A wine to stun and seduce, this stole a few hearts on the way to the Gold podium. ‘Like an iron fist in a velvet glove,’ began Simon Cassina of Winexponent, continuing: ‘Elegant and fresh, not over-stewed black berries on the nose, with complex blackcurrant and astringent tannins on the palate, with a long, pleasant cassis aftertaste. Good ageing potential.’ 'Lovely balance of violets and soft berries. Amazing!,' said Roger Jones of The Harrow at Little Bedwyn, suggesting a match with new season lamb.

£18.00 Bottle Green

Congratulations to Anakena on pairing its single variety Carmenère Gold with one for this interesting blend. ‘Some super-ripe, jammy black fruits and fine tannins, with a lovely finish,’ began Neil Bruce of Studio Alto, with team leader Laura Rhys MS noting: ‘Dark fruits, meaty spice, good balance and good value', and Roger Jones of The Harrow at Little Bedwyn continuing: 'Fantastic! A lingering wine that evolves and tastes expensive with its coconut and savoury notes.'

£6.85 Bottle Green

The ambition of this wine, roughly half Cabernet and about 20% each of Syrah and Carmenère, shone through. ‘Power wine, with good red berry fruit and savoury presence. Plenty of balanced tannins there, but they are not aggressive, and there's good depth,’ said Gergely Barsi Szabó of Bread Street Kitchen, with team leader Natasha Hughes MW adding: ‘Richly oaked, chocolatey with ample dark berries and chewy tannins.’ 'A fireplace wine,' commented fellow team leader Annette Scarfe MW, adding: 'Match with smoky dishes.'

£20.00 North South Wines

‘Tobacco and black pepper aromas, starting sweet in the mouth but dry evolution of tannin, followed by toasted nut flavours on the finish,’ said an intrigued Giuseppe Longobardi of The Cross at Kenilworth, with Jeremie Guiraud of Lords of the Manor adding: ‘Exceptional blend, beautifully balanced and great potential.’

£16.86 Barton, Brownsdon & Sadler

‘A great combination of ripe berry, cassis fruit with a smooth finish and eucalyptus,’ said Gergely Barsi Szabó of Bread Street Kitchen, with team leader Natasha Hughes MW finding: ‘Bendicks Bittermints, black berries and cherries with fresh acidity.' Roger Jones of The Harrow at Little Bedwyn noted: 'Deep, long and lingering, with lovely balance.'

£11.10 Laytons

‘Dark fruits, ripe with spices and a long finish, very good value,’ said Laurent Richet MS of Restaurant Sat Bains, with team leader Angela Reddin adding: ‘Woodsmoke with meaty notes and a fruit coulis, quite subtle with a delicious finish.’

£8.91 Enotria&Coe

‘Loads of coffee bean oak on the nose, this is a big, ambitious wine with tons of fruit, fresh acidity and lots of complexity at the price,’ enthused team leader Annette Scarfe MW. ‘Interesting, floral notes of violet and roses, with lively length, tobacco and caramel on the finish,’ added Jeremie Guiraud of Lords of the Manor.

£12.50

Almost Pinotage in its flavour profile, with hints of smoke on the nose, plus juicy fruit. Team leader Tom Forrest said: ‘Rich, concentrated nose showing red and black fruits, a little confected and reduced, but good wine for the price. Soft and squishy red and black fruit palate, with an alternative, spicy style.’

£5.00 Bottle Green

‘Rich, strong and bold, with plenty of cassis and black fruit,’ began Rebecca Coates of Hakkasan London, with team leader Laura Rhys MS noting: ‘Super-ripe, with complex blackcurrant, berry, blackcurrant leafy herbaceous character, black olives and spice.’

£15.68 Matthew Clark

‘Mature blackcurrant and strawberry aromas, sweet-tasting toffee and caramel on the palate, with light tannins,’ began Giuseppe Longobardi of The Cross at Kenilworth, with team leader Annette Scarfe MW adding: ‘Dark berries and black plums, delicate oak, complex and long.’

£28.55 Berkmann Wine Cellars

‘Baked fruits, with a touch of volatile acidity, smooth tannins, ripe and concentrated texture with a medium-length finish. Needs food,’ said Enikő Heidenwolf of Bread Street Kitchen of this well-balanced wine with notes of flowers, and ripe summer fruits. ‘Earthy aromas with a very soft palate,’ added team leader Tom Forrest.

£11.26 Sogrape UK

‘Ripe raspberry and blueberry aromas followed by strawberry and redcurrant on the palate. Fruit-driven style offering very good value for money,’ said Charles Van Wyk of FJB Hotels, with team leader Natasha Hughes MW adding: ‘Leafy, slightly herbaceous style, brisk and supple tannins.’

£6.25 Jackson Nugent Vintners

With its ripe and opulent fruit, baked almond notes and hints of cherry, team leader Simon Woods said of this blend of Syrah, Petite Sirah, Merlot and a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon: ‘Ripe, juicy and long, with plump plum and berry fruit and soft geranium floral notes. Gentle and honest, has some violet and spice. Good, and needs food.’

£12.95 Liberty Wines

‘Soft, ripe and plummy, this is a good example for mid-list character with depth, complexity and great length,’ said Chris Wood of Chelsea Vintners, with team leader Angela Reddin adding: ‘Lovely juicy nose, hedgerow fruit with delicious vanilla oak and fruit compote flavours.’

