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Slideshow
Top 10 wines in the UK press
Jacques Abel’s Domaine de Cassagnau 2014 Pays d’Oc
Fiona Beckett picked her top French wine buys writing in The Guardian, proving that there are still plenty of bargains to be had, if you know where to look. Having tasted through a selection, Beckett conceded her favourite to be “alas, the most expensive”, which is still a fairly reasonable £7.95.
“Jacques Abel’s Domaine de Cassagnau 2014 Pays d’Oc is an irresistibly juicy, peppery blend of syrah, grenache and merlot. On the bright side, you don’t have to cross the Channel to get hold of it.”
Price: £7.95 Hercules Wine Warehouse
Signature de Colmar Alsace Grand Cru Hengst Pinot Gris 2011
This Pinot Gris from Alsace was recommended by Terry Kirby writing in The Independent, who called it an example of “serious Alsatian winemaking and a smack of late summer, with just a hint of golden autumn, in every mouthful”.
“Dry, full-bodied, well-structured and sumptuous, with complex flavours of dried fruits, honey and a touch of spice on the palate. Will develop in the bottle, but drink now with white meats and blue cheese.”
Price: £15.95, hawksheadwines.co.uk
Torre del Falasco Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso 2013
“The “ripasso” method is where the young, cherry fruit and chocolate-flavoured Valpolicello wine is mixed with the residue of venerable Amarone, giving a richer, more structured taste at a fraction of the price of true Amarone”, said Kirby of this Italian red.
“Goes with all roast meats and pasta with ragu.”
Price: £8.95, thewinesociety.com
NV Codorníu, Cuvée Barcelona 1872 Brut, Penedès, Spain
Matthew Jukes, writing for the Daily Mail, recommended this Spanish Cava from Codorníu, describing it to be a “superb, classy, sophisticated sparkler”.
“The word Cuvée refers to the model name or number in a series of a wines – in car form this would be Focus or Ka within the Ford company!”, he said.
“Cuvée Barcelona, with its lovely art nouveau design, harks back to a bygone era and it is a superb, classy, sophisticated sparkler.”
Price: £12.99, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s
Domaine Bellegarde Jurançon Sec, France 2014
David Williams, writing for The Guardian, picked out a selection of wines that are “well worth trying” from south west France, an area he said offers a “wealth of variety”.
“Many of the best examples of Gros Manseng are made in a historic French appellation, Jurançon”, said Williams. “There seems to be an extra degree of fruit intensity in wines from this stretch of land in the foothills of the Pyrenees. Both Domaine Bellegarde and Domaine Cauhapé (Les Chants des Vignes 2014; £8.75, thewinesociety.com) blend their gros manseng with the local camarelet. But Gros Manseng’s sibling, Petit Manseng, is the real star, adding still more depth and intensity of tropical fruit to a wine such as Château de Cabidos Petit Manseng Sec Cuvée Comte Philippe 2009 (£15.95, South Downs Cellars).”
Price: £13.25, Yapp
Château Bouscassé Les Jardins Pacherenc, France 2012
Williams also recommended this dry white from Château Bouscassé in Jurançon – a region known for making “some of the world’s finest sweet wines” from the Manseng grape varieties.
“The taste of candied and honeyed tropical fruit combines with grapefruit marmalade in a graceful 100% Petit Manseng such as Charles Hours Uroulat Moelleux Jurançon 2013 (£12.60, 37.5cl, oxfordwine.co.uk)”, he said. “The two Mansengs are also found in Producteurs Plaimont’s dessert wine Saint Albert Pacherenc du Vic Bilh 2011 (£14.26, 37.5cl, Corney & Barrow), while Petit Manseng joins Petit Corbu for the mineral white from Alain Brumont’s Bouscassé.”
Price: £15, Highbury Vintners
Sendero das Meigas Godello 2009
Sam Wylie-Harris recommended a selection of wines to team up with tapas writing in The Scotsman this week, including this Godello from Galica in north-west Spain.
“Godello is a white grape from Galicia in north-west Spain and worth seeking out if you’re fond of a rich, fresh style with delightful honey and apricot flavours”, she said. “Opening with apricot and honeyed notes, the silky, soft palate is concentrated with bright, citrus flavours and the lush finish is balanced by good minerality. Delicious with scallops and crab.”
Price: £12.99, laithwaites.co.uk
Bodegas Muga Rioja Blanco 2014
“White Rioja can sometimes be overlooked, not so with this blend of 90% Viura with a splash of Malvasia to add a little fat and richness”, said Wylie-Harris of this next bottle.
“With a good use of oak, balance and freshness, the expressive bouquet of honey, orange blossom and sweet vanilla notes leads to apple and subtle pineapple flavours. Try with shrimp, serrano ham and manchego cheese.”
Price: £11.25, www.bbr.com
2012 Finest 1531 Blanquette de Limoux, Languedoc, France
Hamish Anderson, writing in The Telegraph, revealed his pick of the best bargain fizz currently on offer, including this traditional method sparkler from the Languedoc.
“Cheap champagne mostly tastes, well, cheap”, he said. “You are far better off buying high-quality sparkling wine made in the same way – look for terms such as “traditional method”. From a blend of local grapes and Chardonnay, this is a nice balance of crisp orchard fruit and soft, creamy bubbles.”
Price: £10.99, Tesco
2009 The Rhona Blanc de Blancs, Graham Beck, South Africa
Finally Anderson offered South Africa as another option for seeking out bargain, a country where Graham Beck is the leading producer of Cap Classique, which refers to a “bottle-fermented” sparkling wine, similar to the method used in Champagne.
“Made solely from Chardonnay, its toasty richness and peachy fruit is cut by lemon zest and spice”, said Anderson. “An astonishing bargain.”
Price: £11 per bottle (case of six), M&S