Top 10 wines in the UK press

Domaine de Cassagnau, Rouge 2014, Languedoc, France

Tom Cannavan, writing in the Huffington Post, recommended this wine from the Pays D’Oc region in the south of France, where producers are less restricted and free to “experiment and step outside the rules a little”.

“This is a case in point, a wine that blends the Rhône varieties Syrah and Grenache with the Bordeaux variety Merlot – something that would never happen in a traditional region of the Languedoc, but which has been done to rather good, easy-drinking effect here”, he said.

“The wine is all about smooth, plum and blackcurrant fruit on the nose, a creaminess but also a hint of spice, just a little fragrant herbal lift too. On the palate that creamy full-bodied fruit continues, smooth and supple though finishing with crunch and freshness with only 13% alcohol.”

Price: £7.95, FromVineyardsDirect.com

2014 Domaine Begude, Le Secret du Sud, Gewurztraminer, Pays d’Oc, France

“I cannot contain my excitement about this wine”, enthused Matthew Jukes of this wine writing in the Daily Mail.

“This is a world scoop and the reason for my unbridled joy is the jaw-dropping poise and class in this aromatically awesome wine. This is a crystalline, perfumed white with epic length and mind-blowing floral appeal.”

Price: £9.99, WaitroseCellar.com

2014 L’Instant de Sainte Roseline Rosé, Vin de Pays du Var, France

Jukes picked this French rosé as one of his highlights having tasted “over a thousand wines” at the London Wine Fair in May.

“Give Paul or Ingrid a call and acquaint yourself with one of the country’s finest independent merchants”, he said. “L’Instant Rosé will impress in an instant!”

Price: £10.50, reduced to £9.98 each for 6 and £9.45 each for 12, The Flying Corkscrew tel. 01582 842150

Domaine des Oullières Rosé 2014, Coteaux d’Aix, Provence

Writing in The Independent, Terry Kirby recommended three southern French rosés for “drinking ice-cold on sultry summer evenings”, kicking off with this organic blend of Grenache and Cinsault from Domaine des Oullières, which he said “epitomises Provencal rosé”.

“Pale pink but vibrant flavours of raspberries and other red berries, a hint of herbs and a bracing, dry finish”, he said. “Worth making a bouillabaisse for, but also works with any shellfish or crustacea.”

Price: £10.95, yapp.co.uk

Les Esquerades Lirac Rosé 2014, Rhône

“Moving westwards across the southern Rhône to Lirac, this is pure Grenache and just a bit meatier, with spice notes on top of the red fruits, but remaining appealingly dry and crisp”, Kirby said of this example.

“Will suit all fish, but also Mediterranean vegetable dishes such as ratatouille or tians.”

Price: £10, Marks & Spencer

2014 M de Minuty Rosé, Côtes de Provence

Continuing a trend for French rosé Hamish Anderson, writing in The Telegraph, picked three of this favourite wines from Provence, including the “consistently excellent” M de Minuty.

“The growth in rosé’s popularity has been good news for Provence producers; their delicate style is what we want”, he said.

“Though, as a result, it is too easy to sell poor wine and that is what many entry-level ones are. Not so M de Minuty. It is year on year a consistently excellent glass of pale-pink summery joy.”

Price: £9.99 (when buying two), Majestic

2014 Esprit de Provence Rosé, Le Grand Cros, Côtes de Provence

Anderson described this blend of mostly Grenache with Syrah, Rolle and Cinsault as a “stunner”, with all the “subtle, fine lines and red-berry fruit you expect, but with an extra hit of exotic, succulent fruit.”

Price: £13.50, Noel Young Wines

2014 Whispering Angel Rosé, Château d’Esclans, Côtes de Provence

Completing Anderson’s trio was the “understated and dangerously easy to drink” Whispering Rosé from Château d’Esclans.

“Esclans arrived a few years ago with a flurry, its premium bottlings setting a new benchmark for rosé that was seized on by the super-rich. Their entry-level wine is all about restraint and elegance, with notes of herb, citrus and the sea allied to fresh red fruit.”

Price: £16.99, Waitrose

Brookford Shiraz-Cabernet 2014, South Eastern Australia

Bucking the rosé trend, David Williams picked a selection of wines to match with a barbecue writing in The Guardian, including this “ripe and juicy” Shiraz Cabernet from Australia.

“What wines go best with a barbecue?”, he asked. “It depends, of course, on what you’re barbecuing: even with the added smoky hit from the grill, the oily pungency of mackerel or sardines are happiest cut with a zesty, dry white (such as Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Gavi, Italy 2014, £8). For chicken with a touch of spice in the marinade, I’d be looking for a fuller white, such as A Mano Puglia Bianco (from £7.99, The Wine Society; Slurp). And for the burgers and sausages, it’s hard to look past Australia, and a ripe and juicy red such as Brookford’s superb-value blend.”

Price: £6.95, Amps Fine Wines; Great Grog; Halifax Wine Company

Mas du Colombel Faugères, France 2013

Mas du Colombel’s “supple, peppery blend of local favourites Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Carignan” also got Williams’ vote.

“The other flavour that comes into play at a barbecue is what you’re putting in it. A Texan barbecue loaded up with mesquite chips adds a sweet smokiness to steak, a flavour that goes well with the coconut and vanilla oak of an old-fashioned rioja aged in American oak, such as Faustino VII Tempranillo 2012 (£7.99, Tesco). Even better is the Mediterranean habit of adding bundles of rosemary and lavender to a wood bonfire, infusing lamb on a spit with flavours echoed in hearty, spicy, herby French reds, such as Mas du Colombel’s supple, peppery blend of local favourites Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Carignan.”

Price: £8.99, Majestic