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Winner Details

FRANCE: Bordeaux

2019 GOLD: 8      SILVER: 9      BRONZE: 6      COMMENDED: 18
2018 GOLD: 3      SILVER: 6      BRONZE: 6      COMMENDED: 9

This was a wonderful performance from Bordeaux. And not just because it achieved a record number of medals, but also because of the sheer variety on offer. In the past we’ve often found that a good performance by the region has been driven by either one or other of the Left and Right Bank. But this year, we found strong wines from straight AC Bordeaux rouge, both sides of the Gironde and in the whites, too.

Indeed, you could probably argue that it was a fine performance from the blancs that took Bordeaux’s performance this year from ‘very good’ to ‘excellent’. We’ve never given out three Golds here before, and to do it with two fine wines under £10 and a stellar (pricey) Pessac-Leognan made for a strong combination.

Indeed, this ‘quality from cheap to classy’ shtick was typical of the whole region. There were fine wines from almost House Wine level right the way up to £80-£100 on a list, and at most points in between. And they weren’t stupidly expensive. Compared with Burgundy – and, increasingly, the Rhône – these looked like good, elegant wines at fair prices.

We’ve been quick to criticise Bordeaux in the past. Here it deserves all the praise that comes its way.

FROM THE TASTING TEAMS

‘We saw three styles of whites: clean-cut, light and crisp – good quaffing wines; some barrel-fermented stuff that was more food friendly; and some Semillon-based wines that were richer, more tropical, that would work well with creamy sauces. With many different price points, there are good bargains to be had here.’ Jan Konetzki, team leader

‘The AC Bordeaux were really good. If you want to build a really great wine list, entry-level Bordeaux that has good character like this is a good start.’ Chiara Sieni, Bottles Group

‘Some of the more expensive wines were like Cru Bourgeois that had been made in California. They’d thrown the world at it. Interesting wines, but it wasn’t as if they were from France.’ Michael Harrison, CuVée VIII

‘You need to describe the whites well to customers, as it’s not the tropical flavours they expect; it has toast, smokiness, creaminess, a completely different style from the other side of the world.’ Elisa Soggia, Kai Mayfair

‘The Left Bank were very classical styles all of them. For Bordeaux that’s a good thing. People know the style and they want this style of wine. If it’s different, they can be disappointed.’ Janusz Sasiadek, Bottles & Battles

‘In the North of England, I struggle with Bordeaux, people are drinking it too young. It needs a bit of education still.’ Ian Howard, consultant

‘The mid-range was great value here; £13 to £20 is the price point I’d be looking at.’ Alan Bednarski, Texture 

Award winners

Found 41 wines

France: Bordeaux

Château des Gravières, Graves 2017, Bordeaux, France

Gold medal winner

‘Intense yet elegant,’ began Janusz Sasiadek of Bottles & Battles in praise of this Gold Lister, while Quentin Loisel of Restaurant Sat Bains spoke highly of its ‘fresh chalk and Granny Smith apple, with a refreshing lime cordial note, too’. Elisa Soggia of Kai Mayfair agreed, describing ‘fresh green apple and freshly cut grass’, while team leader Andres Ituarte found ‘ginger and lemongrass – a delicate wine with some nice mineral notes, too’.

£9.36 Enotria&Coe

Calvet, Cuvée 1818 2016, Bordeaux, France

Gold medal winner By the glass

Singled out not only for a Gold, but for a By The Glass award too, this Bordeaux was a ‘refreshingly grown-up wine’, according to Dave Cushley of Prestonfield House, who appreciated its ‘black fruit nose with a touch of savoury, too’. Team leader Nigel Lister praised its ‘easy-drinking style’, while Hakkasan’s Olivier Gasselin found it ‘ferrous, dark and chunky, and a touch leafy – a precise and well-made wine’.

