Lovely, lush and long, Kooyong turned heads as it progressed to the Gold podium. ‘Opulent, silky and very long,’ began Hakkasan Group’s Christine Parkinson, continuing: ‘Balanced and full of black fruit with subtle herbal notes and very integrated oak. Pure, vivid and vibrant.’ 'A ripe, punchy, fleshy style; deep, honest and plummy with good balance,' said team leader Simon Woods, recommending rack of lamb or seared tuna.

£15.18 Enotria&Coe

Serious but elegant, intensity and complexity took Lethbridge to the winners' circle. Athila Roos of The Arts Club admired the ‘classic, beautiful Pinot nose’ on this example, adding: ‘Fragrant red berries and petals, soft and inviting. Silky texture with extract and density, mineral undertones and a complex, layered finish.’ 'The palate is savoury and meaty, with texture and firm tannins,' said Vincent Pastorello of Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, suggesting matches ranging from turbot with a red wine sauce to boeuf bourguignon.

£18.50 Berkmann Wine Cellars

‘Complex nose of red fruits, a touch of cocoa, cream, spicy black pepper and eucalyptus; very intense on the palate with moderate acidity and long length. Elegant and powerful on the finish,’ said Caroline Brangé of 28°-50° Mayfair. 'Dry, fresh and easy to drink. Match with pan-seared tuna,' said Julien Sahut of Wine Culture.

£18.50 Bancroft Wines

‘Fruit-focused lead with a dash of cherry and sweet spice, but not over-complicated,’ said Jonathan Kleeman of The Ritz Hotel, with team leader Simon Woods adding: ‘Grown-up, lovely, intense but silky plum and berry style.’

£15.31 Seckford Agencies

'Plump, plush, floral and elegant, this has effortless allure, is long and refined, with plenty of grip and fruit, but also the "It" factor,' said team leader Simon Woods, with Athila Roos of The Arts Club adding: ‘Very intense, bold style, needs a year or two in bottle to settle.’

£31.00 Liberty Wines

Richard Brooks of Caroline Catering found this to be ‘excellent value’, and said: ‘Very attractive red berry aromas following through on to the palate, with a variety of red fruit flavours, well balanced.’ Vittorio Gentile of Theo Randall at The InterContinental Hotel agreed, suggesting beefburger with cheese and bacon as the perfect match.

£4.90 CyT UK

‘Spiced aromas with clean, deep fruit, followed by raspberry ripple ice cream character and a hint of truffle and forest floor,’ said Roger Jones of The Harrow at Little Bedwyn, continuing: ‘Intensity of fruit is good, with a lingering mouthfeel of truffles.’

£29.50 Matthew Clark

‘A drink now wine,’ began team leader Martin Lam, continuing: ‘A more elegant style, with measured oak, good fruit and a refreshing character.’ ‘Bright pink and purple in the glass, showing its youth, this has green spice, forest fruits and dark plum notes,' said Sarah Riddle of Sketch.

£15.00 González Byass

‘Ripe, sweet fruit with oak, friendly, crowd-pleasing and good value,’ began team leader Annette Scarfe MW, suggesting salads with fruits as potential food matches. Mya Brown of Vinoteca Marylebone added: ‘Nice and quaffable, with wine gum, cherry and currant fruit, and medium weight.’

£8.13 Alliance Wine

Mya Brown of Vinoteca Marylebone rated this as ‘ace’, saying: ‘Nice, bright, crunchy fruit nose with sour cherry and strawberry, currants and spice notes on the palate with a nice, clean and balanced finish.’ ‘Delicate nose, but Pinot character comes out on a fresh and balanced palate,’ added consultant sommelier Christophe Richelet.

£10.44 Bibendum

‘A more serious style with French oak,’ began team leader Annette Scarfe MW, continuing: ‘Slightly grainy oak tannins but bone dry and attractive in style. Partner with grilled meats or duck breast in cherry sauce.’ ‘Dark, racy fruit with earthy, savoury undertones and good texture,’ added consultant sommelier Christophe Richelet.

£11.35 Alto de Casablanca

‘Seductive nose, showing a little development but packed with crushed, juicy berries and a whiff of dried petals,’ said Athila Roos of The Arts Club, with Andrea Domenicucci of Whatley Manor adding: ‘Nice cherry aroma with a little bit of peppercorn spice.’

£25.00 Matthew Clark

‘Savoury, forest floor aromas with red fruit backing, well-balanced palate and a good acidic lift,’ said Lukasz Walkowiak of Oxo Tower Restaurant. ‘Quite complex, rich and brooding, will develop,’ added Roger Jones of The Harrow at Little Bedwyn.

£9.50 Bibendum

‘Forest floor aromas with a hint of spice underlying, concentrated and well balanced with mild tannins,’ said Mark Graham of Butlers Wharf Chop House, with team leader Jade Koch adding: ‘Bright, dancing fruit, very alive and moreish with sweet, ripe cranberry and strawberry.’

