Balance and ripeness, tang and taste – but above all, wonderful value, took Farnese to the first of its Golds with this expressive wine. ‘Bags of crushed dark fruit and clove spice, there’s pepperiness and freshness with enough weight and texture,’ said a pleased Athila Roos of The Arts Club. ‘Good fruit, nice spiciness and leathery hints, good for by the glass,’ agreed Andrea Domenicucci of Whatley Manor.

£6.50 Liberty Wines

Kicking off the Golds was a wine low on price but big on the nose. ‘Juicy red and black fruits with juicy acidity and delicate oak,’ said team leader Annette Scarfe MW, with Vittorio Gentile of Theo Randall at The InterContinental Hotel adding: ‘Vibrant, juicy fruit, some mushroom on a dry, spicy palate.' Maxwell Allwood of Alimentum noted: 'Blackcurrant jam and liquorice, smooth texture, and very ripe, black cherry fruit'.

£6.75 Liberty Wines

‘Massively floral nose, with mandarin, grapefruit and candied aromas, and the palate revealing pepper and confectionery notes,’ said consultant sommelier Christophe Richelet, with Vittorio Gentile of Theo Randall at The InterContinental Hotel adding: ‘Pepper, jammy tomato and liquorice with natural ripe tannins.’

£8.81 Alivini

‘Bright, pungent and perfumed, oaky with some candied, peppery notes,’ said Mya Brown of Vinoteca Marylebone. ‘Attractive and unusual, with pepper and spice but a juicy finish,’ added team leader Annette Scarfe MW. 'Pair with lean, juicy cuts of venison,' advised Maxwell Allwood of Alimentum.

£13.00

‘Definitely one for the cellar,’ began Whatley Manor’s Andrea Domenicucci, continuing: ‘Dark chocolate, rosemary herbs, leather, a little wild animal with a tiny bit of smokiness. Beautiful acidity and perfectly constructed.’ ‘Complex and intense, to reward those who can wait,’ agreed The Arts Club’s Athila Roos.

£51.88 Rosarubra

‘Ripe nose, with liquorice, raspberry and spice,’ began Mya Brown of Vinoteca Marylebone, with consultant sommelier Christophe Richelet adding: ‘Fresh, minty, with rose petal notes and lots of liquorice. Good, reliable.' Alimentum's Maxwell Allwood noted the 'fine, rich tannins with coffee bean notes on the palate'.

£14.30 Eurowines

‘Elegant and sophisticated, with good fruit and tannin structure, well-balanced oak and some complexity,’ said team leader Annette Scarfe MW. ‘Dense, concentrated and lots of oak,’ added Mya Brown of Vinoteca Marylebone.

£35.00 Vinum

‘Serious nose, with leather and spices. Soft and juicy on the palate, with lots of concentration and spice,’ said team leader Andrea Briccarello. ‘Blue fruit and violets, with plenty of extract, this is crying out for an al fresco BBQ extravaganza,’ added The Arts Club’s Athila Roos.

£13.59 Wine Traders

‘Seductive nose, showing a dark side, with crushed mulberries and chocolate with a whiff of espresso,’ began Athila Roos of The Arts Club, continuing. ‘Inviting, perfumed, the palate follows suit, with fine depth, complexity and grip.’

£12.32 Rosarubra

‘Bright and crunchy with fine-grained tannin and a smooth finish,’ said Mya Brown of Vinoteca Marylebone, with team leader Annette Scarfe MW adding: ‘Attractive and complex, higher acidity style, with bitter cherry notes and red fruit.’

£17.05 Eurowines

‘Big barrel effect of coffee bean, chocolate powder and toffee,’ began Vittorio Gentile of Theo Randall at The InterContinental Hotel, continuing: ‘Plenty of black frui,t with nutty hints and big grape tannins. Needs time.’

£26.55 Laytons

While Michael Moore of Room 24 highlighted the ‘liquorice nose and dark chocolate dryness’, Athila Roos of The Arts Club noted: ‘Very attractive, perfumed nose with dark fruit, dried petals and incense. There’s a meaty, animal note to it on the palate, intensely perfumed.’

£9.15 Cantina Orsogna

‘Complex nose with a juicy, structured palate with a long, cherry finish,’ said Vittorio Gentile of Theo Randall at The InterContinental Hotel. ‘Sweet, tomato leaf and dark fruit palate with notes of chocolate and coffee grounds,’ added consultant sommelier Christophe Richelet.

£9.15 Cantina Orsogna

£16.30 Eurowines

£13.82 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

£7.70 Wine Traders

£15.97 Rosarubra