Sommelier Wine Awards 2012 Winners

Unmistakably Gewurz in both style and perfume.

'Exotic lychee, rose and stone fruit flavours on the nose with a rich, unctuous palate, complete with ripe peach and lychee tones, plus a long finish,' said Angus Macnab, formerly The Lanesborough. Food choices ranged from foie gras on gingerbread to grilled scallop and smoked bacon, but perhaps its most ambitious conquest was the Thai green curry it championed at our food matching tasting (see pXX).

£8.80 Boutinot

Showing some development, all agreed, this is great entry level Riesling.

'Fresh, clean and mineral, with good acidity and a fine balance between the green apple and stone fruit flavours, and almond notes,' said Irina Atanasova, Madison Restaurant.

'Complex, showing some lovely structure – lemon fresh with waxy character,' said Coq d'Argent's Olivier Marie. Aperitif or with crustacea or smoked salmon.

£7.45 Boutinot

Great typicity and a versatile food matching capabilities makes this a stand-out. Aromas of violets and iris mix with ripe berries, a pinch of pepper and the garrigue on the nose, leading to a sour red cherry palate with notes of spice.

'Youthful but good,' said The Greenhouse's Sara Bachiorri. For food, think either pan-fried salmon or tuna, or roast pheasant with beetroot.

£9.71 Bibendum

Wonderful savoury complexity to keep the drinker enthralled, with a bouquet of leather, blackcurrants and savoury farmyard aromas. Hints of cinnamon spice and drying tannins balance soft squashy red and black fruts on the palate. While the Northcote's Adam Pawlowski thought it was 'almost New World in style', the Royal Thames Yacht Club's Mariyana Radulova, said it was 'Powerful yet balanced.'

£19.79 Castel

Medium ruby/purple in the glass, this is a great example of what the Right Bank can do. Beginning with aromas of tobacco, red berries and cherry, the enticing balance of cedary spice and red fruits continues onto the palate with a dash of grippy acidity.

'Banqueting wine,' thought Frédéric Billet, consultant. With its nice structure of supporting tannins and smooth finish,' the Rib Room's Louise Gordon spoke for all when she suggested – you guessed it – Rib of Beef!

£7.46 Cavendish Wines

Lime gold in colour, the gentle oak and toasted almonds on the highly aromatic nose run alongside citrus and peach aromas. With two-thirds of the blend being Sauvignon Gris, the palate is creamy with an exotic fruit note alongside lemon spice, following through to a lengthy finish with dry toasty notes.

£9.98 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

'Precise, youthful and well-defined, said an impressed Kristin Kalmy, The Aubrey at The Kensington Hotel.

'Sweet and appealing dark fruits on the palate, with firm texture and grip,' was journalist Jamie Goode's view.

'This has everything to age beautifully: fine tannic structure, high acidity and the fruit,' said Emilie Courtois.

'I would lay it down and forget about it for a few years.'

£17.07 Castel

Fragrant and enticing, this wine boasted elegance rather than being a blockbuster. Medium ruby with purple glints, this carries a perfumed mix of red petals, and red and black fruits with spicy overtones on the nose. Red and black fruits mix with cedar spice on a well balanced palate.

'Ripe, rich and opulent,' said Practical Matters' Nicola Thomson.

£10.76 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

A breath of fresh air to find cheery Bordeaux at this price.

'While Kofler & Kompanie's Nigel Lister liked the 'red crunchy fruit and well managed tannin', Fionnuala Synnott, Pollen Street Social said, 'Soft, supple and fresh.'
Hakkasan's Christine Parkinson said 'Earthy, quite fruity, juicy, light and grippy. Amazing value.'
In fact, ideal for our Perfect Pub Pair in the By the Glass section.

£4.95 Boutinot

Approachable and seriously complex, this was one of very few wines to do the treble, picking up not just Gold, but a Food Match and Critics Choice. Bramble fruit mixes with fennel, cardamom, graphite and a touch of smoke on the nose. The palate shows medium tannins and elegant cooked fruit, while the garnet tones suggest some ageing, but still a good freshness.

'An amazing choice,' said Terroirs' Emilie Courtois.

£9.98 Enotria&Coe

A head-turner from the start, this is textbook Chablis.

'Fine, fresh and nutty. Good mouthfeel, with excellent underlying chalkiness, good balance and length,' said Richard Bampfield MW.

'Green, floral aromas with notes of grass and herbs,' added Jan Konetzki, Gordon Ramsay.

'Very pretty example.'
Menu of choice? Shellfish and scallops.

£11.60 Bibendum

A honeyed twist, an expressive nose and serious value gives us our first Chablis Gold.

'Excellent nicely balanced palate with decent weight of fruit and fresh acidity,' said consultant Richard Bampfield MW.'
Ripe pear and citrus flavours and nice crisp finish.'
'Lively and very succulent,' said WineChap Tom Harrow.

'A Chablis with broad appeal.'
Try with white fish in a creamy sauce.

£7.95 Boutinot

With a grassy note on the nose, this starts restrained and elegant, continuing to a youthful, dry, green apple and citrus-infused palate with breezy acidity.

'Lovely minerality with some depth,' said Fionnuala Synnott, Pollen Street Social.

'A lot of white pepper on the palate,' said Northcote's Adam Pawlowski, adding 'Serve as an aperitif, or with fish, shellfish or salads.'

£6.35 Enotria&Coe

An accomplished, complex Sancerre, with a fine mix of smoke, minerals, soft white fruits, elderflower and citrus notes on the nose.

'Mineral palate of lemon zest and stones, with a lengthy finish and good balance,' said Tom Forrest, Vinopolis, adding 'Waxy notes, apples in the background'.

'Classical Sancerre - elegant and refined,' said Louise Gordon, Rib Room at the Jumeirah Carlton Hotel. Try with prawn cocktail, or seafood.

£15.00 Sogrape UK

With classic Sancerre notes of gooseberry, fresh cut grass and hay, minerals and – of course – cats pee on the nose, this shows a fine acidity and complexity on the palate – think stone fruit, apples, pears and zippy gooseberries – and a medium finish. Goat's cheese salad was the popular match.

£12.75 Laporte

The potential of youth impressed the judges here. Already showing great complexity of foresty, earthy notes with fine crunchy red and blackberry fruit, smoked bacon notes, good bitterness and tobacco leaves on the finish.

'The use of oak is noticeable but fairly balanced,' said Xavier Rousset, Texture, while Min Jiang's Felicity Hall enjoyed the 'perfumed violets on the nose, good balance and smooth finish. I'd suggest guinea fowl.'

£13.75 Boutinot

With its autumnal feel and dried-fruit flavours, the elegance and wisdom of age shows in this wine, but it did provoke debate about whether it would work on your list. Sarah Guignard, The French Table, was in favour: 'A really pleasant mature fruit nose. Amazing fruit and tannin balance and moreish on the finish.'
Texture's Xavier Rousset said: 'Good, but expensive. Needs drinking now.'
Game was the food tip.

£48.00 Boutinot

Top drawer wine.

'Beautiful fruit and acidity, with a complex nose and rich palate,' said Xavier Rousset, Texture.

'The fruit jumps from the glass, tinted with spice. Solid core, but so many directions in the mouth. Yum!' said consultant Angela Reddin.

