Top 10 wines in the UK press

Marks & Spencer Marksman 2010, England

With St George’s Day approaching (23 April) a glass of English fizz seems an appropriate tipple to toast the patron saint of England.

On English fizz Olly Smith, writing for the Daily Mail, said: “The Romans loved a bit of English vineyard action and the recent successes of our homegrown wine, especially fizz, are a testament to the potential for making top class bubbly on our shores.”

Smith recommended this “classy” bottle produced by Rideview in East Sussex which he described as “glory in a glass”.

Price: £26, Marks & Spencer

2010 Clos de los Siete, Tunuyán, Mendoza, Argentina

Among Matthew Jukes’ wine recommendations this week was this “imposing” Argentine blend of Malbec, Cabernet and Shiraz.

Writing in the Daily Mail he said: “With ultra-high altitude vineyards, which instil elegance into the grapes, and one of the world’s most renowned wine consultants, Michel Rolland, behind the scenes, it is no wonder this imposing Malbec/Cabernet/Merlot/Shiraz blend is so impressive.  Grab it at this excellent, reduced price today.”

Price: £15.00, reduced to £12.00, until 28 April, Sainsbury’s

First Drop Wines, Vivo Arneis, Adelaide Hills, South Australia

Jukes also recommended this Australian white made from the “floral, beguiling” Arneis grape, which is indigenous to Italy and rarely seen outside of Piemonte.

“Englishman Matt Gant makes this stellar version in Australia and Vivo is in a league of its own”, said Jukes. “The crushed-seashell, pear skin, elderflower and almond essence notes are awesome.”

Price: £12.99, Cambridge Wine Merchants

Tesco Côtes de Gascogne Blanc 2014, France

David Williams, writing in The Guardian, rounded up a selection of Tesco’s best deals, who he said are fighting back against the likes of Aldi and Lidl with “well-priced offerings to keep wine lovers happy”.

“Is Tesco worried about the twin-pronged discounting German four-letter assault of Aldi and Lidl?”, said Williams. “That certainly seemed to be one of the subtexts at its latest wine press tasting, where the retailer was keen to point out that 30 of the 131 wines on show were priced under a fiver. That sounds great on paper. The problem is that, even once the chancellor’s recent wine duty freeze is taken into account, making a palatable sub-£5 wine these days is not easy – with £2.05 duty plus 20% VAT going in tax, plus packaging and transport costs, only a meagre few pence are left for the wine itself. That Tesco’s racy, pungent, Loire-like Gascogne white is more than merely drinkable is, therefore, something of a feat.”

Price: £4.69

Kanonkop Pinotage 2011, Stellenbosch, South Africa

Williams also recommended this “deep, powerful, exotically scented” South African Pinotage.

“As they should be, things are generally better as prices rise at Tesco. The retailer has 25% off if you buy six bottles until Tuesday, which make the scintillating dry Australian Finest Tingleup Riesling 2012 (£9.99 for a single bottle) and the spicy, sinewy southern French red Château de Fauzan Minervois 2013 (£8.99) excellent buys. Both stores, but, frustratingly, many of the best bottles are only available by-the-case online – and not always at better prices than independents. If you’re tempted by special-occasion bottles – such as the deep, powerful, exotically scented Cape red Kanonkop Pinotage or the fine cellar-worthy Bordeaux of Château Sociando-Mallet 2009 and 2010 (both £25) check at Wine-searcher.com.”

Price: £25, Tesco

Languedoc White 2014, France

Supermarket wines were also to focus of Susy Atkins, writing in The Telegraph, who picked the best deals to snap up this week.

“From its often impressive Taste the Difference range, Sainsbury’s has ripe, food-friendly but dry Languedoc White 2014 on an excellent deal, £8 or £12 for two until 28 April”, said Atkins. “It’s a ripe but dry blend of white Grenache, Marsanne and Vermentino to create peachy, nutty, herbal notes. A wine for roast chicken.”

Price: £8 or £12 for two until 28 April, Sainsbury’s

Dveri Pax 1139 Furmint Pinot Traminer Riesling 2013, Slovenia

Atkins also recommended this blend of Furmint and Traminer Riesling from Slovenia, available at Marks & Spencer, describing it as an “unusual but beguiling blend”.

“This blend delivers a fragrant, crisp, refreshing aperitif with green apple, juicy melon and a twist of white pepper.”

Price: £8 down from £10 until 27 April, Marks & Spencer

Château Hansen Cabernet-Gernischt 2012, China

Tom Cannavan brought something “a little bit different” to readers of the Huffington Post this week, recommending this organic wine from Inner Mongolia in China.

“That’s certainly not an everyday find in the UK, but in fact China is becoming a very important player on the world wine stage with rapid expansion of their vineyards to serve both local and export markets”, he said. “Sited up in the dessert near the Mongolian border, Hansen is a substantial business producing more than two million bottles of wine per year for both local and international consumption. Their range includes this unoaked wine made from the Cabernet-Gernischt grape – in fact a grape variety that has been identified as genetically identical to the Carmenere of Chile. Indeed this has Carmenere character on the nose with both a flood of ripe, buoyant black fruit that is all cassis and blackberry, and a little green, herby edge that is most attractive. On the palate it is easy to drink with its smooth, soft tannins and juicy acidity, and that plush sweetness of fruit. Different? Certainly. Good? Absolutely!”

Price: £10.50 from Vintage Roots

Château Pey La Tour Réserve Bordeaux Supérieur 2010, France

Terry Kirby, writing for The Independent, recommended this red from Château Pey La Tour in Bordeaux.

“Completely upturning the notion that most claret at this kind of price is a waste of time, this is sensationally good value from a very decent estate in a great vintage”, he said. “The Merlot-dominated blend delivers ripe, full-bodied, juicy, smooth blackberry cassis flavours. Perfect with a rib of beef or rump steak.”

Price: £10.50, thewinesociety.com; £12.99, cambridgewine.com

Purato Cataratto Pinot Grigio Terre Sicilane 2014, Italy

Finally, Kirby recommended this “no-frills” organic Italian Pinot Grigio.

“Hailing from Trapani in the west of Siciliy, this is as organic as they come –even the label is made from recycled paper – and multi-award winning: a no-frills, refreshing blend of citrus and tropical fruits, easily drinkable”, said Kirby. “Suitable for almost any pasta or seafood.”

Price: £8.99, Budgens