The Sommelier Wine Awards 2014 were a great success
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Found 8 wines
Effortless lightness alongside inspiring aromatics and great value gave Sharpham a coveted By The Glass award, as well as Gold. 'Spicy and exotic on the nose, with pear chutney aromas mixing with basil and grape notes,' said Hotel du Vin Brighton's Zigmars Grinbergs of this blend of Madeleine Angevine, Bacchus and Phoenix. The palate showed a range of citrus, peach and green flavours. Pair with lightly sauced scallop dishes or goats' cheese salads.
£6.80 Sharpham Wines
One of only five wines to score two special awards, this great value wine has lovely buttery typicity. 'Tastes like Burgundy should,' said Gold List co-ordinator Christine Parkinson. Rounded, juicy and rich. Ram Chhetri of Bread Street Kitchen said: 'Subtle, elegant style without overpowering oak, this has a good balance of lemon, pear, lees and creamy flavours.'
£8.00 Boutinot
Sweet fruit, judicious oaking, well-integrated tannins and fantastic value won this wine a spot on the By The Glass list as well as a coveted Food Match award - one of only five wines to do the double this year. Consultant sommelier Nicolas Clerc MS praised the balance and racy nature, 'earthy, truffle and bay leaf, juicy and rich palate'. Ragout, rib eye steak or puy lentil dishes were reckoned to be the ideal food matches.
£8.50 Boutinot
With an inspiring depth alongside a bone-dry delicacy, this turned heads and made Le Sanglier the pink ambassador on our By The Glass list. A slight spritz and floral notes on the nose added interest. ‘Good ripe, juicy berries and good length. Try with triple cream Bourgogne cheese,’ said Robert Mason of Cheese at Leadenhall.
£5.25 Cockburn & Campbell, RI Wines of Ascot, Firkin Express
Food-friendliness and great value gave Luis Felipe Edwards the top medal for this orange blossom-infused wine with its lengthy finish. 'Witch hazel and perfume on the nose, with tropical fruit aromas and minerality,' noted Robert Mason of Cheese at Leadenhall, adding: 'The palate is fresh and lively, with notes of peach, melon and pear.' 'Quite restrained and crisp, this is a versatlle food matcher,' said team leader Natasha Hughes, suggesting mussel chowder, mango and lobster, and mild curry as possible food partners.
£6.52 10 International
Kicking off with Gold, this vivid wine from Bodegas Larchago 'shows a complex nose of cherries, cooked fruits, vanilla and liquorice, with cooked fruits and ripe tannins on the medium- to full-bodied palate', said Ignacio Campos of Hawksmoor Seven Dials. 'Nicely made, with soft, easy tannins,' said a happy Olivier Marie of Coq d'Argent. Tremendous value, no wonder it picked up a By the Glass award, too.
£5.65 Greene King
Elegance, versatility and value gave Cavit not just Gold but a highly coveted By The Glass spot and a Food Match gong. 'Soft, round, peachy stone fruit, with rounded creamy acidity and lemon sherbet on the finish,' said consultant Ronan Sayburn MS. 'Great mousse and a lush fruit finish of yellow apples and quince,' said Garry Clark of The Chester Grosvenor. Match with seafood.
£6.65 Boutinot
A plentiful supply of spicy, juicy dark fruits and morello cherry won both our judges' hearts and a spot on the By The Glass list. Still youthful, the toasty oak and grippy, smooth tannins alongside a meaty finish make this a classic Malbec, while the lighter touch means that it doesn't have to partner steak to be at its best.
£7.28 Bibendum