'Stunning, silky, elegant and very complex. Properly structured fruit with a whiff of truffle. A thing of beauty,' said The Arts Club Athila Roos. Game or roast blackleg chicken with morels.

£43.00 Boutinot

A wine with a bright future, this is certainly pleasurable, and journalist Natasha Hughes for one who felt that some bottle age would lend richness to the weight.

'Sure to please,' was Greg Sherwood MW's confident comment about this complex wine. Pear, apple and white peach mix with herbal hints on the nose, while the palate shows 'concentrated green apple and minerals, and superb balance'.

£29.62 Bibendum

Medium ruby in colour, despite the price, the sophistication of this wine won the panel over. Violets and smoky hints mix with savoury notes of meat, blood and iron on a complex nose.

'Balanced white pepper and floral, berry fruits,' said Vinopolis' Tom Forrest of the palate, while The Chester Grovenor's Garry Clark noted the 'rich, jammy red fruity character and firm balanced tannins'.

£26.50 Boutinot

Serious complexity on an elegant framework, the one the guys wanted to take home. With coffee, spicy, tobacco, walnuts and savoury aromas alongside the fruit confit on the nose, I can see why.

'Silky, voluptuous palate with real character,' said Vivat Bacchus' Laura Ward. 'Excellent flavours,' said Searcys Club's Antoine Faucheux, while consultant Angela Reddin simply said: 'I love it.'

£19.00 Boutinot

A fresh food-friendly complexity gave this attractive well-balanced white the edge. There's aromatic pear, exotic fruit aromas and floral notes on the nose alongside a light citrus fruit zest. While Terroirs' Emilie Courtois appreciated the 'lovely salinity' on the palate, consultant Jamie Goode felt it was 'stylish and expansive with precise flavours and good acidity'.

£10.89 Bibendum

One for the decanter, this complex, layered wine shows a perfect balance between fruit, tannins and acidity.

'Cherry and blackberry on a lightly spiced nose leads to a full similarly-fruited palate,' said Hakkasan's Serdar Balkaya, while colleague Roberto Loppi appreciated the chocolate and vanilla notes.

£11.50 Bancroft Wines

Unfussy and flavoursome – and excellent value left our panel in no doubt, this was Gold material. Black fruit flavours with hints of spice and a medicinal note to the nose. On the palate, consultant Sarah Jane Evans MW said: 'Very juicy, with a mocha note. Very fun - good House Wine,' while consultant Peter McCombie MW simply said 'Gutsy!' Food matches range from pub classic shepherds pie to plum crumble.

£5.40 Boutinot

Decidedly food friendly, this shows some evolution on the nose, with damson and plums alongside herbaceous tea leaves. The palate has black fruits, sturdy tannins, pepper spice, plus relatively high alcohol but good acidity.

'Try with beef stew,' suggested Soho Wine Supply's Kyri Sotiri.

£9.06 Enotria&Coe

Everyone liked something different about this wine. For Terroirs' Emilie Courtois it was 'the mouthfeel and the finish. It is very fresh, with a great minerality' 'The nose is outstanding,' said consultant Joe Wadsack,' showing lovely apricot and peach notes.'
'This is relaxed southern French class,' said Kofler and Kompanie's Nigel Lister, 'Lovely, juicy, peachy flavour. Delicious.'

£9.10 Greene King

Rich yellow-golden in colour, the sheer quality of the aromatics lifts this wine. Buttery notes alongside seriously ripe stone fruits and almonds on the nose lead to a creamy, soft and juicy palate with good length.

'Rich and very well balanced, I would pair it with similarly aromatic Asian dishes,' said Terroirs' Emilie Courtois.

'Very attractive,' said consultant Joe Wadsack. Available to UK on-trade via Liberty Wines.

£6.95 Advini

Perfume and a 'beautiful structure' won the day with this elegant white. A fresh nose of nectarines and fresh citrus mingles with mimosa blossom, nuts and a light butteriness, while the multi-layered palate is long and well balanced. Think Dover Sole or other aristocratic white fish.

£10.35 Enotria&Coe

Texture, vibrancy and toasty oak steal the limelight here. Kicking off with a fabulous bouquet of minerals, white peach, quince, floral notes, lemon and mandarin, a rich, youthful palate with a long finish follows. Despite its attractive approachability now, due to the 'deft use of oak' and 'tangy acidity', most felt it would get even better with a bit more age.

£15.29 Sogrape UK

A 'classic Burgundy' with great 'personality', this shows an elegant balance of ripe melon and fragrant pineapple flavours, zingy acidity and flinty minerality. Peter McCombie MW felt it had 'very good concentration and length, and a very fresh backbone,' while Galvin La Chapelle's Andrea Bricarello recommended both turbot and chicken as ideal matches.

£38.50 Boutinot

With its 'smoky minerality', unimpeachable balance, and fine complexity, this caught the judges' eye.

'Nice hazelnut butter nose, with a round palate and a great mineral finish,' said an impressed Antoine Dugand, Pont de la Tour. 'Lovely wine with some upfront oak balanced with lively freshness,' said consultant Peter McCombie MW.

£19.95 Alliance Wine

Shining now, but with a bright future ahead, this zingy yet elegant Saint Véran charmed the judges. Orchard and floral aromas mix on a spring-like nose with a pleasant hint of fennel.

'Citric fruits give way to a slightly textured palate,' said Matthew Cocks, Cubitt House.

'Very bright and clean. Youthful with a long mineral finish,' said consultant Angela Reddin.

£10.76 Bibendum

Beauty and the balance won Dreissigacker Gold.

'Light straw in colour, this has a warm, ripe fruity nose, sweet mid-palate, good body and lingering finish,' said Nick Chiu, Anderida at Ashdown Park.

'Rich and honeyed, with complex mineral flavours alongside the tropical fruit, this is effortless with beautiful balance,' said consultant Natasha Hughes. Great with calamri, Chinese stir fry or Asian crab dishes.

£14.50 Liberty Wines

Fantastic to see Axel Pauly, this rising star of the German wine world scoop not only Gold but a Critics' Choice award. Refreshing and balanced, this marries the minerality of some of the Mosel's steepest slate slopes with pure stone fruit from a low yielding year. Fresh and understated, the apples, zingy acidity and mineral and citrus flavours come together beautifully with what River Cafe's Emily O'Hare calls a 'tickle of sweetness'.

£9.95 Liberty Wines

Gold in the glass and Gold on the podium, this is aromatic on the nose, with a fine flourish of citrus and tropical fruits. Its floral, honeyed character runs alongside a good minerality, leading through to a long finish.

'Fresh, bright and complex, the palate is tingling with tension,' said River Café's Emily O'Hare. Try with pork ribs or in milk and sage.

£14.08 Liberty Wines

The 'balanced harmony of flavours' (Maria Rodriguez) is what set this wine apart. With its blend of honeydew melon, Golden Delicious apples, stone fruit, honeyed notes and 'perfect acidity', this was a judge's delight.

'Meticulous ageing reveals a complex bouquet, ranging from very ripe fruit through to marmalade, with the palate perfectly reflecting the nose,' said Galvin La Chapelle's Marco Feraldi. Rodriguez recommended braised chicken in banana leaf, mango with foie gras, or camembert fondue.

