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Winner Details

South & South-West Red

We didn’t quite get what we were expecting here. Yes, there was plenty of sunshine, fruit, tannin, oak and alcohol – some of it put together apparently at random, with little consideration for overall balance in the end product.

But if there’s one thing we’d expect from this area, it’s value for money, particularly at the lower end, and we didn’t really find that. While the whites were pretty well priced, only five of our 16 red medals were under £10, which isn’t that impressive, really.

Still, on the plus side, there were some good wines here if you’re looking for exuberant, muscular steak-monsters.

From The Tasting Teams

‘The Languedoc flight had generosity, muscle and sunshine. Those that stood out not only had that power, but also an element of freshness.’ Jan Konetzki, team leader

‘The Cahors wines – wow! Elegant Malbec with velvety tannins.’ Cinthia Lozano, The Winery Honduras

‘Roussillon was a challenging flight, with a lot of alcohol and fruit and tannins, and not always integrated.’ Marco Marcuzzo, ZUMA Rome

‘There’s a rustic quality, with herbaceous earthiness, big tannins and big acidity. You don’t need to think about these wines too much, but there’s value for money, even in the more expensive ones.’ Andres Ituarte, team leader

‘Provence is not really a place you look for red wines.’ Martin Lam, team leader

‘At the higher end in Cahors you’ve got all the complexity of a Châteauneuf-du-Pape. It’s incredible value.’ Martin Lam, team leader

‘The entries that didn’t get medals tended not to have enough structure, not enough acidity.’ Alonso Abed, Trivet

‘Roussillon is on my radar for finding unexpected value. Great old-vine Grenache or Carignan vineyards.’ Tim Smith, Winesurfer Consulting

Award winners

Found 38 wines

France: South & South-West, Red

Badet Clément, La Cour des Dames, Mourvèdre, Pays d'Oc 2018, Languedoc, France

Gold medal winner

'Lovely perfume, with violet, blackberry, thyme and rosemary, and a palate that's full-bodied and concentrated, with some chocolate notes and a long, fresh finish. Great value too.'
Matthieu Longuère MS, team leader.

'Ripe and fresh red and dark fruits here, with some real substance to the palate. This would make a good winter house wine.'
Jan Konetzki, team leader.

£6.25 Molson Coors

Gérard Bertrand, Château L'Hospitalet, La Clape, Grand Vin Rouge 2018, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

Gold medal winner

'Full-bodied and spicy, this is an ambitious, oaky style, with bright cherries, blackberries, cocoa and vanilla. A very rich, well-made wine with a lovely savoury finish.'
Matthieu Longuère MS, team leader.

'Full-on, with dark, spicy fruits and high concentration. There's great complexity here, and really good maturity of fruit too.'
Tanguy Martin, Blandford Comptoir.

£28.25 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

Gérard Bertrand, Le Viala, Minervois La Livinière 2017, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

Gold medal winner

'A beautiful nose of warm spiced blackberry, with some additional vanilla on the palate, and a warm, ripe fruit finish.'
Nelio Pinto, Candlesticks.

'A very dense and intense wine with backbone, but showing great elegance too. This is polished and very suave, while being focused and in-depth too, with juicy and succulent tannins, and alcohol under control.'
Olivier Gasselin, OenoTrade.

£47.59 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

La Croix de Saint Jean, La Liviniere 2018, Languedoc, France

Gold medal winner

'This has a concentrated nose, with ripe, jammy fruit leading to a full and generous palate, with velvety tannins and lovely spices.'
Tanguy Martin, Blandford Comptoir.

'Vibrant, silky fruit with a punch of cinnamon, clove and nutmeg.'
Nelio Pinto, Candlesticks.

'Rounded, with big character, and notes of green olives, capers and red fruits, as well as an earthiness.'
Elisa Soggia, Trivet.

£15.60 LA CROIX DE SAINT JEAN - DOMAINE CHABBERT

Domaine de la Baume, Château Belles Eaux, Carmin 2018, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

Silver medal winner

'Round and succulent, cooked fruits, dried apricots and prunes, along with red and black cherries, and an earthiness, as well as cinnamon and cardamom spice.'
Elisa Soggia, Trivet.

'Big, full and tannic, but all in good balance with the fruit, and with good length.'
Jan Konetzki, team leader.

£26.03 DOMAINE DE LA BAUME

La Croix de Saint Jean, Lo Mainatge, Minervois 2017, Languedoc, France

Silver medal winner

'Fruity and juicy, round and succulent, with red plums, raspberries and blackberries joined by spice notes of cinnamon, vanilla and a hint of star anise, as well as capers and green olives, leading to a herbaceous and fresh finish.'
Elisa Soggia, Trivet.

