Top 10 wines in the UK press

Vincent Carême Vouvray Sec, Loire, France 2011

In The Observer, David Williams picked out this wine, writing: “There’s always something magical about drinking very old wine and the almost dizzying feeling of time-travel you get as you taste something shaped by the weather all those years ago. Sometimes the experience is more academic than hedonistic: the wine is historically curious rather than objectively delicious. A bottle of modern Vouvray master Vincent Carême’s fabulous, tingling, rich, apples-in-honey dry Chenin is a worthy alternative for a special occasion now or many years down the line. (£17.95, Berry Bros & Rudd).”

Ventoso Morellino di Scansano 2012

This recommendation came from Fiona Beckett in The Guardian, who wrote: “Italy also has uniquely light reds that work as well with fish as with meat.”

She added that this wine is, “a fresh, Sangiovese-based Tuscan red that could take you right through a meal. (£11, Oddbins; 13.5% abv).”

2012 Tikves, Vranec, Macedonia

Matthew Jukes wrote in the Daily Mail that this wine is, “a first ever listing in Weekend Wine for a Macedonian red and it is a beauty.”

He added: “With dark, plum and chocolate fruit and a gorgeous, juicy palate this is a mightily impressive wine. I am not a Vranec expert by any means, but it means ‘black stallion’ and on this showing it’s got serious potential. (£8.99, Marks & Spencer).”

2011 Waitrose Reserve Shiraz, St. Hallett

Jukes also recommended this wine, writing: “Just to prove that the Aussies have some pretty cold and rainy years just like we do in the northern hemisphere, this 2011 Shiraz is a lighter than you might expect thanks to the weather and this has given this wine a more tender, berry freshness which is truly captivating. (£10.99, reduced to £8.79, until 3 December, Waitrose).”

Marks & Spencer CM Carmenere Elqui 2012

Meanwhile in the Mail on Sunday, Olly Smith picked out this as his “wine of the week”. He wrote: “Cracked pepper aromas with fists of black fruit and a tickle of spice. Legendary wine for the money and a smashing partner for beef. (£7.99).”

Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc 2013

This wine was picked out by Victoria Moore in the Daily Telegraph. She wrote: “I am not a fan of the new livery which makes this old favourite Sauvignon Blanc look like an airline serviette, but the wine inside is as lovely as ever, in that gooseberry fool New Zealand way. It’s one of those wines to pick up only when on offer — and £6.99 is about as low as the price ever goes. Now’s the time. (13%, Majestic, £6.99 down from £10.49 when you buy two until December 2).”

Winemaker’s Selection Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc 2012

In the Sunday Telegraph, Susy Atkins picked out wines “to go with a feast”, writing that there should be three factors considered in making such a purchase. “One, it should be an easy-going, versatile, generally popular character.” Secondly “it should have some substance, a little structure”, and finally “they should carry a sensible price tag”. With that in mind Atkins recommended this wine, writing: “A white Rhône with a certain nuttiness, and a smidge of oak, too, to take on rich chicken or fish feasts. (Sainsbury’s, £6.99)”

Rioja Vega Crianza 2009/10

In The Independent, Terry Kirby recommended this wine as one to enjoy with “Sunday lunch”. He wrote: “The first of three value-for-money, full-bodied reds for cooler-weather drinking is this lovely Rioja, very contemporary in style but hailing from an ancient estate near Haro and made using Tempranillo and Mazuelo. Aged in oak, but not overly so, it is bright and smooth with flavours of vanilla, spices and cherries. Excellent with game such as pheasant or partridge. £9.29, houseoftownend.com (2009); £9.30, tanners-wines.co.uk (2010).”

Champagne Eric Rodez Blanc de Noir Grand Cru NV, France

With party season on the horizon Jamie Goode recommended a number of sparklers in the Daily Express. He wrote that, “this is a brilliant Champagne from a small grower: a real ‘insider’s’ wine. It has attractive complexity with a hint of cherry alongside the citrus fruit. Pure elegance in a glass, it balances tight, fresh flavours with some richness. (£37.95, www.bbr.com (0800 280 2440), 12% alcohol).”

Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte Palmes d’Or 1999, France

And finally another recommendation from Goode, who wrote: “This has a remarkable bottle design with dimples a bit like a golf ball. It’s a thing of beauty – just like the champagne inside, which is rich, mellow and deliciously decadent, with apple, pear, spice and walnut flavours. (£85, John Lewis, 12% alcohol).”