£13.37 Enotria&Coe

Deep purple in the glass, this shouts bright red raspberries and cherries, while the pleasantly structured palate has grippy tannins, herbaceous notes, and soft menthol notes. Perfect with savoury stews and vegetable goulash.

£5.39 Hatch Mansfield

Light, fresh and fruity, with 'big florality of red fruits,' according to Louise Gordon, this is the ultimate easy drinker.

'Slightly confected fruit,' noted Cubitt House's Matthew Cocks, adding that 'this selection is more about customers' value for money than our margin. Good for gastropubs.'

£3.60 Majestic Commercial

All marvelled at the value of this wine.

'Good rich compote of black fruits on the nose with a dash of vanilla thrown in and a reasonable long finish,' said Angela Reddin, consultant.

'Dark plum fruit and a ripe, yet firm tannin structure,' said Cubitt House's Matthew Cocks, adding that it would be perfect with 'a ribeye steak on a cheeky mid-week night out'.

£4.50 Majestic Commercial

It is perhaps no surprise that this extremely well priced New World Pinot should come from those Chilean maestros of this fickle grape. Fresh strawberries and plums on both nose and lightly-structured palate are wrapped up with cedary hints and balanced savoury characteristics. Equally at home flying solo or accompanying light-flavoured dishes, what's not to like?

£4.20 CyT UK

Floral aromas mix with damson and vanilla on the nose leading through to a balanced palate with a fresh, herby finish.

'Good extraction with black cherry and good depth,' said Luigi Buonanno, Etrusca.

'This has personality,' added consultant, Natasha Hughes, while Kofler & Kompanie's Nigel Lister was all for siting down with tomato risotto and goats cheese.

£4.80 Lanchester Wine Cellars

Violet with ruby hints,' noted Terroirs' Emilie Courtois, saying 'It looks young and light but with its spicy vegetal character, the nose suggests some ageing.'
With its 'ripe plummy fruit, juicy mid-palate light savoury touch to the delicate mineral line and good length,' Soho Wine Supply's Kyri Sotiri was precise in his food tip: beef!

£5.00 Boutinot

'Delicate vegetal nose with hints of red berries, good earthy characters and stewed dark fruit. Soft mouthfeel, soft tannins – all the makings of a good House Wine,' said Anderida's Nick Chiu. Minty overtones, soft vanilla and spicy notes all add to the depth of this great value number.

'Try with savoury sausage dishes,' was Vinopolis' Tom Forrest's tip.

£5.00 Boutinot

Great to see such an elegantly perfumed character coming through at this price.

'Black cherries dominate, with hints of caraway and cacao. Juicy red fruit with gentle grip. Refreshing,' said Jan Konetzki, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay. Happy solo, this will work wonderfully with cured meats and simply cooked, unsauced dishes.

£4.18 Majestic Commercial

Refreshing style with its charming cherry fruit, high acidity and medium tannins. Cabernet Franc-like in weight, this has a slightly dried red-fruited palate, with cherries, plums and spice thrown in for good measure.

'This is amazing value for money,' said Irina Atanasova, Madison. Ideal with bar bites – nuts, olives, crisps, Scotch eggs – or chips.

£3.74 Majestic Commercial

Ripe and open with expansive cranberry fruit on the nose, this matches redcurrant and plum fruit with savoury influences on a soft palate, throwing in a few vanilla notes, cloves and nuts, and closing with a bit of grip on the finish. Foodwise, Kofler & Kompanie's Nigel Lister felt there'd be nothing better than mullet in tomato bouillabaise.

£4.60 Boutinot

For the money alone, this would be a hard act to beat, but this rosé has definite food prospects too. Very pale in colour, while the nose boasts floral and sweet berry aromas, the palate is off-dry, with strawberry compote, a hint of spice, and a long length. And the food? Angela Reddin's vote was for rillettes with kumquat sauce. Mmmm!

£4.67 Eurowines

It's the elegance that took this wine to the top. Delightful freshness on a beautifully perfumed nose with nettles and subtle minerality leads to a fresh mix of tropical and orchard fruit with floral notes on a dry palate.

'A lifted acidity carries the flavours to the long finish,' said an impressed Northcote's Adam Palowski. Try with canapés, anchovies or Caesar Salad.

£4.36 CyT UK

Trivento does the double, scoring two Golds in this year's Awards with this winsome off-dry Torrontés.

'Very grapey and floral,' said consultant, Angus MacNab.

'The subtle aromatics are followed by fun blends of exotic fruits, leading into a good, clean medium finish,' said Nick Chiu, Anderida at Ashdown Park. Foodwise, Chiu reckoned it was 'a great all-rounder for Asian foods'. And happy to go solo too, I'd wager.

£5.00 CyT UK

A Gold medal winning variety show of clear, crisp fruit flavours here. Showing plenty of New World zest – think pineapples and greengage – alongside stone fruit and gooseberry, this has both balance and a long clean, aromatic finish.

'Good supporting acidity and varietally correct – leaves you wanting more,' was Vavat Bacchus' Laura Ward's verdict, while James Hocking, Vineyard at Stockcross said: 'A well-made, vibrant style. A real treat!'

£5.00 Boutinot

And so the first of the House White Golds arrives, and very pretty it is too. With crisp pear and peach alongside citrus grapefruit and floral notes on the nose, this is well made with a bit of a spritz and great freshness. Good concentration, a bright natural acidity and a clean finish makes it food friendly too. Think simple white fish dishes, Asian salads or spring vegetables.

£3.45 Cavendish Wines

What shone here and won Tabalí Gold was ambition: a tricky grape done commendably well at a very good price. This is aromatic and exotic with 'peach, apricot, honey, almonds, long acidity and a pleasant finish,' according to Madison's Irina Atanasova.

'Melon and pineapple on a very ripe palate,' added consultant Angus MacNab.

£5.00 Boutinot

Richness and complexity won the day here. Pear drop aromas mingle with ripe red apple notes, almonds, acacia, hawthorn and stone fruit on the nose. The waxy, textured palate is honeyed with rich intensity, good balance and a long finish. Perfect with scallops or shellfish risotto.

£9.50 Alliance Wine

Inspirational complexity showing Sangiovese ageing at its best. Red fruits on the nose mix with rose blossoms, pencil shavings, sandalwood and gingerbread. With fine-grained tannins, fleshy fruit and the right amount of acidity to support the rest of the wine, this finishes with a lengthy flourish.

'Typically Italian,' said Min Jiang's Felicity Hall, suggesting Osso Bucco and lamb stew.

£13.10 Bulles Blanc Rouge

Despite still being too youthful for all but the purists, the charms of this wine meant our judges couldn't fail to give it a Gold. With well-managed tannins, a delicate smokiness, leather and good cherry fruit, consultant Natasha Hughes felt it was 'gawky' now, 'but has the depth, complexity and poise to repay cellaring.'
Barbecue pork was the food match of choice.

£27.50 Bulles Blanc Rouge

Grace and savour gave this wine stand-out qualities. Savoury cedar and lead pencil notes accompany spice, vegetal notes and perfume on the nose. Full-bodied on a multi-layered, well-balanced palate,The Jugged Hare's Guillaume Mahaut noted complex strawberry, prune flavours on the long finish, and recommended boar or Osso Bucco, while Soho Wine Supply's Kyris Sotiri liked the 'tight tanninic line, excellent intensity and length.'