'Fresh, lively fruit with supportive tannic structure and a nice meaty element too.'
Martin Lam, team leader.

£12.95 Liberty Wines

Cazes, Ego 2018, Roussillon, France

Silver medal winner

'Dark fruits and herbal notes give way to a bit of spice on the chewy palate.'
Sam Weatherill, Etch. by Steven Edwards.

'A fragrant nose of red and black fruit with a well balanced palate of acidity, fruit and structure.'
Michael Fiducia, Royal Automobile Club.

'Juicy with tight-grained tannins and a worn wood influence, with plum skin and currant leaf too.'
Andres Ituarte, team leader.

£12.90 Enotria&Coe

LGI Wines, King Rabbit, Merlot 2019, South West France, France

Silver medal winner

'Fresh balsamic notes and a soft, textured palate with plush red berries. Full-bodied and very friendly.'
Alonso Abed, Trivet.

'This has a juicy core to the brambly fruit, with a leafy overtone, and a bit of horse and saddle, joined by pepper and spice on the woody finish.'
Andres Ituarte, team leader.

£6.20 Majestic Commercial

Domaine Lafage, Authentique, Cotes du Roussillon Rouge 2018, Roussillon, France

Silver medal winner

'Dense, ripe and dark, with an earthy touch. The palate's dark and rich, with granite notes and fine tannins.'
Carolina W Seibel, Comptoir Cafe and Wine.

'This is supple and round, with good oak expression and smooth tannins, and a lot of fruit character too.'
Immacolata Cannavo, Hakkasan Mayfair.

£10.19 Bibendum

Boutinot, Uva Non Grata, Gamay 2018, Vin de France, France

Silver medal winner

'Ripe and succulent, with lively cherry and raspberry, and some floral notes. Violets and roses haunt the palate, with framboise and gentle spice too - this is soft and elegant, with much drinkability.'
Angela Reddin, team leader.

'A juicy, crunchy red wine with plenty of cherries and violets. Supple and round.'
Immacolata Cannavo, Hakkasan Mayfair.

£6.25 Boutinot

Château Lagrézette, Cahors 2017, South West France, France

Silver medal winner

'A chalky and mineral wine with velvety tannins - this is elegant and nicely structured, with dry red berries and spices on the nose, with predominant minerality on the palate. An excellent wine for pairing with meats.'
Cinthia Lozano, The Winery Honduras.

'Everything's there: fruit, structure, acidity, alcohol and tannins, all in balance.'
Rémi Cousin, Le Gavroche.

£25.67 Top Selection

Domaine de la Baume, La Jeunesse 2019, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

Bronze medal winner

'Spicy, herbal and vegetal, with some red fruit and no obvious oak, leading to a full-bodied palate that's fresh, traditional and rustic.'
Matthieu Longuère MS, team leader.

'Sour cherry fruit and plums in brandy, and quite floral too, with an elegant but savoury palate. An enjoyable wine.'
Olivier Gasselin, OenoTrade.

£13.12 DOMAINE DE LA BAUME

Rigal, Belles Rives 2016, Cahors, France

Bronze medal winner

'A juicy wine with a bit of hay and earth, and some grippy tannins.'
Andres Ituarte, team leader.

'Great balance between tannins, alcohol and acidity, with a clean finish.'
Rémi Cousin, Le Gavroche.

'With some chalky red fruits, this is quite unadorned, and a good easy-drinking red for rillettes or confit duck.'
Martin Lam, team leader.

£7.50 Molson Coors

Château Seguala, Icône, Tautavel, Côtes du Roussillon Villages 2017, Languedoc, France

Bronze medal winner

'Dry, ripe black fruits with hints of oak and sweet spice, and some smoke and tobacco notes, leading to a pleasant finish.'
Marco Marcuzzo, Zuma Rome.

'Notes of ripe plum, dark cherry and cassis, with smoke and dark chocolate, as well as some herbal notes and crushed stone.'
Markus Dilger, Dilger Sommelier Selection .

£13.17 Famille Helfrich

LGI Wines, Beauté du Sud, Malbec 2019, Languedoc, France

Bronze medal winner

'Full-bodied and herbal, with wild shrubs, mint and violet, and a smooth and chocolate palate - an easy modern style.'
Matthieu Longuère MS, team leader.

'Perfumed aromas and flavours of crunchy red cherries - a well-balanced red wine.'
Vivienne Franks, Aspects of Wine.