£7.72 Les Grands Chais de France

Château Teyssier, St-Émilion Grand Cru 2015, Bordeaux, France

Gold medal winner

As this took its rightful place on the Gold List, an appreciative team leader Martin Lam described it as ‘generous, with plums and spice’, while Stefano Barbarino of Chez Bruce Restaurant found it ‘very smoky, savoury and earthy’. Team leader Angela Reddin spoke highly of its ‘vibrant, ripe, rich red berries, with some balanced vanilla oak in evidence, and a mineral finish’, while The Royal Automobile Club’s Michael Fiducia praised its ‘very opulent palate, with great length’.

£25.57 Matthew Clark

Antoine Moueix Propriétés, Château Capet-Guillier, St-Emilion Grand Cru 2015, Bordeaux, France

Gold medal winner

With judges like team leader Angela Reddin praising this as ‘pitch perfect and really engaging’, it’s no surprise that it was elevated to Gold. Reddin further described ‘a serious wine with bags of rich, elegant red and black fruits, some sweet and smoky oak and a clean, long finish’, while The Royal Automobile Club’s Michael Fiducia appreciated ‘a complex nose of bramble, cassis and plum, with cloves and sandalwood spice’. ‘Elegant and refined,’ concluded Suave Wine’s Joseph Lunn.

£36.47 ADVINI

Domaines Fabre, Château Lamothe-Cissac, Haut-Médoc 2014, Bordeaux, France

Gold medal winner

Judges had no shortage of praise for this Gold winner, with Quentin Loisel of Restaurant Sat Bains describing ‘huge complexity, with cedar, cigar and cinnamon, as well as plum and raspberry, with a fantastic mouthfeel – round and velvety’. Consultant Ian Howard thought that it was ‘nicely structured, with good balance, and cassis and forest floor notes, and a nicely spiced finish’. Team leader Jan Konetzki added praise for its ‘polished fruit and grippy tannins, but with good elegance, too’.

£21.14 Matthew Clark

Château Fonsèche, Haut-Médoc 2012, Bordeaux, France

Gold medal winner

‘Classic!’ began team leader Jan Konetzki of this Left Bank Bordeaux as it took Gold, further describing ‘notes of vanilla and cedar wood, leading to a dry, dark-fruit palate that’s fresh and attractive, with some roasted peppers and autumn forest notes’.Quentin Loisel of Restaurant Sat Bains thought that ‘plum, musk and noble mushrooms, as well as cigar box and lots of umami’ made this the ideal partner for ‘Bayonne ham braised with kimchi cabbage’.

£11.26 Matthew Clark

Château de Rouillac, Pessac-Léognan 2016, Bordeaux, France

Gold medal winner

Undoubtedly Gold worthy, this white Bordeaux was praised for its ‘smoky oak and cream, with some toast flavours’ by Elisa Soggia of Kai Mayfair, who also found it to be ‘grassy and herbaceous, with green apples and honey, as well as some lime peel and gooseberry’, while team leader Jan Konetzki additionally noted ‘butterscotch and sesame notes’. Fellow team leader Andres Ituarte found it ‘silky in the mouth, with ripe tropical fruits and a creaminess, leading to a stony finish’.

£31.35 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

Direct Wines Production, Château Le Coin, Blanc 2018, Bordeaux, France

Gold medal winner

This ‘bright and breezy’ white Bordeaux, according to Sue Jones of The Harrow at Little Bedwyn, was elevated to Gold by an impressed panel of judges. Elisa Soggia of Kai Mayfair praised its ‘grassy and herbaceous notes, with a hint of vanilla oak’, while Janusz Sasiadek of Bottles & Battles appreciated its ‘great, vibrant acidity, balancing the apricot and peach fruit’, adding that it was ‘great value’.