£14.53 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

Great typicity and good freshness stole the show here. The nose sports fresh juicy cherry and berry flavours with a delicate savoury touch and hints of chestnut.

'This delicacy continues onto the tannins, which carry the balanced fruit/oak characteristics to the finish,' said Soho Wine Supply's Kyri Sotiri.

'Try with veal chop.'

£8.00 Boutinot

Herbal, earthy violet and cherry notes on the nose.

'Great depth of black fruit, with a complex earthy minerality and a refreshing acidity,' said Serdar Balkaya, Hakkasan.

'Very well balanced tannins with well managed oak and a long finish,' said Guillaume Mahaut, The Jugged Hare, suggesting wild boar to match.

'So Italian.'

£7.67 Italyabroad.com

Complexity and sheer food friendliness made this a stand-out Gold candidate. Passionfruit and citrus fruits mix with herbaceous hints and smoky creamy oak on the nose to herald a fresh, nicely balanced, almost fumé-style palate.

'Both juicy and floral, this has good length and depth,' said an impressed Luigi Buonanno, Taberna Etrusca. Versatile on the foof front, from scallops with a light saffron sauce to all things mushroom – consommé, risotto, and truffles.

£14.88 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

A worthy Gold, with its serious value for money proposition, this has plush blueberry, red and black fruit alongside sweet spices and coconut. There's length, texture and a certain amount of grip on this 'generously proportioned, simple fruity style', said an impressed Angela Reddin, consultant. Sunday roast material.

£5.33 Cantine Riondo

Great complexity of flavours, with China Tang's Igor Storic noting 'earth, fruit, spice and mushroom, with green, herbaceous notes, not to mention the intense black fruits.

'LIvely in the mouth, this has wonderful mix of sweet fruit, floral and leather notes, with clean delivery and a good finish,' said consultant Angela Reddin.

'Savoury, earthy and Old School,' said The Tate Group's Hamish Anderson.

£14.34 Enotria&Coe

Sheer class from the heights of Alto Adige. Consultant Angela Reddin liked the 'Wonderfully rich, ripe, scented fruit on the mouth. Autumn berries and bonfires. This is complex with lovely age showing through.'
'Youthful and peppery; fresh and very firm, this needs aeration,' advised consultant Peter McCombie MW. Ideal with venison.

£9.35 Italyabroad.com

Plenty to excite and entertain in this light, fragrant herbaceous Pinot, with its earthy notes, strawberries and spice. While Club Gascon's Antonin Charlier said it was 'Subtle and fresh, with good length,' Cubitt House's Matthew Cocks noted 'slight raisined cherry fruit, subtle use of oak adding complexity and fresh tannins, good fresh acidity, an intrigued Angela Reddin said 'Quite tantalising and interesting'. Versatile on the food front, from mushrooms to game.

£9.93 Eurowines

The perfume and sheer expressive nature of its fruit flavours set this wine apart.

'Very good concentration, with ripe cherry and strawberry flavours in perfect balance with sweet spice notes,' said the OXO Tower Restaurant's Diego Muntoni. With suggestions of wild boar ragout to match, Nicola Thomson, Practical Matters, called the wine a 'Big elegant fruit bomb,' while consultant Frédéric Billet called it 'Bold but smart.'

£13.00 Vinum

Elegance, modernity – and affordability helped Dezzani hit the heights with this. With tar, violets and forest floor aromas on the nose, 'This is lighter in style and ready to drink, a good introduction to Nebbiolo,' said Texture's Xavier Rousset, while Angela Reddin added 'Has nice length and breadth. Modern style.'
Ideal with mushroom dishes, polenta and anything with truffle.

£12.96 Eurowines

Fresh, light and zest scored not just Gold but the scallops Food Match award for this 'very drinkable' Gavi.

'Scented candles, hibiscus flowers and grape/pear notes on the nose, this has a happy character and very goody typicity' said consultant Angela Reddin. With its balanced acidity on a light- to medium bodied palate and lengthy finish, The Vineyard Group's James Hocking thought it a 'really appealing style'.

£6.00 Boutinot

Nearly didn't make it on account of the price, but the wine's rich complexity won the judges over.

'An amazing nose – bitter chocolate, cedar, liquorice, soot and ash!' said Coq d'Argent's Olivier Marie, suggesting venison or leg of lamb.

'Serious dark chocolate and savoury spiciness with balance and power,' said consultant Casper Auchterlonie.

'Precise, effortless and wonderful,' added consultant Natasha Hughes.

'Has a great future.'

£52.84 Alivini

An inspirational wine of elegance, with cocoa bean, cherries, leather and mocha alongside herbal notes.

'Cherry-spiced blackcurrant compote with a streak of ginger and tarragon,' said Practical Matters' Nicola Thomson.

'This is gorgeous,' said consultant Angela Reddin.

'Literally dances on the tongue, kisses the palate and leaves with a sigh.'

£26.55 Eurowines

Costly, yes, but 'sensational', so this 100% Cabernet Franc hits the Gold List.

'Perfumed nose of raspberry and bramble, with rich bitter chocolate and cherry fruit on the palate, this is long and seductive with a smoky finish,' said consultant Caspar Auchterlonie.

'This has a wonderfully velevet grip which leads to a fabulousouly long integrated fiish,' said consultant Angela Reddin.

£32.95 Liberty Wines

Age, flavour and 'lovely tannin management' scored Gold for Talenti.

'Complex bouquet of red berries, cherry, violets, leather and tobacco,' said China Tang's Julien Sahut, adding 'There's leather, cherry, tobacco and red meat flavours on a well-integrated palate with plenty of silky tannins.'
Think Bistecca all Fiorentina.

£24.35 Bibendum

Texture and complexity of flavours won this well-priced white not just Gold but a Critics' Choice award. While some found tropical fruit aromas, for consultant Angela Reddin it was a 'salty seashell nose, almost Traminer-like with its spiciness'. The depth on the palate with its mineral freshness alongside white fruits makes it good for fish dishes of all sorts.

£7.32 Enotria&Coe

Who said the world was 'over' Chardonnay? Handled well with good level of sensitive oaking here we have a wine with complexity on the nose – aromas of gooseberry, pink grapefruit, apricot, nectarine and orange alongside flower, angelica and creme brulee.

'Fantastic oily texture, cleansed by good acidity. A style that is made for food,' said Cubitt House's Matthew Cocks.

'Pricy but worth it,' said Galvin La Chapelle's Andrea Bricarello.

£16.43 Matthew Clark

Not just quality and balance, but intrigue garnered this wine a Critics' Choice rosette as well as a Gold. Plenty of aromas – think 'roses and Opium perfume', said Roganic's Sandia Chang – this has an elegant body with liquorice and savoury notes alongside high alcohol and acids.

'More supple and juicy than a Burgundy,' this make the wine very pleasant,' said Galvin La Chapelle's Marco Feraldi. Foodwise, think slow cooked shoulder of lamb, tomato and lamb stew or Chinese sticky pork.

