Complexity, with a gently perfumed nose and a firm, tannic style, this Nerello Mascalese from 750m up Etna's slopes entranced our judges. ‘Good, earthy terroir notes, intense and weighty, with a long finish,’ began Andrea Fasan of La Petite Maison, with Charles Pashby-Taylor of Dabbous adding: ‘Subtle fruit with nice use of oak and soft tannins on the finish.’

£20.00 Liberty Wines

Local grape meets international visitor in this rich, dark, ripe Sicilian Gold winner, with its poised balance. ‘Thick and brooding on the nose, with a meaty, big, warm blackcurrant fruit style on the palate. Will age very well,’ said team leader Jade Koch, with Charles Pashby-Taylor of Dabbous noting: ‘Bright, ripe red fruit with decent length on the palate.’

£17.45 Matthew Clark

With a winning mix of perfume, soft and round fruit, and a refreshing finish, this garnered the Mushroom Risotto Food Match Trophy. ‘Bright red fruit aromas, silky tannins on the palate and very fresh, making for a stunning example,’ said Debbie Smith of 21212, with Gareth Ferreira of Launceston Place adding: ‘Ripe fruit, juicy tannin, soft and elegant.’ Great with grilled lamb with rosemary too.

£9.90 Eurowines

'Luxurious, rich and lingering,' said an entranced Roger Jones of The Harrow at Little Bedwyn, citing the 'velvety, gorgeous palate, with its long, luscious finish'. ‘Good acidity and complexity, with lots of red and black fruit, raisin notes, cassis and silky tannins,’ said Gustavo Medina of Rex Whistler Restaurant, with consultant Michael Harrison adding: ‘Dense, dark and inky, very deep, dark red fruits and very well-managed tannins.’ 'Serve with roast fillet of hare with Perigord truffles,' said Jones.

£20.09 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

‘Herbaceous nose with rosemary, thyme and lavender notes; florals and wet clay minerality on the palate with sweet black fruit. Full-bodied and nicely balanced,’ said Gareth Ferreira of Launceston Place. ‘Warm, comforting aromas, glossy tannins and ripe acidity. A crowd pleaser,’ added Debbie Smith of 21212.

£17.04 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

‘Savoury aromas of bay leaf and garrigue herbs, with a horsey animal edge to the palate of plummy fruits, with a clean and juicy finish,’ said team leader Jade Koch, with Charles Pashby-Taylor of Dabbous agreeing: ‘Very natural, earthy red fruit and farmyardy hints on the nose.’

£7.35 Eurowines

‘Very fresh, good cherry fruit on the nose, with a sweetly fruited palate, but flavoursome and attractive at the price,’ commented team leader Richard Bampfield MW, with Gareth Ferreira of Launceston Place agreeing: ‘Cassis, fresh fruit, good drinkability and balance.’

£5.93 Vinum

‘Complex, with a beautiful herbaceous quality, balanced with warm, vibrant fruit and prominent oak,’ said 21212’s Debbie Smith, with Gareth Ferreira of Launceston Place adding: ‘Nice touch of earthiness, ripe blueberry fruit on the palate and good balance.’

£19.60 Liberty Wines

‘Shy but still delivering,’ began La Petite Maison’s Andrea Fasan, continuing: ‘Class and complexity with length and definition.’ ‘Big, spicy nose with smoke and cigar notes, a big chewy, huge wine with good spice and fruit character; decent balance,’ added team leader Jade Koch.

£33.12 Eurowines

‘Ripe fruit on the palate, with spice and tarry notes, and good length,’ began consultant Michael Harrison, with Gustavo Medina of Rex Whistler Restaurant adding: ‘Elegant nose, packed with red and black fruits, cassis, with good texture.’ Good food matches include braised and grilled meats, stews and casseroles.

£16.20 Enotria&Coe

‘Generous, pure fruit on the nose, with a linear, crisp, pure character on the palate and a precise finish,’ said La Petite Maison’s Andrea Fasan, with Caroline Brangé of 28°-50° Mayfair adding: ‘Like the nose, spicy, peppery, smoky liquorice and tar notes.’

£7.07 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

Sandro Lyhs of Oxo Tower Bar found ‘blackberry and dark cherry fruit, with high tannins’, while team leader Sarah Jane Evans MW noted: ‘Syrupy redcurrants, cooked fruit flavours with vanilla notes and clean acidity coming through.’

£7.44 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

‘Fresh fruit, red berries, berry compote and violet florals on the nose, with plenty of herbaceous character and firm tannins. An appetising style,’ said Gareth Ferreira of Launceston Place, with Debbie Smith of 21212 adding: ‘Stunning warm nose with beautiful spicy notes and rounded hedgerow fruits on the palate.’

£13.50 Berkmann Wine Cellars

‘A little restrained on the nose but better intensity on the palate, with a touch of warmth; needs air time,’ said consultant Michael Harrison, with Sandro Lyhs of Oxo Tower Bar adding: ‘A little young, but elegant, with cherry fruit and good balance. Fine on its own.’

£9.00 Liberty Wines

‘Notes of liquorice and eucalyptus on the nose, with interesting spice character on a big, yet refreshing fruit palate with good herbal support,’ noted team leader Jade Koch, with La Petite Maison’s Andrea Fasan adding: ‘Spicy, fruity nose, clean and complex youthful palate.’

£29.93 Berkmann Wine Cellars

‘Attractive style, with dried fruits and tar notes on the nose, a rich mid-palate, finishing dry, long and persistent,’ said team leader Richard Bampfield MW, concluding: ‘Very good wine, but needs careful matching.’ ‘Very expressive, balanced fruit with a hint of aniseed,’ added 21212’s Debbie Smith.

£23.94 Berkmann Wine Cellars

‘Toasted oak, with oxidative oloroso notes,’ began impressed team leader Richard Bampfield MW, continuing: ‘Bright cherry fruit nose, beautifully integrated oak, with an intensely fruity, compelling palate. Very, very good, fragrant and scented.’

£30.54 Enotria&Coe

‘A fresh, tannic fruit bomb with grippy tannins,’ as Sandro Lyhs of Oxo Tower Bar put it succinctly, with team leader Sarah Jane Evans MW expanding: ‘Meaty, chewy, rustic, with good, punchy acid. Needs hearty food, but full value.’

£5.50 Boutinot

‘Bright and grassy with fresh red berries,’ began Charles Pashby-Taylor of Dabbous, with an impressed Andrea Fasan of La Petite Maison adding: ‘Good modern style, with pure and spicy character on a clean, long, precise palate.’

£10.22 Eurowines

‘Warm, rich palate, ripe with redcurrants and a hint of spice,’ began Debbie Smith of 21212, concluding: ‘Would be great with seared tuna.’ ‘Strawberry nose, classy palate with everything in place,’ added team leader Richard Bampfield MW.

£10.95 Liberty Wines

£9.32 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

£7.10 Liberty Wines

£15.10 Liberty Wines

£9.08 The Flying Corkscrew

£10.88 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

£8.54 Majestic Commercial

£9.48 Enotria&Coe