Top 10 wines in the UK press

Toro Loco Tempranillo 2014, Utiel-Requena, Spain

David Williams writing in The Guardian took a look at the “boutique” wines currently available at discount supermarket Aldi as part of its bid to lure the middle classes.

He said: “What Aldi does have which the indies (and the other supermarkets for that matter) don’t, however, is a bargain basement wine of the quality of Toro Loco Tempranillo, a juicy, berry-fruited red that is astonishingly good considering tax and other costs leave only a few pence for the wine itself.”

Price: £3.79, Aldi

The Exquisite Collection Fleurie 2014, Beaujolais, France

Williams also gave this £6.49 Beaujolais Fleurie from Aldi’s Exquisite Collection a road test, describing it as a “real gem”.

He said: “As I tasted the rest of the slim Aldi range of 50 bottles amid the distractingly spectacular views of London at the top of Millbank Tower, it seemed to me that price remains the over-riding consideration in the retailer’s selection process. There was very little that was egregiously bad, most wines were OK or better for the money, but there was little to stir the soul. There are some real gems, however: Exquisite Collection Fleurie 2014 is a very pretty light Beaujolais.”

Price: £6.49, Aldi

Regal Rogue Rosso

With the recent boom in craft gin Vermouth, a fortified wine aromatised with herbs and spices, is enjoying an “exciting resurgence”, according to Olly Smith writing in the Daily Mail, with a wave of producers “expanding beyond the traditional heartlands of France and Italy.”

“On the shelves at Selfridges, Regal Rogue Rosso is hard to beat and as potent as a cranberry hand grenade”, he said. “It ranks among the most scrumptious and characterful red vermouths I’ve tasted and is made in Australia from local Shiraz base wine.”

Price: £29.99, Selfridges

Thorny Devil, Old Vine Grenache 2013, Barossa Valley, Australia

Terry Kirby picked this “powerful” Old Vine Grenache as one of three of the best bottles to buy this week writing in The Independent.

“Australia’s Barossa Valley is not just about thumping great reds – some have a more attractive blend of power and subtleness, which the Grenache grape from old vines achieves to great affect here”, he said. “Powerful, but pure plum fruits, structure and finesse will match equally elegant rich meat or poultry dishes, particularly duck or lamb.”

Price: £13.25, thefinewinecompany.co.uk

Côtes du Rhône Villages Visan, 2013

In Kirby’s “bargain basement” was this 2013 Côtes du Rhône from Lidl, a supermarket that he said had “upped its game” in recent years challenging rival Aldi’s “vinous lead” with a new range of classic French wines.

“This is ridiculously good-value Côtes du Rhône Villages: medium-bodied, peppery, black fruits, succulent and ideal pizza’n’pasta drinking”, he said.

Price: £5.99, Lidl

2009 Taylor’s Late Bottled Vintage, Douro Valley, Portugal

Port might be a Christmas staple, but it is a “wondrous wine” that we should be enjoying all year round, according to Hamish Anderson writing in The Telegraph.

“With flavours of damson, black cherry and winter spice, Taylor’s superlative-value LBV can be sipped with a square of high-quality dark chocolate or served with rich puddings”, he said.

Price: £12, Sainsbury’s

Stanton & Killeen Rutherglen Topaque, Victoria, Australia

One of the world’s “great expressions of fortified sweet wine”, Anderson also recommended this Australian Rutherglen for enjoying alongside a chocolate egg or two this Easter.

“Topaque is made from the Muscadelle grape and this, being a relatively young version, retains some of its heady perfume, behind which sit soft brown sugar, dried citrus peel and caramel”, he said.

Price: £13.99 (half), haslemerecellar.co.uk

La Fleur d’Amelie 2014 Rosé, Bordeaux, France

Jamie Goode picked out the “best rosé wines” for 2015 writing in The Express – a style that he said is one of wine’s great success stories. “No one drank it 20 years ago, but now everyone seems to”, he said. “It’s the ultimate feel-good, sun-in-the-sky wine, but the best examples also have a hint of seriousness.”

Of this example made by Château de Sours, he said: “This is bright pink and has vivid flavours of red cherries and redcurrants, with a subtle green sappy edge. It’s a super-crisp, dry style.”

Price: £10, Marks & Spencer

Château Bel Air Perponcher Réserve 2013 Rosé, Bordeaux, France

Goode also recommended this “attractively packaged” rosé and with a “pink/orange colour” from Bordeaux’s Château Bel Air.

“This Bordeaux rosé has an appealing grassy, herbal twist to the bright blackcurrant and cherry fruit. There’s even a hint of mint, too, in this distinctive and classy wine”.

Price: £8.95, The Wine Society

McGuigan, Classic Semillon Blanc 2012, Australia

Finally Tom Cannavan, writing for The Huffington Post, reviewed this Semillon Blanc from McGuigan, which he described as a “delightful example” that is “fairly typical” of the grape’s classic style.

“Feather-light, citrussy, with a shimmering freshness, some ageing on the lees also gives a bit of creamy texture and depth in the mouth, as well as hints of more exotically juicy fruit”, he said. “It is a pleasure to drink this now for its exuberance and tight, youthful drive, but you might want to tuck a bottle or two away to see how it develops over the next several years.”

Price: £7.99, Tesco, Sainsbury’s