£10.34 Italyabroad.com

Fabulous flavours emanating from the glass sent this wine straight to the Gold pavilion. Almond, peach, apricot, floral, lemon zest and herbs – and that's just one of our judges' opinions! On a well-integrated palate, white fruits and flowers coexist with a good minerality.

'High on alcohol but this is balanced well with the high acidity,' said Madison's Irina Atanasova. Think herb-crusted, breaded veal cutlet.

£9.76 Berkmann Wine Cellars

Subtlety and elegance lead the way with this understated wine, made from low yielding, old Sardinian Vermentino vines overlooking the sea. With its soft nose and floral tones, it has a rich palate, with textured stony fruit alongside lemons, bitter marmalade and a long creaminess to finish. Fish dishes were the food match of choice.

£11.27 Italyabroad.com

Another Gold for those maestros at Majella, the freshness is what set this well-priced wine apart. Floral notes mix with spice, smoke, blueberries and mint on the nose, while the palate is 'very Cabernet in style – pure and fine,' said consultant Richard Bampfield MW.

'Succulent with ripe fruits on a robust palate. Best to decant, and try with rabbit or lamb chops,' said consultant Maria Rodriguez.

£10.28 Alliance Wine

The ability to let the oak augment rather than suffocate the vibrant cherry and currant fruit helped propel this concentrated,savoury wine to Gold status.

'There's a nice balance from nose to palate,' said Louise Gordon, Rib Room at The Jumeirah Carlton, noting the 'smoky oak and juicy blackcurrant with a hot wood finish'.

'Succulent and vibrant,' said consultant Maria Rodriguez.

'Try with lasagne or other beef dishes.'

£7.95 Liberty Wines

'Great structure, balance and length for the price,' said consultant Angela Reddin, of this Gold star. Plums lead the charge on the nose, with dried cranberry in support. Lovely ripe fruit mixes with smoky spice notes on the palate of this well balanced, opulent Cabernet with its ripe tannins and lengthy finish.

£6.87 Hatch Mansfield

The ability to balance power with eloquence gave Cafaro the first of its medals.

'Lavender and blackcurrant jam' start the journey according to Louise Gordon, with spicy oak in the wings, leading to a palate with 'firm tannins,and a lovely juicy, mouthfilling finish'.

'Serious, concentrated, very young, but elegant,' said Kofler & Kompanie's Nigel Lister.

£23.50 Liberty Wines

Large and perfectly formed, to misquote the old cliché, this has plenty of sophisticated pepper, leather and earthy notes.

'A more developed style with dark fruit, fruitcake and minty flavours,' said Matthew Cocks, Cubitt House.

'Well structured with cleansing acidity and firm but not biting tannins, this is drinking well.'
The food match of choice? Had to be lamb.

£14.96 Bibendum

Brambly aromas mix with smoke, spicy clove, vanilla and cinnamon on the nose, while the rich, textured palate sports spiced raspberries, blueberries and dark cherries.

'Fresh and lively, with liquorice notes and an enticing finish, try with venison and red cabbage,' said Sarah Guignard, The French Table.

£9.56 Justerini & Brooks

With much density of colour and flavour comes this evocative wine.

'With its big, roasted syrupy aromas and hints of cedar and vanilla, this is bold and ripe in the mouth,' said team leader Sarah Jane Evans MW. The taste is similarly robust, with savoury notes aplenty, red fruits, soft tannins, sweet spices and a very long finish. Match with lamb, ratatouille and rosemary jus.

£12.75 Enotria&Coe

A classic example, with good balance, juicy acidity and a lingering chocolate finish.

''Ripe red fruit, sweet spices, this is clean and fresh with flavours of roasted coffee and pepper,' said Irina Atanasova, Madison Restaurant.

£7.07 Patriarche Wine Agencies

One for the venison lovers, this illustrates exactly what well-handled Carmenère can achieve. Blue and purple fruits mix with spicy aromas of coffee and chocolate and a hint of green bell pepper, while the palate is packed with soft, squashy black fruits.'
With its Minervois-like inkiness, this has good acidity on a lively, fresh, palate, with just a touch of pepper and spice on the long, coffee-tinged finish,' said The Arts Club's Athila Roos.

£9.57 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

Tradition and balance with a touch of leesy individuality on the nose marked the Founders Block out for Gold. With toasty notes alongside apple, stone fruit and hazelnut flavours, the palate is ripe with soft oak and good supporting acidity.

'Nice smokey gunflint nose which carries through to the palate,' said consultant Angela Reddin, adding 'Aussie restraint is not a thing that normally exists, but it does here! Craftsman wine.'

£9.25 Berkmann Wine Cellars

Golden in colour, and Gold List material, this stands out for its rich, creamy texture and oaky but fresh finish. Subtle pineapple chunks on the nose leads to an apricot- and ripe yellow apple-tinged palate 'with spicy apple strudel notes, a good mouthfeel and a nice balance,' said Garry Clark, Chester Grosvenor. Match with white meat, or terrines, such as rabbit terrine with herbs.

£7.48 PLB

Balance and beauty helped the M3 bring home the Gold.

'Elegant and feminine,' said Galvin La Chapelle's Andrea Bricarello, noting white fruits, apple and roasted nuts on the nose.

'There's a perfect balance of oak and fruit with nutty hints, and a fresh, minerality to the long finish,' said Vivat Bacchus' Laura Ward.

'Match with scallops or langoustine.'

£16.38 Liberty Wines

A delightful exposition of what Chenin Blanc can achieve in South Africa. Golden in colour, while the restrained nose might suggest France, the palate, with its richness, deft wood and vibrant mix of apples, marzipan and honey suggests New World. The nose conjures up crumble topping, toast and savoury sweet spices, while the palate is powerful and textured with a note of spice.

'Very long finish,' said an impressed Emilie Courtois, Terroirs. Match with seafood casserole, spicy chicken or brioche with fresh foir gras and spicy salt.

£14.71 Bibendum

Looking at the flavour and texture for value ratio, it's not hard to see why Kleine Zalze's Chenin is the most garlanded of all the 2012 wines. With notes of honeycomb and lemon alongside hints of candied peel and jasmineon the nose, the well-balanced, creamy exotic palate sports light oak and some minerality, finishing with a citrus-infused flourish. Head to the Food Match pages to see it triumph against a challenging Thai prawn curry.

£5.69 Matthew Clark

All the classic hallmarks of Gewurz here, including a memorable finish. Rose petals and violets join ripe apricot, pear and lychee on the nose, while the spicy palate features ginger, perfumed lychee and apricot notes as well as being perfumed and slightly oily. The perfect match? According to Galvin La Chapelle's Marco Feraldi, 'smoked tuna fish and green olives'.

£7.90 Enotria&Coe

'Big but well sculpted,' was perhaps the best explanation of this wine's appeal and charm.

''Ripe fruit and firm tannic structure with a deft hint of oak adding additional complexity,' said Cubitt House's Matthew Cocks, while consultant Angela Reddin liked the 'youthful juicy' nature of the 'rich, concentrated nose', and picked up orange rind and spice, plus Syrah-like pepperiness' on the palate. Top match? Lamb chops.

