Top 10 wines in the UK press

Clos Rocailleux, Gaillac Mauzac Blanc Sec 2013, France

Tom Cannavan, writing for the Huffington Post, recommended this “fairly steely but in its way, charming, white” produced by Clos Rocailleux – a  tiny five-hectare estate in Gaillac run by British husband and wife team, Jack and Margaret Reckitt.

“This shimmering white is made from the green-appley Mauzac grape and is not a wine for lovers of tropical Kiwi Sauvignon or lusciously peachy Viognier: it is strict, almost neutral at first, but its taut apple and citric personality, the cut and verve of its styling, is really appealing”, he said.

“It has good texture and a bit of saline in the finish, but it is by no stretch of the imagination mean: it is always hinting at a more sexy ripeness of fruit – but only ever hinting.”

Price: £11.99, redsquirrelwine.com.

2014 Clos Bagatelle, Saint-Chinian, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

Three of the best whites from the Languedoc-Roussillon, the largest wine region in the world, were recommended by Hamish Anderson, writing in The Telegraph.

Of this example from Clos Bagatelle in Saint-Chinian, to the west of Béziers, Anderson said: “Though reds predominate, it makes wine of all three colours that are full of character and distinctly fresh. This is a blend of Grenache Blanc, Roussanne and Carignan Blanc, perfumed with flowers and citrus, while savoury elements add complexity.”

Price: £13.99, The Vineyard, Dorking (01306 876828)

2009 Le Soula, Côtes Catalanes, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

Anderson also recommended Soula’s 2009 Sauvignon Blanc produced by its “stupendous vineyards” in the foothills of the Pyrenees, west of Perpignan.

“Their altitude is key in delivering the amazing purity of this wine”, said Anderson. “Based on Sauvignon Blanc and augmented with local varieties, it is a powerful, full-bodied white with fresh fennel, apricot and exotic spice. Decant to revel in its full array of flavours.”

Price: £23.95, uncorked.co.uk

Domaine de Peyronnette 2014 Monbazillac, France

With discount supermarkets going from strength to strength Victoria Moore, writing in The Telegraph, rounded up a selection of the best French wines currently available at Lidl.

“Monbazillac is one of the less-known appellations making Sauternes-style sweet wines on the banks of the Dordogne river from Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Muscadelle”, she explained. “This one is an absolute cracker. It tastes of frangipane, poached and baked apricots, and crème patissière. And you get a full bottle! For less than a tenner. Amazing.”

Price: £7.99, Lidl

2013 Jim Barry, The Barry Brothers, Shiraz / Cabernet, Clare Valley, South Australia

Matthew Jukes recommended this red blend from the Barry Brothers in Australia’s Clare Valley, which he said was one of South Australia’s “most important, boutique wine regions”.

“Specialising in dry Riesling, Cabernet and Shiraz, this staggeringly serious, award-winning red blend is a masterpiece in savoury succulence”, he said.

Price: £14.99, Noel Young Wines; £14.49, The Australian Wine Store 

2014 Tesco finest* Gavi, Piemonte, Italy

“Dry, floral and lemony, this is a brilliant all-purpose white wine”, said Jukes of this Tesco finest* Gavi.

“This eternally joyous Gavi is on sale at this ludicrously low price for a few more days so head down and prepare for a supermarket sweep raid on the shelves”, he said.

Price: £7.99, reduced to £5.99, until 15 September, Tesco

Henry Fessy Brouilly 2013, Beaujolais, France

As we begin to slip into autumn David Williams, writing for The Guardian, recommended a selection of wines tailored to suit the changing seasons.

“Keats’s season of mellow fruitfulness is upon us, a time of year that brings out a sentimental strain of very British childhood memories in me to do with scrumping apples and pears and rummaging in brambles for blackberries and bilberries”, he said. “There are wines that seem to fit particularly well with this mood, capturing autumn in a kind of flavour photograph.

“Many of the red wines of Beaujolais, for example, have the vivid, finger-staining colour and the mix of sweetness and tartness that you’d find in a bucket of just-picked blackberries. I’m thinking of wines like the crunchy, vibrant example from Henry Fessy or the even more perfumed and vivid, natural-feeling Domaine Chasselay Fleurie, Beaujolais 2014 (£14.95, Vintage Roots).”

Price: £11.99, Waitrose

Domaine des Forges Le Moulin du Gué 2013, Savennières, Loire, France

Chenin Blanc emerged as one of Williams’ firm autumn wine favourites, recommending this “wonderfully tangy and taut” example from Domaine des Forges.

“White wines made from Chenin Blanc are the best for conjuring the almost overwhelmingly sweet scent of an orchard when the trees are heavy with fruit and the ground an ankle-risking obstacle course of apples in various states of decay”, he said. “Chenin’s spiritual home the Loire Valley, where it’s used to make everything from gorgeous honey and tarte tatin-flavoured sweet wines such as Domaine des Forges St-Aubin Coteaux du Layon 2012 (£11.75, Stone Vine Sun) to searing, Cox’s apple-like sparklers such as Domaine de la Taille aux Loups Triple Zero Montlouis-sur-Loire NV (£12.90, Justerini & Brooks). For a dry match for an autumnal roast of pork (with or without apple sauce), however, I’d opt again for Domaine des Forges and their wonderfully tangy and taut Chenin from Savennières.”

Price: £10.49, The Co-operative

Peraj Petita Celler de Capçanes, Do Montsant 2011, Spain

Finally Terry Kirby, writing in The Independent, recommended this Spanish red, made by a “small, renowned” co-operative near Tarragona.

“Made with organic, old-vine Garnacha grapes, comes this stunning, well-balanced red: ripe, full-bodied and concentrated, but at the same time juicy with a fresh finish”, he said. “Very moreish.”

Price: £12.95, bbr.com

Ciro Rosso Gaglioppo, Santa Venere 2013, Calabria, Italy

More suited to a midweek meal, Kirby picked out this “gem from the Wine Society’s current good-value Italian range”, which he said punched well above its weight.

Made from organically grown Gaglioppo grapes in Calabria in the deep south of Italy, he described it as a “lovely, rounded, medium-bodied red”.

Price: £8.25, thewinesociety.com