The Sommelier Wine Awards 2013 were a great success
Sparkling Wine & Champagne
House wine
Rosé above £5.50
Varietal Classics
Sweet wines & Fortified
France
Italy
Spain
Germany & Austria
Portugal
Other European countries, including England
New World Whites
New World Reds
Advanced Search
Found 12 wines
'A bewitching Condrieu nose, this is elegant ripe and round,' said a haunted Nigel Lister of York & Albany. Balancing smoke, toast, minerals, stone fruit and floral hints, the bouquet is as complex as the palate is intense and powerful. Cinnamon and nutmeg finish over apricot fruit. Partner with roast turbot.
£34.55 Bibendum
'Glorious', 'stunning' and 'unique' - just three of the words that illustrate why this became the posh French Critics Choice, despite its price. And the fact that is it drinking well now. The bouquet is a mix of mature leather and game, bright red fruit, with hints of tobacco and jammy figs, while the peppery palate has a long length and gripping tannins. Match with game, spiced rack of lamb or Indian dishes.
£47.85 Boutinot
One of the most garlanded wines of 2013, and for good reason.'Ripe red fruits and hints of mint on the nose lead to a juicy palate with nice supporting tannins,' said Louise Gordon of The Rib Room.'An attractive colour with young, pinky rim, it is easy drinking but with enough stature for a variety of foods,' said Richard Brooks of Caroline Catering.
£5.10 Boutinot
With its enchanting aromas, seductive texture and sweetly spiced finish, it's no wonder this well-priced Verdicchio stole our judges' hearts. From ripe pineapple and honeydew melon to orange blossom and hints of aniseed, the flavours intrigue. The well-balanced palate is pleasantly herbaceous, with medium acidity. From roast chicken to grilled sardines to going solo, this wine will never be without fans.
£6.60 Boutinot
Massive and elegant, the complexity on show won Col d’Orcia not just a second Gold, but a Critics Choice gong.'Big, bright, fragrant, long and earthy, with very powerful, grippy tannins,' said team leader Simon Woods, adding 'needs time'.'Rich in body, with black fruits, oak, and hints of age from leathery and tobacco aromas,' added Ram Chhetri, Bread Street Kitchen.
£26.60 Alivini
Complexity, supreme poise and balance brought Kleine Zalze a Critics Choice as well as Gold.'With green tobacco leaf on the nose alongside a light smokiness, the palate has flavours of dark chocolate, savoury notes, good acidity and a balanced finish,' said Cedric Beaumond of Bo London, adding that he felt there was significant ageing ability. Partner with chargrilled meats.
£8.55 Hatch Mansfield
The only wine to win both Critics Choice and By The Glass awards, this seriously overdelivered on the flavour-front.'Stunning value for money and a great option for a house red,' said Athila Roos of The Arts Club, while Morgan Vanderkamer of Butlers Wharf Chop House noted 'dark red fruit, eucalypt, green bell pepper and black cherry on the nose'. Soft squashy fruits on the palate with medium acidity and smooth tannins complete the picture. Pork belly, lamb, steak… you name it, the Aliwen Reserva has the character to match with style.
£5.83 González Byass
Delicate and intricate, Woollaston scored not only Gold but a Critics Choice award. The nose sports a complex bouquet of jasmine, elderflower and honeysuckle mixed with peardrops, green apple and lemon zest. The palate is well-balanced, 'with flavours of sweet crushed apple splashed with lemon juice – a very pretty wine,' according to team leader Angela Reddin, who suggested scallops and Thai green curry as possible food matches.
£10.98 Hallgarten & Novum Wines
An inspirational port at a frankly ludicrous price, a worthy winner of the inaugural Auchterlonie Award. Pale tawny in colour, with chocolate, hazelnut and walnuts on the nose alongside dried fruits, it opens up to offer tobacco leaves, spices, pepper, walnuts, choclate, coffee, hazelnuts, fig, prune... – I could go on! 'It’s going to clean your palate. Again it’s the freshness and acidity that is astonishing. Candy, raisin and Christmas cake – and it's very easy to drink,' said a happy Simon Cassina of Mondial Wines.
£31.15 Boutinot
Wonderful flavour and much food matching potential gave Chivite not just its second Gold, but a Critics Choice award too. The structured, yet elegant palate has velvety-ripe tannins and a good balance.'Redcurrant and wild strawberries over dark cocoa on the nose leads to a palate with the same savouriness and a hint of game, that's crying out for lashings of jamon iberico,' said The Arts Club's Athila Roos. Pair with everything from salmon to veal or Chinese spice chicken.
£8.23 Matthew Clark
Creamy, rich and toasty, the intensity and length of this wine entranced our judges.'Confit lemon, fresh pineapple and hints of brioche, with a lovely fresh lemon acidity and a delicate mousse,' said The Rib Room's Louise Gordon.'A very lovely, complete style,' said happy team leader Simon Woods.
£27.25 Liberty Wines
Good as an aperitif but also with sufficient tang and body to match food, as shown by its Fish & Chips Food Match gong.'Good mousse and an elegant nose of apples, pears and citrus fruit with creamy brioche, there's a hint of sweetness on the palate, with ripe apples and well balanced acidity,' said Laura Ward of Vivat Bacchus.'Slightly peppery with delicate minerality,' added Coq d'Argent's Olivier Marie.
£15.00 Jenkyn Place Vineyard