Top 10 wines in the UK press

2014 Alsace Gewürztraminer, Turckheim, France

Jane MacQuitty at The Times kicks off this week’s round-up of press picks with a selection of wines to toast the coming of spring.

“Enticing, rose, lychee and crystallised ginger-perfumed, off-dry, spicy gewürz” characterises this wine, which she says is “just the ticket with pad Thai.”

Waitrose, £9.99 down to £7.99 until May 15

2013 Katnook Founder’s Block Cabernet Sauvignon, Australia

Next is a wine from “Australia’s answer to the Medoc” – a “bold, cedary, minty Cabernet from Coonawarra’s famous terra rossa soil, just like this one”, MacQuitty writes.

Waitrose, £11.99 down to £8.99 until May 10

2013 Domaine du Clos Mirador, Cahors, France

Finally, a “terrific, herby, tannic, plum and prune-stashed, classic southwest France red” is MacQuitty’s last pick.

Lidl, £5.99

2015 Picpoul de Pinet, Languedoc, France 

Next is the Daily Mail‘s Matthew Jukes, who tops his weekly collection of wine picks with this new vintage of M&S’s Picpoul which “has a little more weight and also a smidge more aroma than the 2014 and this means it can step up to indulgent main course dishes rather than being stuck with just starters.

“This lemon-scented white is a sublime match with Tom’s Grilled plaice with parmesan and anchovy butter”, he writes.

£8.50, Marks & Spencer

2014 Eitzinger, Grüner Veltliner, Kamptal, Austria

“Here is an intriguing and inexpensive Grüner and it comes from the clever wine boffins at Co-op who are on a roll at the moment”, Jukes continues.

“Give up Sauvignon this week and take the plunge with this similarly-shaped white – it is delicious with the Watercress and ham salad with boiled eggs and spring onions.”

£8.99, Co-op

Boutinot Percheron Old Vines Cinsaut, Western Cape, South Africa 2014 

The Observer‘s David Williams also takes his chance to toast the new season with some springtime wines. “If you’re looking for lighter reds that might fit in with spring-like moods and food, the heat and dust in the heart of South Africa’s winelands may not seem the most obvious place to start your search”, he writes.

“But the Cape’s winemakers are working with a much wider stylistic palette these days… The current vintage of one of the UK’s best-value spring-into-summer reds, with its whiff of pretty red berries and cherries, is now available in numerous independent merchants up and down the country.”

From £5.95, The Wine Society; Slurp; Noel Young Wines

Carlos Costoya Alodio Joven Ribeira Sacra, Spain 2015

With this wine, the famous Mencia grape variety “is mixed by Carlos Costoya, a fine artist by trade – with the more obscure Merenzao and Brancellao into a distinctively wild, earthy, cherry scented, fluent and spring fresh original”, Williams writes.

From £11.50, Chester Beer & Wine; Just Galician Wines

Fernando de Castilla Antique Amontillado NV

Celebrating the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare is reason enough for the Sunday Times drinks writer Damian Barr to imagine what the Bard might like to drink today, as he opts for this “savoury but mellow, toasty Amontillado packs orange peel, bitter almonds and a big finish.”

It “demands briny olives”, Barr insists.

£23.99, Virgin Wines

Domaine Marguerite Dupasquier Mercurey 2013

Our final contributor of the week, Jamie Goode writing for the Sunday Express takes the challenge of choosing some great value Bordeaux wines on sale in British supermarkets today.

“This was made from grapes grown on mature, 25-year-old vines”, Goode writes of this Mercurey drop.

“It’s juicy, rounded and attractive with sweet red cherries backed by a savoury spiciness, while there are also hints of cloves and cedar wood.”

£11.50, Asda

Henry Fessy Coteaux Bourguignons 2015

“Unusually for Burgundy, this is made from Gamay, the grape of Beaujolais”, Goode continues.

“It’s vivid and aromatic with moreish, floral, black-cherry fruit as well as a bit of raspberry crunch.”

£9, Marks & Spencer