£12.06 Louis Latour Agencies

The unassailable quality and well judged oak propelled this wine to the Gold List, despite inital qualms on the price. 'Exceptionally pure brambly fruit and firm structure,' said Cubitt House's Matthew Cocks,' before admitting: 'I shouldn't have drunk it. Now I want a barbecue!' 'Balanced and refreshing, this character would be great with braised venison or beef dishes,' said consultant Maria Rodriguez.

£11.09 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

Perfume and panache help Church Block strike Gold, with its violets and dark and baked fruit aromas on the nose. Cherry Bakewell to the fore on the palate, this has bags of cassis alongside sweet ripe fruit, grippy tannins, and a multi-layered, savoury finish.

'Good as a House Wine, and also with venison, game – or chocolate,' said journalist and team leader, Sarah Jane Evans MW.

£7.00 González Byass

A great blend, great price, great name – and also versatile on the food front – what's not to like? This juxtaposes nettles and marjoram alongside yellow stone fruit and an almost Gewurz-like florality, while the palate has more stone fruit 'with a lick of spice' and lychee and cucumber notes. Matches everything from pork belly (see the Food Match pages) to Asian spiced prawns, chillie and mango salsa.

£6.65 Boutinot

Wonderful to see the new venture from David Trafford pick up a Gold in this, its first entry into the Sommelier Wine Awards. A Chenin/Viognier blend, this has plenty of mineral complexity allied with a round, ripe palate. The stone fruit on the nose is joined by plenty of smoke and savoury, yeast/leesy notes.

'The palate has incredible texture, being luscious, creamy and toasty. Fantastic food wine,' said consultant Angus Macnab. Try pork belly.

£13.88 Bibendum

Starting quiet, this builds to a flavourful Gold-medalwinning status. Opening up in the glass to reveal light floral aromas, the well-balanced, rich round palate has a 'delicate tropical fruit, and lychee complexity and superb mouthfeel,' according to The Jugged Hare's Guillaume Mahaut, adding 'The finish is fruity with lots of finesse,' he said, suggesting lobster as the match of choice.

£8.08 Enotria&Coe

Attractive and sophisticated, this marries leafy, toned red fruits with sous bois and spices on the nose, leading to a soft juicy, red fruited-palate.

'Good structure with high but velvety tannins and a long finish,' said an approving Roberto Loppi, Hakkasan.

'I am really enjoying this new style of New World Pinot Noir,' said Terroirs' Emilie Courtois.

'Very clean and fresh, this will be great with lamb chops with gremolata.'

£15.87 Matthew Clark

Great value as well as an elegant style struck Gold for Indomita. Plump red wild berries and black cherries with a juicy bite follow a red-fruit-tinged nose. Intense and long, this shows a great finish of soft tannins and won over even the non-Pinot believers. For food, think duck – perhaps salt-cured - or spiced roast quail.

£7.95 Alliance Wine

Elegance allied to concentration marked the Hatters Hill Pinot out for Gold status, with its attractive notes of violets and savoury hints.

'Delicious nose, with a perfectly ripe, structured palate,' said consultant Joe Wadsack.

'Cooked cherries and plums with smoky notes,' added Robert Tozsor, Galvin La Chapelle. The perfect food match? Try seared tuna.

£14.10 Liberty Wines

The sheer purity of the green apple fruit, zesty lime and grapefruit, honey and floral perfume set this elegant Riesling apart. With dry mineral notes, zippy green cooking apples and citrus fruits on an almost off-dry palate, the acidity is higher than average but balanced, and the finish is long.

£11.75 Liberty Wines

All the judges appreciated the expressive nature of this wine.

'Is this a direction for Leyda?' asked consultant Angela Reddin, noting the high minerality and 'nice layering of flavours,' 'Stone fruit and some minerality on the nose, this is zippy and precise with youthful fruit, good balance and concentration of grapefruit, gooseberries and lime,' said Loves Restaurant's Claire Love.

£8.53 Enotria&Coe

Elegance wins Gold for Cederberg with this precise Sauvignon. A complex bouquet encompasses peach, green apple, floral aromas, sage and fennel. The fresh medium-bodied palate has chalky minerality and flinty hints alongside apricot and peach flavours. With its fine balance, length and depth, try with red mullet, dover sole or any grilled fish.

£12.25 Bancroft Wines

'A friendly Kiwi, this has plenty of character, but doesn't have to shout for attention,' said a happy Matthew Cocks, Cubitt House. With rich gooseberry fruit alongside herbaceous hints and tomato stalk notes, this has 'good weight and length, and a steely tang,' said Peter McCombie MW.

'Very Awatere.'
Try with salmon and dill with a light mustard buerre blanc.

£6.24 Hatch Mansfield

Weight, elegance and complexity are what gave this wine Gold. Tropical notes rub alongside tomato stalk and citrus notes on the nose, while the fresh layered palate shows finesse, mineral-accented fruit and a long finish. Match with goats' cheese or asparagus. Or both.

£15.81 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

With its complex mix of aromatics – not just goosebery but passionfruit and other exotic tropical fruits – this wine from one of the Cape's leading Sauvignon Blanc exponents takes the varietal to another level. While Terroirs' Emile Courtois noted the 'spicy fennel-like touch on the crisp palate. Perfect with fresh summer dishes,' Etrusca Restaurant's Luigi Buonanno picked up on the green notes of bell pepper alongside passionfruit,' concluding: 'Good balance and good finish'. Oysters and green pea salad were suggested matches.

£10.35 Swig Wines

'Good rich colour, with classic, slightly baked Semillon aromas, plenty of fruit, high acidity and lovely toasty undertones. Classic,' said Richard Bampfield MW.

'Good food wine - think smoked salmon or cod/haddock in creamy sauces,' suggested Sara Bachiorri, The Greenhouse.

£11.02 Bibendum

Elegant ripeness wins Gold for Oakridge. One for the decanter to fully enjoy the complex savoury bouquet of dark stewed fruits, leather and spices. Soft black fruits and pepper spice on the palate lead to a sweetly-oaked finish.

'Ripe and concentrated, this has a lovely structure with good, wise use of oak,' said Oliver Marie, Coq d'Argent.

£18.78 Matthew Clark

Fragrance meets power in this, Elephant Hill's second Gold, with its spicy ripe fruited now with methold and tobacco notes.

'Brooding and broad, with good tannin management,' said Kofler and Kompanie's Nigel Lister.

'Very scrumptious, with a rich mid-palate of peppery luscious fruit,' said Laura Ward, Vivat Bacchus. No wonder it also scored a Critics Choice rosette.

£23.26 Coe Vintners

Complexity and intrigue won the day with this interesting wine. Deep dark fruit laced with pepper, a touch of violet and pencil lead on the nose lead to an intensely blackcurrant palate with notes of charcoal and an almost medicinal twist to the long-lasting finish. Think a fine peppered steak.

£12.90 Coe Vintners

Polished and stylish, with layers of spice, pepper leather, sandalwood and red fruit, and that's just on the nose! 'The palate has a fine attack of lovely red fruit and good length,' said Club Gascon's Antonin Charlier.

'Muscular, honed and very intense,' said consultant Angela Reddin.

'Exceptional finish.'

£24.50 Boutinot

Blackcurrant and menthol aplenty, this was a hit from the start.

'Vivid mint on the nose and palate, there's black fruit, leafy notes and a zesty feel to the palate,' said Hakkasan's Christine Parkinson.

