Top 10 wines in the UK press

Feudo dei Tari Negroamaro 2013, Italy

With the Rugby World Cup in full swing Fiona Beckett, writing in The Guardian, rounded up a selection of appropriate wines which which to enjoy the action.

“The problem is that, unless you support the home nations with a patriotic pint or two, most of the wines you might be inclined to reach for will come from their fiercest rivals: France, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. Even Argentina pose a threat, or so my rugby-mad husband tells me.”

“Maybe the answer is to choose wines from countries that are unlikely to dent our national pride: Italy, for instance. And on the basis that rugby fans will be more inclined to fancy a full-bodied red than a wishy-washy pinot grigio (shout me down if you disagree), head for Morrisons and load up with a few bottles of its M Signature Nero d’Avola 2014 (£5.49), from Sicily, a ripe, gutsy red that would go down a treat with a takeaway pizza. Majestic has the similarly robust Feudo dei Tari Negroamaro 2013, a warm, spicy, brambly Puglian red that is now on offer at £6.66 if you buy two or more bottles; the tasting notes suggest drinking that, too, with “generously topped” pizza.”

“Speaking of Asda, its rich, dense Extra Special Douro 2013, which is made from the same Portuguese grape varieties that go into Port, also punches way above its current £5 price tag”, said Beckett of her second Rugby World Cup recommendation.

“Or try the same store’s Noster Nobilis Priorat 2013 (£7.98), a real belter of a blend of Grenache, Cariñena and Cabernet Sauvignon from one of Spain’s most upmarket wine regions. I’m channelling a blue cheeseburger with that one.”

Price: £5, Asda

Estevez Cabernet-Carmenère 2014, Maule Valley, Chile

“For cut-price Chilean, head for Aldi”, said Beckett, continuing her Rugby World Cup wine round-up.

“This supermarket’s regular range is looking a bit tired to me (though it does have more interesting wines in the run-up to Christmas) but, that said, the lively, exuberant Estevez Cabernet-Carmenère 2014, from the Maule valley, one of my favourite Chilean wine regions, is pretty well unbeatable at £4.99. And unbeatable is what we want to be until the end of next month.”

Price: £4.99, Aldi

Raats Cabernet Franc 2012, Stellenbosch, South Africa

Moving to The Express, Jamie Goode took “another look” at Cabernet Franc, which he said is often regarded as being “a bit of a C-list grape variety.”

“It’s good in blends, so the story goes, but it rarely stars alone”, he explained. “Recently, though, people have begun to realise that it’s better than they thought”

Recommending this South African example from Stellenbosch, Goode said: “Raats is a South African winery that specialises in Cabernet Franc and this is a delicious example of the variety, with sleek, pure blackberry and black-cherry fruit along with a lovely, fine-grained, chalky edge.”

Price: £19.99, sawinesonline.co.uk

Domaine de Rosette Chinon 2014, Loire, France

Goode also highlighted this Cabernet France from the Loire, which he said was “delicious, with floral black-cherry fruit and some blackcurrant richness”.

“It’s kept fresh with a nice hint of green and chalky graininess”, he added.

Price: £9.49 each when you buy six bottles, Marks & Spencer

Thympiopoulos Malgousia 2013, Central Greece

With the next Bond film Spectre set to hit cinemas next month Olly Smith, writing in the Daily Mail, rounded up a selection of wines that the super spy would be happy to raise a toast to.

An important rule of drinking like 007 is apparently to “learn to adapt, as Bond’s booze varies according to what’s on offer”. This is true of Sir Roger Moore’s choice of a local wine from Corfu in For Your Eyes Only, which no doubt inspired Smith’s choice of Thymiopoulos’ Malagousia, produced in the Valley of the Muses in Central Greece.

“Not exactly what Bonds drinks in For Your Eyes Only, but a scrumptious peachy Greek body double”.

Price: £9, Marks and Spencer

Bollinger RD 2002, Champagne, France

But you can’t drink like James Bond without a few glasses of Champagne, more appropriately, Bollinger.

“Likely to be Bond’s Champagne choice in Spectre”, said Smith, “It’s like an ejector seat propelling your tastebuds to the stars.”

Price: £169.95, The Finest Bubble

2013 Pablo y Walter, Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina

Finally Matthew Jukes, writing for the Daily Mail, picked a selection of wines to match Mexican, with this brightly coloured Malbec making the cut.

“This time a wine for the Steak burritos – it’s a bright, modern, juicy-fruit-stuffed Malbec”, he said. “The light-hearted label gives you an idea of the vivacity and character of the wine inside the bottle – great fun from the very first sip.”

Price: £10.25, Vino Wines; £8.59 Italian Continental Stores;£6.99, D. Byrne; £10.00 Tiny’s Tipples

2014 Las Hermanas, Joven Monastrell / Syrah, Jumilla, Spain

Maintaining a trend for brightly coloured, pop art labels was this Spanish Monastrell, which Jukes described as a “huge, hulking, brooding red blend”.

“Another dead cert for the Steak burritos, this wine appears a little scary on first inspection but it is mellow and harmonious when it relaxes in the glass”, said Jukes.

Price: £9.00, Marks & Spencer

2014 Fiano di Avellino, Vadiaperti, Campania, Italy

Completing a trio of recommendations, Jukes highlighted this “discreet, controlled and delicately aromatic Fiano” from Italy, which “beneath its monastic exterior beats a heart of steel with acidity and nerve to match.”

|The peach blossom and pear juice flavours will be able to handle even the fieriest of Chicken tostadas”, he said.

Price: £14.50, reduced to £12.92 each for a case of 12 bottles, Haynes, Hanson & Clark