Impact and versatility won not only Gold but a share in the Pulled Pork Food Match Trophy for this characterful Cahors. Team leader Angela Reddin enjoyed the 'smoky oak and bitter chocolate aromas with black hedgerow fruits', also noting: 'The palate has grip and tension, with dense and deep black fruit flavours, good power and drive. Needs time to knit more fully together.' Sweet, purple fruits offer dense, layered tannins and a long finish.

£12.75 Liberty Wines

Inspiring in its breadth and depth. Rossano Antonelli of Hawksmoor Air Street said: 'With aromas of earth, moss, mushrooms, herbs – and lavender, the palate shows dark and red berry fruit,' while team leader Angela Reddin said: 'Almost dainty for such a bruiser, with deep, dark scented cassis, plum and mulberry on the nose, and a palate of crushed herbs and spices. Decadent!'

£19.23 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

Depth and complexity gave St Martin de la Garrigue Gold. 'With serious damson notes and star anise on the nose, the palate shows herbaceous layers alongside bright acidity,' said Bubbledogs' Sandia Chang, suggesting grilled leg of lamb. 'Plenty of spice on the nose here, attractive, crunchy red and black fruit compote with some raisiny intensity, a slight brett note and drying tannins,' added team leader Simon Woods.

£9.50 The Flying Corkscrew

A juicy, well-balanced red, with 'gorgeous red fruit and spice in the mouth', according to team leader Angela Reddin. Matthieu Longuère MS of Le Cordon Bleu found the wine 'floral and herby with vegetal notes on the nose', while Hawksmoor Air Street's Rossano Antonelli noted 'red berry, liquorice and cloves' and 'good balance'.

£5.88 Majestic Commercial

'Old school on the nose, developing,' began Xabier Álvarez-Valdés of Trangallán, continuing: 'Powerful, delivering plenty of ripeness on the palate with some minerality.' 'Bloody, meaty, spicy and polished, with sweet plum on the nose, full and smooth on the palate with well-integrated tannins, and elegance on a really long finish,' added Matthieu Longuère MS of Le Cordon Bleu, while Bubbledogs' Sandia Chang suggested game stew as the dish of choice.

£11.25 Liberty Wines

Syrah, Grenache and Carignan from three of Roussillon's best zones plus a dash of oak ageing leads to this spicy Gold Lister. 'Big on the tannins – best to decant – with a red fruit finish; this is pleasant and price perfect,' said Mauro Pirovano of New Street Grill. Carlos Ferreira of The Sign of the Don noted 'very fresh red and black fruit and good balance', while Charlotte Street Hotel's Mahesh Nair noted its 'soft tannins and great mouthfeel on a fruit-forward style'.

£6.14 Molson Coors

While team leader Sam Caporn MW said: 'Characterful and lightly herbal, with green notes and pine resin character,' Carlos Ferreira of The Sign of the Don said: 'Smooth, spicy oak with leather and tobacco leaf aromas, very elegant on the palate, showing good balance and good body. Very well made.'

£7.25 Boutinot

'Black fruits, leather and mushroom on the nose, with tobacco and spicy notes, high tannins and a good finish,' said Carlos Ferreira of The Sign of the Don, adding: 'Good with steak, and will be very well balanced out in one or two years.' Team leader Sam Caporn MW agreed, noting the 'deep colour, depth of fruit and flavour, and good structure'.

£19.75 Liberty Wines

'Stunningly good, but needs time,' said team leader Angela Reddin, speaking for all about this 'inky black' wine with its notes of 'dried berries, prunes and Christmas spice'. 'Spicy, chocolatey and brooding on the nose, full and spicy with good structure on the palate, lovely concentration and some complexity on the finish,' said Matthieu Longuère MS of Le Cordon Bleu.

£22.00 Fine Wines Direct, Hennings Wine

'Soft, lifted and fruity with raspberry character, very juicy and delicious,' began team leader Martin Lam, with Xabier Alvarez of Trangallán adding: 'Fruity and bright, dry and clean, nice volume on the palate with great style.'

£10.30 Alpine Wines

Softly textured, with cedar notes and red fruit flavours, this is pretty and tasty. While Alessandro De Angelis of Le Pont de la Tour noted 'pencils and stone, flowery and elegant', team leader Angela Reddin said: 'Dried red berries and cranberry fruit with vanilla on the nose, nicely done oak on a lively palate, with great charm and balance overall.'

£13.50 Domaine of the Bee

'Vanilla, some confected fruit notes, spice and black pepper with oak on the nose,' began Matthieu Longuère MS of Le Cordon Bleu, going on: 'Full-bodied and ripe, quite extracted yet fresh on the finish. A modern style, well made and polished.' 'Generous, oak-cloaked with a good fruit core, needs decanting!' added team leader Martin Lam.

£14.95 Liberty Wines

Lovely integration of vanilla and cedar with ripe, structured tannins. Juicy and youthful, and calling out for a variety of savoury dishes.

£6.20 The Fine Wine Company

'Bready, Indian spices, leather and farmyardy notes on the nose,' said Carlos Ferreira of The Sign of the Don, adding: 'Lots of tobacco with good medium-bodied style.' 'Violets and lovely notes of dark fruit with good structure,' added Mahesh Nair of Charlotte Street Hotel.

£15.00 The Flying Corkscrew

'Tobacco and cherry notes on the nose, crispy, soft and fresh on the palate, with raspberry fruit; a touch of bitterness at the end with violet floral undertones,' said consultant Luciana Girotto-Beckett.

£5.60 Liberty Wines

'Very fruity, with juicy red fruits and a strawberry-cherry balance; good acidity with a long, fresh fruit finish,' said Carlos Ferreira of The Sign of the Don. 'Clean, uncluttered, fresh and happy,' agreed team leader Angela Reddin.

£5.75 Majestic Commercial

'Creamy, vanilla nose, black forest gateau scents with some earthy nuances,' began team leader Angela Reddin, concluding: 'Great for oak lovers, this is almost New World in style and power.'

£24.95 Liberty Wines

£7.63 Bibendum

£11.95 Liberty Wines

£8.15 Liberty Wines

£15.00 The Flying Corkscrew

£10.50 The Flying Corkscrew

£9.75 The Flying Corkscrew

£8.29 Groupe GCF, The Oxford Wine Company, Gusto Wines

£5.01 Molson Coors