'Great Syrah.'
'I love it because it's big but fresh and very drinkable,' said Terroirs Emilie Courtois.

£12.59 New Generation Wines

Salta strikes again, providing balancing acidity and elegant aromatics rather than over-dramatic blousiness to take this wine to the top. Gentle citrus aromas mix with apricot confit on the nose, while a fruity, grapey palate is well balanced with ginger spice.

'Refreshing, zesty, light and fragrant,' said an impressed Andrea Bricarello, Galvin La Chapelle.

£6.52 Enotria&Coe

'Lightest in terms of body, this fruit-driven Zinfandel is expressive and easy drinking,' said Hakkasan's James Teng, spotting Gold List and By the Glass potential at the outset. With its liquorice notes alongside 'lovely wild berries and crushed dry leaves, this is excellent value for money,' said Galvin La Chapelle's Marco Feraldi.

'Young but sellable.'
Match with sweet and sour pork belly, truffled mushrooms, venison or pigeon.

£5.25 Hayward Bros

California's Zinfandel specialist Seghesio storms ahead with this intense wine from the challenging 2010 vintage. With its plentiful supply of wild red berries, meaty flavours and uplifting acidity, there's a good balance, medium-firm tannins and a savoury finish. And the perfect food match? Game, says consultant Peter McCombie MW.

£14.50 Liberty Wines

Elegant flavours and stand-out value for a Pinot Noir wins Bulgaria its first Gold – and a coveted Critics Choice award too. Pale ruby with tawny hints in the glass, this is Pinot-esque with gamey aromas of redcurrants, cherries and berries. Rich and fruity in the palate, with bright raspberries alongside clean blackcurrant fruit, soft tannins and a slight cranberry bite on the finish.

£6.90 Swig Wines

A fantastic exposition of how Viognier can be done well outside its original heartland of the Rhône. Fleshy on the nose with lemon meringue, apricot, pear and vanilla-oak, the palate has 'concentrated delicious apricot fruit, great balance, texture and length,' said Kofler & Kompanie's Nigel Lister, suggesting 'grilled Dover sole with extra butter'. Borough Wines' Gergely Barsi Szabo felt it was almost 'Condrieu-esque in its character - but with higher acidity.'

£19.77 Berkmann Wine Cellars

Bright fruit flavours on a keenly priced palate gave the Sommelier Wine Awards its first English Gold. And it's Ortega, the Germanic varietal, in the hands of Ortega specialists, Biddenden. Llight to medium in intensity on both nose and palate, this shows a 'keen minerality on the nose', with 'subtle almondy notes', said Marco Feraldi, Galvin la Chapelle. Add in zesty limes, gooseberries, green apple and a touch of residual sugar and you have a perky white of note.

£5.09 Bibendum

A fabulous wine to head the Colheita assault on this year's awards – and at less than a £ a year, incredible value too.

'Barley sugar and toasted coconut, dark marmalade and treacle tart, bitter and lifted, intriguingly layered and finely tuned with effortless complexity and lovely balance,' said consultant Angela Reddin. Err – I think she like it, as did all else who tried it.

£19.63 Cavendish Wines

Light in the decanter, but then this is one of very few colheitas to be made solely from white grapes, so it's a double delight to welcome it to the Gold winners pavilion in this year's Sommelier Wine Awards. From a legendary year anyway, with its ripe fruit, deep concentration and 'wonderful finish of nuts, oakiness and toast', Angela Reddin felt we were 'moving into XO Cognac complexity, but no harshness. Needs a big chair and a ciger.'
I tend to agree, and I don't even smoke! Price quoted is for 50cl bottle.

£55.44 Cavendish Wines

This aged tawny with its figgy nose and dried fruit-driven palate may have arrived at the close of a judging day, but its star quality shone through, elevating it with ease to the Gold podium.

'Old wines with plenty of aged wood characters, this is nutty – think Brazil nuts – dark and spicy with chocolate notes,' said a beaming Angela Reddin, consultant.

£28.40 Size: 75cl Maisons Marques et Domaines

A balance between earthy elements and silky smooth red fruits struck Gold for Quinta da Romaneira. While Hotel du Vin's Michael Harrison said this 'rounded softer wine has savoury notes and firm tannins,' consultant Joe Wadsack added 'Creamy, delicious and svelte. Well-dressed!' Head for the intensity of game for your food match.

£18.60 Liberty Wines

Character and clarity lead Monte Velho to the Gold List The nose mixes nuts, sweet ripe melon and guava with white peach and notes of vanilla, while the palate has good minerality and pleasant zesty fruits. With 'broad flavours, the rich balanced palate has a lovely character with an excellent lingering finish,' said consultant Angela Reddin.

£6.35 Charles Hawkins & Partners

Texture and judicious oak usage propels Esporão back to the Gold podium.

'Spicy with sweet vanilla from well-integrated oak,' said Tom Forrest of this blend of local varietals and Semillon. Consultant Angela Reddin noted 'nutty creme brulee' on the nose, while the well rounded palate shows 'ripe, sweet stone fruit, with custard apples and cream on the finish'.

£9.96 Charles Hawkins & Partners

Smoke, spice and plush fruits win the day on this powerful wine. Deft handling of local varietals offer up ripe confit of plum, spices and pomegranate flavours on the nose, leading to a similarly sumptuous palate, with its savoury flavours of red fruits, sour cherries and chocolate.

'Good fruit on a well-structured palate. Well built with a good intensity,' observed Gergely Barsi Szabó, Borough Wines. Grilled meats – or roast peppers.

£8.07 Sogrape UK

It may have been Provençal pink in colour, conjuring up images of holidaying in the South of France, but its herbal glints, 'silky creaminess', and interesting mocha notes on the finish, showed this could be a winner anywhere.

'Great berry fruit nose which continues onto the balanced palate,' said The French Table's Sarah Guignard, who appreciated the wine's classic restraint. Lobster, whether grilled or in a salad was the dish of choice. Available to UK on-trade via Enotria

£8.50 Advini

Highly versatile, this comes from the heights of Somontano, from a producer who's been growing grapes for centuries. Vivid pink in colour, it has vibrant red berry aromas with a streak of blackcurrant which follow through to a similarly intense palate, to be joined by red cherry. Well balanced and cheerily structured, it's no wonder its food friendly credentials won it a By the Glass recommendation. Our starting suggestions? Confit duck terrine, charcuterie or grilled peppers.

£7.83 Enotria&Coe

Simultaneously waxy and smoky, and redolent of bonfires and toffee apples at the same time, this well balanced wine is the embodiment of the word 'complex. Perfectly poised between flavours of salty nuts and honey and malt, as only a great amontillado can do, while Madison's Irina Atanasova was uncovering the caramel and dried fruits, consultant Peter McCombie MW was finding biscuits and orange peel on the relatively dry palate. Price quoted is for 50cl bottle.

£17.00 Size: 50cl Boutinot

Another amazing flavour-to-value winner from the denizens of Bodegas Hidalgo. No wonder this refreshingly sophisticated salty seadog of a Manzanilla came home laden with both a Food Match and a Critics' Choice gong. While Angus Macnab found 'salt and iodine plus good weight and texture on the palate', Andrea Bricarello felt this was 'complex yet rich, with fresh dough notes on the nose and a good balance'. For food, start with garlic prawns, move onto mushroom risotto – see our Food Match chapter for why – and finish with cheese and nuts.

