99

Ch Caronne Ste-Gemme 2007 Haut-Medoc, Bordeaux – £13.99

Cape Mentelle Cabernet/Merlot 2010 Margaret River – £14.99

Naked Wines

Carmen Stevens, Angels Reserve Chenin Blanc 2012 South Africa £9.99 / Angel Price – £6.75

Hilton Chenin Blanc/Viognier/Chardonnay 2012 South Africa £9.99 / Angel Price – £6.99

Arabella, Reserve Shiraz/Viognier 2011 South Africa £9.99 / Angel Price – £7.49

Moerbei,Testarosso Sangiovese 2011 Stellenbosch £11.49 / Angel Price – £8.49

Carmen Stevens, Premium Shiraz 2011 Hemel-en-Aarde £13.99 / Angel Price – £9.49

Back Door, Cape Monster Red 2007 South Africa £15.99 / Angel Price – £10.99