£6.67 Direct Wines Production

Château Talbot, 4ème Cru Classé, St-Julien 2011, Bordeaux, France

Silver medal winner

Janusz Sasiadek of Bottles & Battles was happy with this wine: ‘This has a great, intense nose that feels very elegant. There’s mature fruits balanced with great acidity. Very elegant tannins with a nice twist of spice. A great wine for the dinner table but I’d happily drink it alone: a meditation wine.’

£58.22 Enotria&Coe

Antoine Moueix Propriétés, Château Patache d'Aux, Médoc 2015, Bordeaux, France

Silver medal winner

‘Elegant red and black fruits with good cedar wood complexity on the nose, while the palate is juicy, with balanced tannins in check and a long finish,’ said Street XO’s Raphael Thierry.

£15.83 CHARLES TAYLOR WINES LTD

Château Lamothe-Bouscaut, Pessac-Léognan Blanc 2016, Bordeaux, France

Silver medal winner

Team leader Jan Konetzki noted a nose of ‘oranges and apricots with fresh herbs’ with ‘notes of honey and toast’, describing the palate as ‘dry, rich and medium bodied, with a nice toasty finish’.

£20.47 Liberty Wines

Château La Fleur des Rouzes, Pomerol 2016, Bordeaux, France

Silver medal winner

‘Lovely clean and direct dark fruits here,’ said team leader Angela Reddin, adding: ‘Floral scents of peony and foxglove mingle with the dark fruit that bathes the mouth in flavour, with pinpoint balance.’ ‘Age-worthy wine that would be perfect with lamb or steak,’ added Stefano Barbarino of Chez Bruce Restaurant.

£21.50 Bibendum

Château du Moulin Rouge, Haut-Médoc, Cru Bourgeois 2015, Bordeaux, France

Silver medal winner

Team leader Jan Konetzki noted: ‘Fresh notes of red and black currants are followed by hints of toast on the nose; the palate is dry with a medium length and grippy tannins.’ Meanwhile Elisa Soggia of Kai Mayfair thought it had ‘cherry and plum with good, spicy balance between tannin and acidity’.

£12.14 Davy's Wine Merchants

Château Lamothe de Haux, Bordeaux Blanc 2018, Bordeaux, France

Silver medal winner

‘A very pretty nose,’ said Janusz Sasiadek of Bottles & Battles, adding: ‘It’s intense and fresh with a hint of minerality. Very full of life on the palate with apricot, mango and a hint of vanilla.’

£9.31 R D Wines

Château Lamothe de Haux, Côtes de Bordeaux 2016, Bordeaux, France

Silver medal winner

‘Some nice complexity for the money here,’ said Melania Bellesini of The Fat Duck. ‘This would be good by the glass in a pub; it has ripe fruit and some nice sweet spice; the new oak is well handled for easy drinking.’

£10.08 R D Wines

Direct Wines Production, Le C du Chai, Cuvée Noble 2017, Bordeaux, France

Silver medal winner

Elisa Soggia of Kai Mayfair noted: ‘A dry wine with apricot and peach fruit as well as crisp green apple, lime and lemon. There is a touch of honey too in this nicely textured wine.’

£8.22 Direct Wines Production

Château Lestrille-Capmartin, Bordeaux Supérieur 2012, Bordeaux, France

Silver medal winner

‘This would be a great charcuterie platter wine,’ said team leader Laurent Richet MS, ‘the nose is full of dry sausage, chorizo, dry salami; while the fairly savoury plate gives up rich plum and cassis with a final touch of bacon on the finish.’

£16.99 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

Château de Côme, St-Estèphe 2015, Bordeaux, France

Bronze medal winner

‘Very intense red fruits with a touch of grass and spices on the nose,’ said Janusz Sasiadek of Bottles & Battles, adding: ‘There’s lovely acidity and good length.’

£24.92 Top Selection

Château Teyssier, Pezat, Bordeaux Superieur 2015, Bordeaux, France

Bronze medal winner

Chiara Sieni of Bottles Group noted: ‘With a toasty, morello cherry palate this is quite mouthwatering. There are hints of graphite and tobacco leaf on the nose and well-balanced tannins to finish.’

