Top 10 wines in the UK press

Victoria Moore and Matthew Jukes pick out the same “very classy wine” this week and Terry Kirby recommends a “wonderfully elegant” red for “enjoying in the garden”.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Moore’s description of the wine both she and Jukes recommended, was “the best £5 Cava I have tried in quite a while.”

She added: “Still, if you really don’t like Cava, you probably won’t like this. It’s pretty good, though, and a miracle at the price: made for Tesco by the Cava giant Codorníu.”

In the Daily Mail Jukes agreed that this was a bargain wine, writing: “Don’t be put off by the price because this is a very classy wine.”

In The Independent, Kirby’s recommendation was for a “gorgeous, medium-bodied, early summer red”, he added that the wine is “perfect on the lunch table, hopefully in the garden.”

Click through the following pages to find out which wines these, and other writers in the UK press, have recommended over the last seven days.

Asda Merlot Rosé

Fiona Beckett, writing in The Guardian, took her readers through a selection of the new season rosés that are now available. In writing about this one, Beckett said: “Best of all for the budget-conscious, Asda has a perfectly serviceable fresh, fruity Merlot Rosé, the sort you can buy by the five-litre container from a French co-op – for an incredible £3.50.

She added: “A limited parcel that you won’t find in all branches, but well worth snapping up if you can lay your hands on some. Heaven knows how they do it for the price.”

Puklavec & Friends Sauvignon Blanc 2012

This recommendation came from David Williams in The Observer, who wrote: “I’ve heard rumours that one of the big supermarkets is about to introduce an upmarket own-label wine from Slovenia.

“Whether that will prove to be a tipping point for a country that, even in independent merchants, is still under-represented in the UK remains to be seen. In the meantime, this snappy, well-crafted, elderflower-scented dry white is doing a fine ambassadorial job of its own.”

Tesco Simply Soave Classico 2012

In the Mail on Sunday, Olly Smith chose this as his “Wine of the week”, writing: “This is a gleaming jewel of a wine with bright, fresh flavours that reflect the name – simple, but dazzling. Solid value for money.”

Moulin á Vent 2010

This is the “Sunday lunch” recommendation from Terry Kirby in The Independent, he wrote: “Gorgeous, medium-bodied, early-summer red from one of the 10 Beaujolais villages, this Moulin à Vent is wonderfully elegant, with masses of the cherry and red-berry fruits characteristic of Gamay, but given a spicy, earthy touch from some oak ageing. Perfect on the lunch table, hopefully in the garden, with roast chicken or pork.”

Mas La Chevalière Viognier de La Chevalière 2011

Kirby also recommended this wine, but as one to be enjoyed with a “midweek meal”. Kirby wrote: “Complex aromas of spring blossoms and smoke give way to stunningly fresh flavours of peach and apricots in this vibrant Viognier, made using grapes sourced from the Languedoc. Pair with scallops or any white fish in a lemony or herby sauce.”

2012 Willing Participant, Pinot Noir

In the Daily Mail, Matthew Jukes recommended “five incredible wines for summer entertaining.” In picking out this Australian red, Jukes wrote: “This is a fascinating red wine with ethereal, herbal notes on the nose and a strawberry and red cherry-scented palate. With a hypnotic, velvety texture Willing Participant is just that, a delicious summery, harmonious red for buffets.”

NV Tesco Brut Cava

This is the wine that was recommended by both Jukes and also Victoria Moore in the Daily Telegraph. Jukes wrote: “I cannot believe it, but the current bottling of Tesco Cava is a star. Get in quick and load up for the summer because this crunchy, refreshing, floral wine is a steal and you can be sure that it will impress all-comers. Don’t be put off by the price because this is a very classy wine.”

Codorníu Reina Maria Cristina Blanc de Noirs 2010

Moore also recommeded this bottle of Cava, writing: “Just how unexpected is this? You pick up a bottle of Cava and think you’ll get a wine made from tongue-twisting Xarello, Parellada, Macabeo and maybe a bit of Chardonnay. Yet here’s one that is 100% Pinot Noir.”

She added: “For a tenner. As a committed Prosecco fan it’s hard for me to say this, but it’s a better buy than most £10 Italian fizz. Sappy and smooth, a good accompaniment to garlicky barbecued prawns.”

The Exquisite Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

This recommendation comes from Susy Atkins in the Sunday Telegraph, who wrote: “A smooth, mellow and soft Cabernet, oozing blackcurrant, with a hint of mint on top. From one of Australia’s top red-wine regions, this is great for partnering with steak.”

2012 Seifried Estate Nelson Pinot Grigio South Island

Finally, Brian Elliott, in The Scotsman wrote that this wine “shows how good Pinot Grigio can be. He added: “Offering all the floral influences you expect but with depth (courtesy, I imagine, of its time on lees) and the rounded orange fruit that is given a nice burst of sherbet lemon acidity as a counterbalance.”