'Smoke on the nose, with some redcurrant and red berries on the palate.'
Nelio Pinto, Candlesticks.

£6.20 Majestic Commercial

Chateau Coupe-Roses, Les Plots Minervois 2017, Languedoc, France

Bronze medal winner

'A complex wine to make you think, with earthy barnyard aromas and some nice black fruit. A strong character.'
Alonso Abed, Trivet.

'Very farmyard-like and rustic, with very dark plum and pepper too, with a fine toast. A juicy, crunchy, broad wine.'
Olivier Gasselin, OenoTrade.

'Funky and savoury, with a mineral, elegant palate.'
Matthieu Longuère MS, team leader.

£11.78 Bibendum

Château du Caillau, Cahors 2018, South West France, France

Bronze medal winner

'A well-structured wine with aromas of coffee and red berries leading to mocha and leather flavours, with great presence of French oak.'
Cinthia Lozano, The Winery Honduras.

'Lots of spice and dense black fruits - this is a well-made wine with a real meaty character.'
Andres Ituarte, team leader.

£10.20 Bibendum

Château Lagrézette, Chevaliers Lagrézette 2017, Cahors, France

Bronze medal winner

'Rich dark fruits and a balsamic note on the nose, along with some bramble spice, leading to herbal and spice notes that feel quite well-integrated.'
Sam Weatherill, Etch. by Steven Edwards.

'Intense blackcurrant and dark cherries with a touch of vanilla, and a deep, velvety texture.'
Rémi Cousin, Le Gavroche.

£15.37 Top Selection

Chateau de Caraguilhes, Cochon Volant Rouge 2019, Languedoc, France

Bronze medal winner

'Hedonistic, with chocolate and some black cherry, and good backbone. On the richer side, this offers plenty of character.'
Alonso Abed, Trivet.

'Some leafy earthiness with nutmeg and clove on the finish.'
Nelio Pinto, Candlesticks.

'Good balance and an easy style, with ripe fruits and a hint of sweet spices.'
Tanguy Martin, Blandford Comptoir.

£9.38 Jascots Wine Merchants

La Croix de Saint Jean, Lo Paire, Minervois 2015, Languedoc, France

Commended medal winner

£17.12 Liberty Wines

LGI Wines, Chemin de La Serre, Carignan Vieilles Vignes 2019, Languedoc, France

Commended medal winner

Cazes, John Wine 2019, Roussillon, France

Commended medal winner

£12.32 Enotria&Coe

Bouchard Aîné & Fils, Héritage du Conseiller, Pinot Noir 2018, Vin de France, France

Commended medal winner

£8.13 Matthew Clark

Mas La Chevalière, L'Art des Sens, Syrah/Grenache 2017, Languedoc, France

Commended medal winner

£8.70 Liberty Wines

Mas Belles Eaux, Vieilles Vignes 2016, Languedoc, France

Commended medal winner

Château Canet, Sea Change, Merlot 2019, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

Commended medal winner

Jonqueres d'Oriola, Château de Corneilla, Pur Sang 2018, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

Commended medal winner

£9.87 JONQUERES D ORIOLA

LGI Wines, Baron de Baussac, Carignan Vieilles Vignes 2019, Languedoc, France

Commended medal winner

Louis Latour, Domaine de Valmoissine, Bellevue, Pinot Noir 2017, Provence, France

Commended medal winner

LGI Wines, Le Beau Sud, Grenache Noir, Pays d’Oc 2019, Cotes de Gascogne, France

Commended medal winner

£6.52 Matthew Clark

Château de Campuget, 1753, Syrah Sans Sulfites 2018, Vin de France, France

Commended medal winner

Clos Troteligotte, K-Nom 2018, Cahors, France

Commended medal winner

Gérard Bertrand, Château La Sauvageonne, Grand Vin 2017, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

Commended medal winner

Foncalieu, Le Versant, Pinot Noir 2018, Roussillon, France

Commended medal winner

£9.29 Bibendum

Plaimont Producteurs, Moonseng, Merlot/Manseng Noir 2018, South West France, France

Commended medal winner

£8.43 Bibendum

Domaine Lafage, Cayrol, Carignan, Vieilles Vignes 2017, Roussillon, France

Commended medal winner

£12.28 Bibendum

Plaimont Producteurs, Colombelle L'Original, Côtes de Gascogne Rouge 2018, South West France, France

Commended medal winner

£7.67 Bibendum

Château Lagrézette, Purple, The Original Malbec 2016, Cahors, France

Commended medal winner

£9.77 Top Selection