Top 10 wines in the UK press

Serabel Cairanne Côtes du Rhône Villages, France 2013 

David Williams of The Guardian kicks off our round-up this week with some top French drops, beginning with this Cairanne wine – part of the appellation that is celebrating its first anniversary since receiving official status.

But it’s not its protected designation that is getting Williams excited about this wine; in fact, it’s quite the contrary: “Given that the name “Cairanne” was already permitted on labels of wine from the area, albeit as part of the supposedly lesser-ranked Côtes du Rhône Villages designation, it’s hard at this distance to understand the fuss,” he writes.

“Or to see how the change will make much difference to those of us who have been buying such typically fulsome, spicy, great value reds as Serabel for years.”

£7.59, Waitrose

Domaine Saint-Gayan Ilex Rasteau, France 2012

The new status does mean “their village is now on the same official level as more celebrated nearby appellations such as Gigondas, Châteauneuf-du-Pape and the last promoted (in 2010) southern Rhône village, Rasteau, its wines discussed in the same terms as Saint-Gayan’s magnificently dark, brooding, swarthy red,” writes Williams.

£11.95, Yapp Brothers

Charles Back Stonedance Roussanne, South Africa, 2014

“A really top-drawer, creamy, rich, spicy, dinner-party quality Roussanne” is one of the top picks from Terry Kirby at The Independent this week. “Excellent for prime fish or pork belly,” he says.

£10, Marks & Spencer

Taste the Difference Pinotage, South Africa, 2014

“The TTD range at Sainsbury’s can be relied upon to deliver value for money at the lower end of the price range,” Kirby writes.

“A very typical rendition of South Africa’s finest red grape, with its distinctive smoky vegetal, coffee and red fruit flavours. A great everyday bottle for meaty pasta dishes or risotto.”

£8, Sainsbury’s

2012 Torres, Ibéricos Crianza Tempranillo, Rioja, Spain 

Next, Matthew Jukes at the Daily Mail picks out some of his favourite Spanish offerings to pair with his paper’s Mediterranean recipes.

“Torres Rioja is a fabulously fruit-driven wine with black cherry and cinnamon notes underpinned with brooding energy,” he writes.

“It is exactly the sort of wine, loaded with Spanish flair, which loves the Penne Arrabiata recipe and it will age beautifully for a further four years.”

£9.99, Waitrose

NV Waitrose Cava, Catalonia, Spain 

“Is 2016 Cava’s year?” asks Jukes. “Will this inexpensive Spanish sparkler steal the thunder from trendy Prosecco?”

“If this wine is anything to go by there is a very good chance,” he enthuses. “Well done Waitrose for finding such a superb, elegant sparkler at such a keen price – all it needs now is a decent label!”

£6.99, Waitrose

Sant’Ilia Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc/Melnik 2013, Thracian Valley, Bulgaria

Next, Jamie Goode recommends his favourite Eastern European wines in the Daily Express this week.

“This Buglarian red is just so classy,” he writes. “It’s sweetly fruited with a delightfully fresh taste in the mouth, along with cherries, spice, pepper and a little chalkiness.”

£8.99, Waitrose

Törley Grüner Veltliner 2014, Budafok, Hungary 

“One from the leftfield: a Hungarian take on Austria’s own grape variety,” is Goode’s next choice.

“This is very pretty and restrained with white peaches and lemons, backed up by some white pepper notes. It’s a stylish and distinctive white.”

£7.79, Waitrose

Grace Koshu Hishiyama Private Reserve, Japan, 2015

Next, Damian Barr looks to the Orient and recommends his favourite native Japanese Koshu wines in the Sunday Times this week.

This wine “looks ghostly, but it has the signature yuzu citrus freshness backed by solid stone”, he says.

£20.34, Great Wines Direct

Sol Lucet Koshu

And finally, Barr recommends “an approachable way in” to the Koshu category with this wine that is “light and bright, but with sufficient bite.”

“It would be great with sushi, but has enough acidity to crunch through tempura,” Barr says.

£13, Marks & Spencer