£6.65 Enotria&Coe

‘Elegant nose, palate driven by hints of spice and velvety tannins, well balanced,’ noted team leader Andrea Briccarello, with Athila Roos of The Arts Club adding: ‘Soft red berry and earthy nose, simple, soft and juicy with a hint of smoke and spice over a strawberry scented core.’

£8.91 Bibendum

‘Herby, spicy nose and nice round texture on the palate, with a fair amount of vanilla and oak spice,’ said consultant sommelier Christophe Richelet, with Mya Brown of Vinoteca Marylebone adding: ‘Intense palate, bright and fruity with cracking acidity.’

£16.95 Dudley Craig Wines

‘Maturity on the nose, savoury style at its best, pure and polished with fresh acidity and red fruit character,’ said Lukasz Walkowiak of Oxo Tower Restaurant of this elegant wine, with its dry palate and bitter chocolate finish. ‘Big, with lots of chewy flavour, this will continue to develop well,’ added Roger Jones of The Harrow at Little Bedwyn.

£30.00 Whirly Wine

‘Delicate but complex nose of hazelnuts, dark fruits and some warm spices,’ began Vittorio Gentile of Theo Randall at The InterContinental Hotel, continuing: ‘Good, harmonious palate with some more bitter notes but smooth tannins and a long finish.’ ‘Delicious and easy to drink another glass,’ concluded team leader Annette Scarfe MW.

£10.90 Boutinot

‘Elegant nose of strawberries and raspberries, vanilla and earthy, geranium floral notes,’ began an impressed Luigi Buonanno of Bianco43, continuing: ‘The palate is ripe and agile, with supple acidity and refined tannins, great length.’

£14.58 Bibendum

‘Savoury, restrained style but exceptional value for money, and very suitable for by the glass,’ said team leader Annette Scarfe MW, with Mya Brown of Vinoteca Marylebone adding: ‘Baked fruit, black cherry and a little spice, and nice mineral, earthy character.’

£5.00 Bottle Green

‘Very pretty, with dark cherry, raspberry and sandalwood aromas, and an intense and textured mouthfeel that is balanced by vibrant acidity,’ said Athila Roos of The Arts Club.

£17.87 Matthew Clark

‘A bit of development on the nose brings very interesting savoury notes, with salty, meaty undertones and elegant fruit,’ said consultant sommelier Christophe Richelet. ‘Warm, baked fruit, rounded mouthfeel and tannin, delicious,’ added Mya Brown of Vinoteca Marylebone.

£26.60 Whirly Wine

‘Perfumed, sweet-sour nose, and a rather delicate, finer style,’ said team leader Martin Lam, continuing: ‘Interesting wine, with very fine tannins on the finish.’ ‘Red fruits and forest floor with a touch of spiciness on the nose,’ added Oxo Tower Restaurant’s Lukasz Walkowiak.

£14.20 Liberty Wines

Despite its ‘quite mature nose and colour’, Roger Jones of The Harrow at Little Bedwyn described this example as ‘a keeper, but has a lot to say’, adding: ‘Mushrooms and herbs, sweet and oaky, chewy oak.’

£14.00 Matthew Clark

‘Richer style, complex, long in the mouth with some delicate spice notes,’ began James Hocking of The Vineyard Group, with Caroline Catering’s Richard Brooks adding: ‘Light but attractive fruit aromas, very easy, soft drinking.’

£8.60 Viña dos Andes

‘Rich, deep flavours, savoury with good fruit and some leafier notes,’ began Roger Jones of The Harrow at Little Bedwyn, continuing: ‘Complex and layered, well balanced on the palate with perfumed truffle notes, though needs decanting.’

£12.50

‘Elegant and delicious with good use of oak,’ began team leader Annette Scarfe MW, continuing: ‘Sophisticated and attractive, very complex with a lovely length.’ ‘Seductive nose, quite enticing, soft and finely textured palate,’ added consultant sommelier Christophe Richelet.

£29.60 Liberty Wines

Rated ‘very good’ by an impressed Roger Jones of The Harrow at Little Bedwyn, who noted: ‘Clean, delicate, lively, bright, this is fresh and tangy, juicy and precise, with delicate berries and some savoury notes. Sits well.’

£14.30 Liberty Wines

£12.00 Liberty Wines

£21.75 Boutinot

£21.75 Boutinot

£10.63 Alliance Wine

£10.35 Liberty Wines

£7.90 Boutinot

£9.35 Matthew Clark

£17.15 Bibendum

£10.49 Enotria&Coe

£12.01 Berkmann Wine Cellars

£5.20 Bottle Green

£7.00 Bottle Green

£6.62 Viña dos Andes

£17.93 Amathus

£10.00 González Byass

£7.55 Ellis of Richmond