£10.70 Matthew Clark

Château Siaurac, Plaisir de Siaurac, Lalande de Pomerol 2016, Bordeaux, France

Bronze medal winner

‘Leafy aromas mingle with the cassis and green plum; a more structured style, typical of the movement towards more Cabernet Franc,’ said Michael Fiducia of The Royal Automobile Club. ‘Good clean wine,’ added team leader Angel Reddin.

£15.35 Bibendum

Château Gardegan, Bordeaux Supérieur 2015, Bordeaux, France

Bronze medal winner

Team leader Nigel Lister described ‘a nose of charcoal and chocolate’, and went on to say ‘this has elegant, crushed forest fruits across a juicy palate and good typicity in a modern style’.

£11.24 Bibendum

Vignobles Léon Nony, Château Garraud, Lalande de Pomerol 2012, Bordeaux, France

Bronze medal winner

Pasquale Moschettieri of Benares Restaurant & Bar noted: ‘There are nice aromas of black fruits with sweet spice and a hint of rose petal. The palate follows with good cassis and plum fruit with a well-balanced finish.’

£13.89 Alliance Wine, Amathus, Christopher Piper Wines

Gonzague Lurton, Vivens 2014, Bordeaux, France

Bronze medal winner

‘A bit shy but smartly dressed,’ mused Street XO’s Raphael Thierry, ‘this is sophisticated but approachable.’

£27.00 Liberty Wines

Château Sainte-Marie, Bordeaux Supérieur 2016, Bordeaux, France

Commended medal winner

£9.81 Enotria&Coe

Château Edmus, St-Emilion Grand Cru 2014, Bordeaux, France

Commended medal winner

£22.64 Top Selection

Domaine Clos le Comte, Graves Blanc 2016, Bordeaux, France

Commended medal winner

£14.66 Top Selection

Antoine Moueix Propriétés, Château Liversan, Haut-Médoc 2016, Bordeaux, France

Commended medal winner

£17.43 ADVINI

Antoine Moueix Propriétés, Château d'Hanteillan, Haut-Médoc 2016, Bordeaux, France

Commended medal winner

£15.08 ADVINI

Château Lamothe-Bouscaut, Pessac-Léognan 2014, Bordeaux, France

Commended medal winner

£19.67 Liberty Wines

Château Phélan Ségur, La Croix Bonis, St-Estèphe 2015, Bordeaux, France

Commended medal winner

£21.65 Bibendum

Samazeuilh, Château Montcabrier Sauvignon Blanc-Sémillon, Bordeaux Supérieur 2017, Bordeaux, France

Commended medal winner

£8.34 Matthew Clark

Samazeuilh, Château Montcabrier, Bordeaux Supérieur 2015, Bordeaux, France

Commended medal winner

£8.42 Matthew Clark

Grands Chais de France, Château Tour de Bossuet, Lalande de Pomerol 2016, Bordeaux, France

Commended medal winner

£18.78 Matthew Clark

Château Lestrille-Capmartin, Bordeaux Blanc 2016, Bordeaux, France

Commended medal winner

Château Merigot, Côtes de Bourg 2015, Bordeaux, France

Commended medal winner

Château Mayne Blanc, Lussac St-Émilion 2015, Bordeaux, France

Commended medal winner

Château Cruzeau, St-Emilion Grand Cru 2015, Bordeaux, France

Commended medal winner

Vignobles Leydet, Château de Valois 2014, Bordeaux, France

Commended medal winner

Château Sénéjac, Comte de Senejac, Haut-Médoc 2014, Bordeaux, France

Commended medal winner

Vignobles Rousselot, Château Au Pont de Guitres 2014, Bordeaux, France

Commended medal winner

Château Boutisse, St-Emilion Grand Cru 2016, Bordeaux, France

Commended medal winner