‘A grown-up wine,’ announced Joseph Lunn of Suave Wine of this big Gold medal winner, adding: ‘It’s very New World, with lovely balance.’ ‘It’s mouthwatering,’ said Sarah McKenzie of Nut Tree Inn, adding: ‘There’s smoky cassis, luscious fruit and good tannin.’ Giuseppe Longobardi of The Cross Kenilworth, Simpsons & Edgbaston agreed, also noting ‘chocolate and tobacco notes’ on a palate that was ‘sweet and balanced, with a long, fresh and clean finish’. ‘It’s a monster,’ added team leader Martin Lam, with a smile.

£20.12 Hatch Mansfield

Annamaria Juhasz of The Fat Duck was a big advocate of this unanimous Gold Lister, saying: ‘The wine shines with a nose of black fruits and eucalypatus; this feels young, vibrant and very complex with notes of citrus peel and bramble, and with blackberries on the palate. It’s a beautiful example of South Africa – still at the youthful stage but with lots of potential.’ Team leader Angela Reddin was also a fan, praising the ‘lifted, bright, plummy fruit cordial notes; the liquorice spice’, and adding: ‘Still the fruit holds itself; layering over the tannins and riding the acid like a racehorse.’ A wine of ‘subtle and elegant power’ concluded Joseph Lunn of Suave Wine.

£33.50 Bancroft Wines

‘A true gem,’ said Joseph Lunn of Suave Wine as the team gladly awarded this Gold. ‘The nose is amazing,’ he continued, describing ‘French patisserie, sweet spices, vanilla and herbs… and it keeps changing in the glass’. Team leader Laurent Richet MS was also fulsome in his praise: ‘It’s round and complete, with complex dark fruit, spicy vanilla, plums and jam. Plus the structure is here too.’ For Juan Manuel Marcos Perez of The Gilbert Scott, the wine had a ‘perfect mix of red and black fruit with good concentration and a good charred wood, spiced long finish’.

£41.80 Bibendum

Happily adding this to the Gold List, team leader Martin Lam praised its ‘bright fresh fruit nose’ and ‘bold palate of spicy red fruits’. For fellow team leader Laurent Richet MS, this spice had ‘a meaty edge and a savoury saline note with hints of salted pork’. Giuseppe Longobardi of The Cross Kenilworth, Simpsons & Edgbaston enjoyed the ‘raspberry and cherry fruit, with notes of mint and pencil lead’, adding: ‘The good soft fruit and tannins would work well with duck breast and smoked beetroot.’

£9.67 Top Selection

‘Subtle aromas of complex fruit and spice,’ noted Michael Fiducia of The Royal Automobile Club. ‘The palate is rich and opulent with a touch of herbaceousness and very well-integrated tannins.’ ‘Will age well, but it’s wonderful now,’ added team leader Angela Reddin.

£17.24 Bibendum , Walker & Wodehouse Wines

‘Wow!’ said team leader Laurent Richet MS. ‘This is big, with tightly held dark fruit and spice; there is an intriguing mix of bitter and sweet acidity and alcohol.’ ‘Very well made and age worthy,’ added Alan Bednarski of Texture.

£30.00 DGB Europe Ltd

Sarah McKenzie of Nut Tree Inn thought this was a ‘well-balanced food wine, with elegant cherry notes, lovely tannin and a long fruit and spice finish’. ‘It’s reminiscent of a eucalyptus-tinged Côte du Rhône with woody herbs notes of sage and thyme,’ added Alan Bednarski of Texture.

£15.27 Awin Barratt Siegel Wine Agencies

‘Interesting, very delicate texture with Grenache showing very well. Lots of macerated fruit here. I would match it with chicken or roast pork belly,’ said Stefano Barbarino of Chez Bruce Restaurant. ‘Sensational layering of fruit, with tannin in perfect balance,’ added team leader Angela Reddin.

£10.42 Enotria&Coe

‘There’s nice plum, pepper and tobacco notes on the nose with good body and structure and silky tannins to finish; good value,’ said Jim Bass of Scarlet Hotel.

£9.48 Hatch Mansfield

‘This smells like a Châteauneuf du Pape,’ thought team leader Laurent Richet MS. ‘I imagine there were old large barrels for ageing; the colour is very inky and there is a hint of brett but in a good way – it adds to the seasoning.’

£20.37 Bibendum

£19.23 Welgegund Heritage Wines

£14.03 Bibendum

£29.50 Bancroft Wines

£12.20 Bancroft Wines

£12.02 Liberty Wines

£9.36 Enotria&Coe

£8.25 Enotria&Coe

£20.33 Bibendum

£12.97 Hallgarten & Novum Wines