Top 10 wines in the UK press

Santa Digna Estelado Rosé NV, Miguel Torres, Chile

Hamish Anderson, writing in The Telegraph, recommended some “pink fizz from off the beaten track” this week, namely from Australia, Chile and even Britain, which he said were all producing “quaffable fizzy pink wines”.

Of this Chilean sparkling rosé he said: “This could be the best ‘value’ pink fizz I will try in 2014. While much at this price is cloying, I could drink this all night. It is made from País (a grape usually consigned to bulk wine) yet is a glorious glass of bubbles with aromas of rose and strawberries – quaffable, yet classy.”

Price: £10.81, The Drink Shop, thedrinkshop.com

Dominique Portet Brut Rosé NV, Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia

Another selection from Anderson was for this Australian sparkler from the Portet family.

He said: “The Portet family have worked at some of the world’s great wine estates, and Dominique has done stints in California and Moët & Chandon. He now makes refined, delicate fizz in the Yarra. This is all toasty complexity and crushed cranberries – it is also a stone-cold bargain.”

Price: £17.50, Goedhuis

Canard-Duchêne Authentic Reserve Brut NV

Sticking with fizz, Terry Kirby, writing in The Independent, picked out what he considered to be some of the best value high-street sparkling wines, perfect for Mother’s Day.

He said: “One of the best champagne discounts around ends Tuesday… A new cuvée, but from an estate founded in 1868, this Pinot Noir/Meunier/Chardonnay blend is boosted by some “reserve” wine and aged for three years, creating a nice balance between fruit and intensity.”

Price: £19.99 (until 1 April; normally £26.99), Waitrose

Jansz Premium Cuvée NV, Australia

This sparkler from Australia came highly recommended by Kirby which he considered a bargain at just £15.25.

He said: “Brilliant-value sparkler from Tasmania, where the cool climate replicates those European regions that produce the best bubbles. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir combine for gorgeous, light, ethereal flavours of lemons and fresh brioche. An easy-drinking party wine.”

Price: £15.25, Oddbins; £12.95, henningswine.co.uk

2010 d’Arenberg, d’Arry’s Original, Shiraz/Grenache, McLaren Vale, South Australia

Matthew Jukes recommended six of the southern hemisphere’s “finest exports” writing in The Daily Mail this week, including this “hearty” blend from south Australia.

He said: “Coming from one of the most famous wineries in Australia this hearty red is named after the patriarch of the Osborn family, d’Arry, and it is a beauty.   The Mediterranean climate of the McLaren Vale region gives this juicy ‘Aussie Côtes-du-Rhône’ style wine serious depth of black fruit and a wickedly, spicy core.”

Price: £10.99 – £13.99, Booths, Tesco.com

2012 Oxford Landing Estates, Merlot, South Australia

Another of Juke’s top picks was this Merlot, also from south Australia.

He said: “This is a crazy discount for a jolly smart wine.  Merlot is not the easiest grape to grow in Australia but this budget beauty is bursting with billowing red berry fruit and a nice lick of mint leaf and when this delightful 2012 runs out you can roll on with the 2013 because I have already seen a sneak preview and it’s a gem, too.”

Price: £7.99, reduced to £5.99, until 8 April, Tesco

Araucária Riesling/Pinot Grigio

Fiona Beckett chose a selection of wines for the spring writing in The Guardian this week, including this Brazilian white blend.

She said: “A clever blend where the Pinot Grigio takes the sweet edge off the riesling, which adds a delicious fruity lift to this often characterless grape – a really quaffable after-work white that would also be great with shellfish such as crab and prawns.”

Price: £8.99

Rustenberg Straw Wine, Coastal Region, South Africa 2011

David Williams, writing in The Guardian, picked a selection of wines which he said would be perfect for Mother’s Day. The might have now passed, but these wines are sure to suit any occasion.

Of this South African white made with a blend of Chenin Blanc and Viognier, he said: “A late harvest (hence the French term “vendange tardive” in the Rolly Gassmann) is one way of concentrating sugar and flavour in the grapes to make a sweet wine; another is to dry the grapes in straw-lined boxes after they’ve been picked, as they do in the Jura region of eastern France to make a vin de paille, or in Italy to make a passito. It’s a method that’s been adapted to scintillating effect here by the South African producer Rustenberg, where the desiccated Chenin Blanc and Viognier grapes have yielded an intensely zesty and luminous sweet white with a peaches-and-citrus-in-syrup character and a touch of honeyed nuts for Nigel’s rhubarb and hazelnut mess.”

Price: £10.95, leaandsandeman.co.uk, Waitrose

Hermit’s Hill Botrytis Semillon, Riverina, Australia 2008

Another of Williams’ recommendations was this Australian “sticky” from the De Bortoli family – a bargain at just £7.99.

He said: “As the makers of the excellent Australian sticky wine Noble One, the De Bortoli family has plenty of experience in working with what’s known in wine circles as “noble rot” or Botrytis cinerea – a fungus that grows over the grapes to act as yet another way of concentrating flavour and sugars in the production of sweet wine.

“Majestic has a half-bottle of the shimmering 2008 for a very reasonable £19.99. But, while it doesn’t have quite the same vivid intensity, this budget alternative made by the same company from bought-in grapes is very good value, offering the classic botrytis cut of bitter orange and lime marmalade to go with the honeyed tropical fruit.”

Price: £7.99, Marks & Spencer  

Franschhoek, Cape Chaminix Greywacke Pinotage 2011

Finally Rose Murray Brown, writing in The Scotsman, highlighted her top 10 South African reds following a recent trip to taste the wines of 15 top estates across the country.

She said: “This is the only Pinotage I have ever really liked. Winemaker Gottfried Mocke really understands what is needed with this rustic grape. In 2007 he completely changed the way he made his pinotage – and now uses a mix of early picked and dessicated grapes employing several unique vinification methods taken from the Italian Ripasso dried grape technique and the Beaujolais’ carbonic maceration. Herby, wild and briary Pinotage with a soft, luscious, glycerol feel – this is exciting stuff.”

Price: £14 to £16