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Slideshow
Top 10 wines in the UK press
Atlantico Sur Seleccion Especial Tannat 2011
Terry Kirby, writing in The Independent, recommended three bottles from “up-and-coming wine regions” including this red from Uruguay.
He said: “This Uruguayan take on Tannat – one of the “good for the heart” red grapes – is deliciously smooth and silky, with dark underpinnings, but balanced with lovely blackberry and loganberry fruits. Ideal with all rare roast meat, particularly steak or duck.”
£12.50, thewinesociety.com
Golden Valley Grasevina 2012
This single varietal white wine is made in Croatia’s northern Pozega Valley from the Grasevina grape – the most widely planted white grape variety in Croatia.
He said: “Full-bodied and dry, packed with thrillingly intense but fresh flavours of peaches and apricots, this is just one of the many gorgeous wines from the treasure trove of Croatian whites that are simply waiting to be discovered by the rest of Europe. Robust enough for pork or chicken as well as shellfish or prime white fish.”
£8.99, Marks & Spencer
Mayu Pedro Ximenez 2012, Elqui Valley, Chile
“Superb wines from unusual places” was the tagline for Jamie Goode’s wine selections this week, writing in The Express, giving advice on how to break your wine habits and try lesser known grape varieties.
He said: “Pedro ximenez is a grape usually used to make sweet sherry in Spain. It was planted in Chile’s far north for making pisco, the fiery grape brandy that is the national drink, but here it has been used to make a crisp, precise, dry white.”
£5.50, Asda
Domaine Zind-Humbrecht Zind 2009, Alsace, France
For something a bit different, Goode recommended this Chardonnay from Alsace – a region primarily known for its Rieslings.
He said: “There may be nothing unusual about the grape itself, but a Chardonnay from Alsace is a very rare bird indeed. And when you taste this you will wonder why so rare, thanks to its lovely, complex flavours of quince, fig and lemons, with just a hint of sweetness.”
£16.99, Waitrose
El Maestro Sierra NV
With the UK weather warming up Hamish Anderson, writing in The Telegraph, suggested a selections of “refreshing” Fino Sherries.
He said: “Whereas the finest bottles of Claret or Burgundy will cost you hundreds of pounds, the best (and that is what you have here) sherry is relative peanuts. This is wine of great stature and complexity, creamy and rich with a great mass of fruit offset by almonds and the sea. It will still have you thinking about it as the last sip is drained.”
£9.95 (half), Roberson, robersonwine.com
Pedro’s Almacenista NV
Another of Anderson’s recommendations was for this NV Sherry.
He said: “Almacenista is a small producer whose wares would traditionally be sold to the larger companies and disappear into a blend. Sherry’s renaissance has led to individual bottlings producing distinct wines. This has nutty, aged depth allied to its glorious refreshment factor – as with all finos you need to plan on finishing the bottle within 10 days.”
£8.99, Majestic
Riesling Le Kottabe 2011 Josmeyer, Alsace, France
Suzy Atkins, writing in The Telegraph, picked out a selection of wines which she felt would pair perfectly with eggs.
She said: “The French regularly enjoy a glass of light red with their omelettes aux fines herbes, and the Spanish sip chilled rosado with their potato tortillas, so why do the Brits rarely pour wine with eggs?
Because we view eggs as a breakfast dish, perhaps (and, no, I’m not about to advocate drinking at sunrise), but it might also be because it’s a difficult match to pull off.”
One of her wine recommendations for enjoying with eggs was this Riesling from Alsace.
She said: “As usual from Josmeyer, a particularly fruity, modern alsace, here delivering juicy baked apples. Off-dry and brilliant with the leek and spinach soufflé casserole.”
The Wine Society, £16.50
La Grille Pinot Noir 2011
Atkins also recommended this Pinot Noir made by Sylvain Miniot in the foothills of the Massif Central in south central France.
She said: “Vin de FranceFresh, soft, inexpensive French Pinot, with black cherry and wild strawberry fruit – an easy-going red that won’t overpower an egg dish.”
£7.99, or £6.99 each for two or more until 28 April, Majestic
Anton Bauer Zweigelt Wagram, Austria 2010
David Williams, writing in The Guardian, chose a three wines this week that he said show “lesser-known grapes can mix it with the big boys”.
He said: “One of the more baffling subjects of Parker’s ire was Blaufränkisch, an Austrian variety that was among those he specifically singled out for entry into his hall of shame of over-praised grape varieties. Baffling, at least, if you’ve ever tasted the fabulously silky and sinuous wines made from the variety by the master Moric (available at Fortnum & Mason and Harvey Nichols).
“It may just be a stylistic thing – Parker tends to favour fuller richer styles – rather than the variety itself. And no doubt Parker would be just as dismissive of the equally food-friendly, sappy, fresh and lively reds made from another lesser-known (unless you happen to be Austrian) variety from the country, Zweigelt, of which this is a particularly vivid and snappy example.”
£13.50, Vinoteca
Four Kilos 12 Volts 2012
Another of Williams’ recommendations was this red blend from the Spanish island of Mallorca made up of the native Callet-Fognou and the widely known Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
He said: “In some ways the debate about variety is a bit of a red herring. Often it’s not the choice of ingredients that makes a wine taste the way it does, but where those ingredients are grown and what the winemaker does with them. Tasting this sumptuous Mallorcan red blend, for example, I’d be hard-pressed to say which of its multi-layered elements are attributable to the native Callet-Fognou, and which come from the Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot that makes up the recipe. But it has a suppleness, a cherry-like acidity, a gorgeous seam of ripe black and red fruit, and a subtle softening of vanilla oak that collectively is utterly, distinctively delicious.”
£21.70, Bottle Apostle; Roberson