Top 10 wines in the UK press

Berry Bros & Rudd Good Ordinary White 2013

The Spectator‘s wine columnist Jonathan Ray looks to Berry Bros & Rudd’s fabled own-label offering in his Wine Club offering this week, as the merchant has assembled a bargain for the magazine’s readers.

The biggest saving is the £50 discount on the Torre Demontalbo Rioja Crianza 2010, down from £179.40 per case of 12 to just £119.40, but Ray reserved special praise for Berry’s famous Good Ordinary range.

The Good Ordinary White 2013 is a “crisp zesty, citrusy Sauvignon Blanc from Bordeaux”, says Ray, made by Dourthe, which he describes as one of the region’s “best producers”.

“Although not madly complex, it’s gratifyingly refreshing and pretty much hits the bullseye as an invigorating aperitif,” Ray writes.

£7.50 for Wine Club members

Berry Bros & Rudd Good Ordinary Claret 2012

Moving on to the Good Ordinary Claret, it is a “classic Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot blend also from Dourthe,” Ray reveals, and it comes “crammed with all the blackcurrent, blackberry, cedarwood and tobacco notes one would expect from a claret twice the price.”

“It is joyous stuff indeed”, Ray continues, “and I drink buckets of it.”

Also £7.50 for Wine Club members

Jacob’s Creek, Reserve Barossa Shiraz 2013, South Australia

Next up, Matthew Jukes chooses wines to pair with the Daily Mail Weekend Magazine‘s “one-bowl” recipes.

“Regardless of how hot and spicy you like your Beef Rendang,” he writes, “this heroic Aussie stalwart red will step up to the mark. With lush swathes of black fruit and discreet earthy spice, JC continues to be an impressive, Australian standard-bearer.”

£9.99, reduced to £7.00 until 27 October, Tesco

Margaret River 6285 Merlot 2014, Western Australia

And in another tip of the hat to the Aussies, Jukes recommends this “sophisticated Merlot” made by the “massively talented Larry Cherubino”.

Describing it as “a remarkably impressive wine,” he writes: “Merlot can often look a little hollow in the middle of the palate, but this is a plump, velvety number with a very long finish.”

£13.00 each if you buy 6 bottles, Marks & Spencer

Tomàs Cusiné Vilosell 2012, Costers del Segre, Spain 

Continuing with his Spanish serenade from last week, the Daily Express wine writer Jamie Goode chooses a selection of lesser-known Spanish wines, two of which have been selected here.

“From high-altitude vineyards in Catalonia, northern Spain, this is a vivid red made from old Tempranillo and Syrah vines,” he writes this wine. “It’s delicious and simply bursting with sweet, pure black fruits.”

£9.50 from The Wine Society

Wine Atlas Bobal 2014, Utiel-Requena, Spain 

And this own-label offering from Asda’s celebrated Wine Atlas range is another top choice from Goode. “Bobal is a lesser-known Spanish grape variety that’s experiencing some fresh attention these days,: he says. “This affordable bottle is juicy, berryish and bright with tasty cherry fruit, and it’s brilliant value.”

£4.97 at Asda

Cantina Lunae Colli di Luni Vermentino, Liguria, Italy 2014

The Guardian‘s David Williams turns his attention to Italian food and wine pairing this week, beginning with this Ligurian tipple. Gushing about his love for top-quality Italian olive oil, Williams opts for a wine “that approximates its feel and flavours, while bringing refreshing qualities of its own.

“It’s made from Vermentino, a white grape that flourishes across the Mediterranean thanks to its ability to soak up heat without losing its acidic zip and bite.”

Describing the wine, Williams writes: “It has a delightful floral scent, green herbs, a ripple of citrus and peach and just a touch of almonds and olive oil.”

From £13.49, EW Wines; Bottle Apostle; Cambridge Wine

Taste the Difference Aglianico del Vulture, Basilicata, Italy 2011

“Luigi Tecce’s thrillingly vivid and sinewy, subtly perfumed and black-fruited Aglianico Campitaurasini Satyricon 2012 would be ideal” for an Italian beef dish, Williams writes, “but Sainsbury’s chunky sweet-berried take on the grape from Basilicata is a fine budget alternative” that is worthy of inclusion in his list.

£8, Sainsbury’s

Crocera Barbera d’Asti Superiore 2013

Terry Kirby at The Independent recommends this wine for a midweek autumnal meal. “Another fabulous and well-priced autumnal red, ideal for game casseroles or a peppered venison steak on a chill evening, or a plate of Italian hams and salamis,” Kirby describes the wine as “smoky and spicy, with masses of dark, ripe damsons and cherries.

It is a “nicely rounded and structured” wine, says Kirby, “with a generous, slightly sweetish finish.”

£7.99, kwoff.co.uk; £8.99, oldchapelcellars.co.uk

Les Deux Roches Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie

And finally, this “brilliant-value” bargain basement wine is “full of crisp, vibrant citric flavours”. Kirby describes it as “versatile enough to be suitable as a party white, as an aperitif or to be drunk with shellfish, especially oysters, and all white fish.”

£6 (to 11 November; normally £7), Spar