£10.20 Enotria&Coe

‘Bright, juicy dark fruits, nice acidity and freshness with some savoury notes. Fun and full bodied,’ said team leader Laura Rhys MS, with Neil Bruce of Studio Alto adding: ‘Big, brash black fruits, chunky and very drinkable.’ 'Bloody and meaty, with a long, fresh finish. Match with roast veal and olive jus,' said Matthieu Longuere MS of Le Cordon Bleu.

£13.00 Boutinot

‘Full, spicy and herbal style with great structure and length, notes of dried figs, prune, plum, vanilla and mint, with eucalyptus,’ said a satisfied Laurent Richet MS of Restaurant Sat Bains. ‘Good balance of dark fruit and tannins, acidity is noticeable but not overbearing,’ added Chris Wood of Chelsea Vintners.

£22.77 Bibendum

Giuseppe Longobardi of The Cross at Kenilworth said: ‘Nice red fruit, fairly dry with balanced acidity and a fruity finish.’ Team leader Annette Scarfe MW noted: ‘Sweet cranberry fruit, slightly sweet on the finish, but very warm, cosy drinking.’

£7.34 Enotria&Coe

‘A decent blend, with notes of camphor and dark fruit on the nose, a rich palate with black plum and spice, very peppery,’ said team leader Martin Lam, with Julian Bicknell of Hawksmoor Air Street adding: ‘Crunchy fruit, smoky bacon and black olives.’

£13.50 New Generation Wines

‘Deep, rich cassis and mint with oak and dried fruit on the nose, very fleshy and fresh on the palate with fine-grained tannins in support,’ said Neil Bruce of Studio Alto, with Caroline Brangé of 28°-50° Mayfair agreeing: ‘Full but elegant, with sweet spice and fruit aromas, peppery eucalyptus on the palate.’

£13.49 Molson Coors

‘Initial hits of smoke, ash and tar on the nose, followed by fully ripe fruits,’ began Enikő Heidenwolf of Bread Street Kitchen, continuing: ‘Touch of new oak but not overpowered, strong and elegant in New World style.’ ‘Plenty of fruit, juicy, old leathery style,’ added team leader Simon Woods.

£21.55 Ellis of Richmond

‘Cassis fruit on the nose, plenty of tannin but nice fruit to go with a lot of oak at this stage of its development,’ said team leader Martin Lam of this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Petit Verdot, with Richard Brooks of Caroline Catering adding: ‘Rather lean fruit with an earthy touch, but a big wine that could develop.’

£8.95 Eurowines

‘Vibrant vanilla on the nose, followed by a deep liquorice note on the palate with very elegant tannins,’ began Mirco Giannoccaro of Luton Hoo Hotel Golf & Spa, with team leader Natasha Hughes MW noting: ‘Menthol, dark cherry, capsicum, cedar with sweet oak support.’

£9.68 Barwell & Jones

‘Big, big, big,’ began Richard Brooks of Caroline Catering, adding: ‘Attractive plummy fruit with plenty of drying tannin.’ ‘Youthful, but quite fresh acidity with lots of fruit and tannins to match,’ agreed team leader Martin Lam.

£28.00 North South Wines

‘Good, rich, ripe nose of bramble fruit with a pleasant funky note, a bit animal,’ began team leader Angela Reddin, continuing: ‘Hints of hot stones, a touch of leather, and a well-tamed palate that delivers for the price-point.’ ‘Intensity, power, fruit, body, lovely wine,’ added Laurent Richet MS of Restaurant Sat Bains.

£8.00 González Byass

‘Bright mulberry and plum fruit with some notes of eucalyptus. Oaky, but reasonably well-balanced acidity too, this still seems young; benefits from decanting now, but has fresh acidity,’ said team leader Natasha Hughes MW.

£16.88 Bibendum

Team leader Martin Lam highlighted this wine’s ‘sweet fruit and liquorice notes and medium weight, doing a good job at this price’, while Richard Brooks of Caroline Catering added: ‘Really juicy, zingy wine with lots of flavours and warmth.’

£5.84 Enotria&Coe

‘Nice and approachable, with soft red fruit, floral notes and fresh acidity for a summery wine – could be served chilled,’ said Giancarlo Cuccuru of The Gilbert Scott, with Simon Cassina of Winexponent noting: ‘Fruity cherry, some vanilla, perfect by the glass.’

£5.66 Bibendum

‘Bright, fruity nose, smooth, rich and elegant palate with very smooth, chocolatey tannins and long, fine length,’ said team leader Angela Reddin, with Chris Wood of Chelsea Vintners highlighting: ‘A classically structured wine, vanilla oak coupled with a good rich length.’

£17.95 Dudley Craig Wines

‘Rich, ripe and warming fruit with soft tannins on the palate, some notes of bitter cherry and soft, plump, juicy fruit. Good value,’ noted team leader Annette Scarfe MW, with Jeremie Guiraud of Lords of the Manor adding: ‘Easy, balanced, fruity red.’

£5.96 Kingsland, Ravensbourne Wines

£5.40 Bottle Green

£20.00 Stone Vine & Sun

£11.00 Liberty Wines

£14.79 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

£8.65 Liberty Wines

£10.63 Bibendum

£12.85 Eurowines

£8.12 Enotria&Coe

£8.40 Alliance Wine

£13.65 Boutinot

£7.02 Bibendum

£14.06 Hatch Mansfield

£7.55 Liberty Wines

£11.35 Bibendum

£6.52 Cockburn & Campbell

£11.35 Matthew Clark

£17.28 Alliance Wine

£9.25 Enotria&Coe