Top 10 wines in the UK press

Cramele Recas Castel Huniade Feteasca Regala, Romania 2012

This wine was recommended by David Williams in The Observer, he wrote: “I promise there’s nothing perverse or inversely snobby about this choice, made from a native grape variety in a long-derided wine-producing country. It’s a crisply and cleanly presented dry white with melon, pear and lemony freshness of considerably better quality than any supermarket Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc at this price. (£5.99, Adnams, cellarandkitchen.adnams.co.uk).”

Quartz Reef Pinot Noir 2011

In the Daily Telegraph, Victoria Moore wrote of this wine: “Over to New Zealand’s South Island for this one and a pinot noir from a biodynamic estate. What excites me in a wine is finding a distinct taste that could come from nowhere else on Earth. As soon as I stuck my nose in the glass in a tasting room in London, images of Quartz Reef spooled across my mind. You don’t need to have been there to appreciate the calm strength of this autumnal red. (14%, Majestic, £21, or £17 when you buy two).”

Kumeu Village Hand-Harvested Chardonnay 2010

Moore also recommended this wine, writing: ”Kumeu River, just outside Auckland, makes arguably the best Chardonnay in New Zealand (and no, that is not like recommending the best salsa bar for the over-75s in Nuneaton). The wine is glorious – the control of Burgundy meets the lemon succulence and luminescence of Down Under. This is Kumeu’s entry level rather than one of its top wines but it’s still very good with a roast buttery chicken. (13.5%, The Wine Society, £9.50).”

Val de Pedron Monastrell Alicante 2010

This is one of the wines recommended by Terry Kirby in The Independent. He wrote: “The heat of the Spanish summer runs through this rich red from Monastrell grapes grown near the coast at Alicante, to warm chilly autumn days. Dark flavours of damsons and blackberries, a touch of figs and chocolate and some spice from oak ageing. Good with any robust casseroles. (£7.99, Marks & Spencer).”

Sud de France Grenache Syrah Mourvèdre

This wine was picked out as a “bargain basement” recommendation by Kirby. He wrote: “A stunning bargain from the Jean-Claude Mas stable whose similar, but more imaginatively labelled, cheaper range at Majestic featured in this a couple of weeks ago. This is a very typical, highly drinkable, well-made southern French red blend at a price that can hardly be beaten for quality. (£5.99, Aldi).”

2012 Dolcetto d’Asti

This wine was recommended by Hamish Anderson in the Daily Telegraph. He wrote: “The Piedmont region may be known best for big-hitting, expensive reds such as Barolo (see below), but in the variety Dolcetto it has a juicy, approachable trump card, making it rather like a northern Italian Beaujolais. This has savoury elements allied to ripe, dark cherries, and it is brilliant value. (£6.99, M&S).”

2012 Saumur Champigny, Domaine Filliatreau

This wine recommendation comes from Matthew Jukes in the Daily Mail. He wrote: “The simple word ‘Domaine’ carries an awful lot of weight on a French wine label. It means, in this case, that Fred Filliatreau owns his vineyards and makes his own wine from these grapes as opposed to buying them in from someone else. It is a good indicator of care and quality.”

He added: “This red is one of the finest in the Loire. (£12.95, Yapp Brothers tel. 01747 860 423 & www.yapp.co.uk).”

2010 La Terrasse de la Garde, Pessac-Léognan

Another recommendation from Jukes, who wrote of this wine: “The recipe here is 60% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc. The result is an enigmatic, benchmark, age-worthy red Bordeaux with distinction and breeding. Decant it and prepare to be amazed with the restraint and poise. (£14.99, Sainsbury’s).”

Hilltop Malbec 2012

In the Mail on Sunday, Olly Smith picked this out as his “Wine of the Week”, writing: “Berry-scented, fruity, easy-drinking joy. This vibrant superb value vino will be ideal for parties or as your house red this autumn. Stock up now.”

2006 Winemakers’ Selection Gran Reserva, Carinena

And finally this wine is recommended by Brian Elliott in The Scotsman. He wrote: “The 18 months it has spent in oak has no doubt developed the spicy vanilla backdrop to this wine. The fruit is black cherry and plum given a mocha finish and a dryness reminiscent of roast chestnuts along with reasonably firm tannin – possibly from the Cabernet Sauvignon that the blend contains. (£5.99, Sainsbury’s).”