£8.15 Size: 75cl Mentzendorff & Co

A true head-turner, the panel could have stayed all week with this one. Fig jam, nuts, caramel, vanilla, cinnamon, toffee, dates, figs, coffee… the descriptors go on and on.

'Great balance between the sweet fruit and the accompanying acidity. Great for sticky toffee pudding,' said Irina Atanasova, Madison.

'Richly raisined, with sweet, intense unctuous texture and a delicious lipsmacking freshness,' said a happy Peter McCombie MW. Price quoted is for a 50cl bottle.

£16.00 Size: 50cl Boutinot

No stranger to the SWA podium, Fernando de Castilla have presented us with an incredible three Golds this year, including this distinctive fino. Practically a meal in itself, it's golden bright in colour, with a 'strong aromatic profile' and a rich, savoury, almost creamy mouthfeel.

'Beautiful nose - salty with apricots, orange peel and soft nutty notes,' said Angus Macnab, continuing: 'lovely saltiness on the palate, with gentle toasted nuts and spice'. Price quoted is for 50cl bottle.

£11.75 Size: 50cl Boutinot

'Powerful but not overwhelming' brings home the Gold. Intense and elegant on the nose, with herbaceous notes alongside tobacco and ripe red fruit.

'The palate is vibrantly fruity, with wieght, richness and poise,' said Peter McCombie MW.

'Dry on the finish, this is excellent and will improve with aeration.'
Try with veal and white beans, bolognese or roast piglet,' said consultant Maria Rodriguez.

'Or squid with green chilli.'

£15.51 Enotria&Coe

Elegance scores Gold for Alvarez y Diaz. Peachy aromatics mingle alongside zippy apples and pears with hints of citrus and grassy notes on the nose. The off-dry palate is packed with pure fruit and citrus flavours, a dash of spice and 'some mineral energy'.

'Delicious fruit and freshness. Good balance,' said Chris Delalonde, The Boundary. Consider smoked fish or eel.

£8.05 Alliance Wine

Beautiful balance of grace and elegance, savoury and sweetness from Faustino's flagship in Ribera del Duero. With hints of orange rind alongside sweet smoky spice and rich fruit on the nose, the palate shows character, structure and old school earthiness.

'Juicy and succulent, this has wonderful rounded fruit and the right tannins,' said consultant Maria Rodriguez.

'Try with duck and cranberry sauce, venison curry with coriander, or veal chops. And it's ready to drink!

£9.00 Cellar Trends

Already five years old, this seems hardly out of nappies and definitely needs decanting.

'Some definitive Spanish style. Very deep and impressive, with a good use of oak,' said James Hocking, Vineyard at Stockcross. Terroirs' Emilie Courtois was blown away: 'You can feel that there's something big lurking behind… Smoky minerality gives way to spicy liquorice. I love it because it is so elegant. The acidity is fresh and juicy and the tannins are tight but fine. An all-nighter wine!' Haunch of venison, oxtail – or chocolate berries.

£21.55 John E Fells & Sons

Versatility and style won Torres gold here. Partial fermentation in oak lends this Sauvignon wonderful depth and food potential – bacalhau and chorizo were just two suggestions. The nose offers, honey, minerality and smoky hints along with tropical, stone and citrus fruits, flavours which follow through onto a well-structured, medium-bodied palate with great length.

£11.80 John E Fells & Sons

Tangy and refreshing, the zest and vigour of this wine appealed to all. Beginning with a ripe nose of mango, stoned fruit, lime leaf and white blossom, the mouthwatering palate with its good acid structure has 'a flinty minerality, with lemons, peaches, gooseberry and lemon sherbert,' said Drake & Morgan's Taskin Muzaffer. Sashimi and smoked salmon spring to mind.

£7.15 Boutinot

A different, more subtle interpretation of Godello wins A Coroa Gold here. Elegantly aromatic with pear drops, white blossom, lychees, herbal hints and a touch of smoke, the tangy, medium-bodied palate of citrus, orchard and stone fruit leads to a long, mineral finish. Partner with scallop and crab tortellini in a light sauce.

£10.43 Bibendum

Personality and price put Veranza ahead with its Chardonnay. So much so that we decided to make it one half of our Perfect Pub Pair in the By the Glass awards. With fresh aromas of nectarine and white flowers, the lemon-fresh textured palate sports ripe melon, grape and tropical fruits.

'Easy and cheerful,' said Robert Tozser, Galvin la Chappelle, this is great solo, but also good with shellfish, fish, either raw or lightly spiced. Available in the UK via The Vintner.

£4.32 Grupo Codorníu

Serious indulgence and texture at a good price gave Cien y Pico not just Gold but a Food Match award. Dark fruit mixes with liquorice and sweet spices on the nose, while the palate shows dried fruit alongside powerful plum and blackcurrant flavours.

'A delicious, seriously indulgent palate,' said Laura Ward, Vivat Bacchus. Fresh and balanced, with good minerality, food matches suggested include black sausage, Spanish cassoulet and, of course, cheese.

£8.88 Liberty Wines

Massive and still a little young, this impressed all.

'Its unusual wild aromas of lavender, thyme and dark berries lead to a good punch of fruit with a slightly savoury edge covering a core of crème de mure,' said The Arts Club Athila Roos.

'With liquorice and spice and herbal hints on the nose, this has huge tannins balanced by massive fruit underneath. Needs time. Beautiful,' said Mike Harrison, Hotel du Vin. Think duck.

£10.91 Moreno Wines

Much excitement with this multilayered wine from the multinational partnership between Bodegas Juan Gil and Aussie Old Vine Shiraz expert, Chris Rockland. Dense chocolate and cinnamon notes run alongside cassis and black plums on the nose, while refreshing acids balance the richly fruited palate.

'There's massive concentration on a superb body,' said The Vineyard Group's James Hocking, adding that this was 'an elegant expression of Spain'. 'Like drinking cashmere,' said consultant Angela Redding.

'So sensual.'

£24.00 Boutinot

The flagship wine from the Jumilla's ambitious El Nido collaboration, despite its price, this was the wine passed around to all as a superlative example of Spanish wine.

'Coal, Christmas pudding, chocolate, almost a treacle note…' consultant Angela Reddin was getting carried away. Packed with opulent ripe fruit and sweet spices on the palate, this is international in style, with fine, new well-integrated oak, leading to a long finish. Back to Reddin: 'The palate is wonderful. It takes no prisoners - I cannot fault this.'
Where's my glass?

£75.00 Boutinot

'Here's loads of character,' said consultant Joe Wadsack.

'With smoky, green olive and peppercorns on the nose, the palate is developed but incredibly fresh, long and persistent,' said consultant Angus Macnab.

'Concasse of tomato, this is very spicy, with sweet fruit; very complex,' said Hotel du Vin's Mike Harrison, adding 'Great to see such funky winemaking,' We suggest roast lamb or stew.

£13.50 Boutinot

Showing its age beautifully, WineChap's Tom Harrow called the Monte Real a 'Burgundian Rioja', with its spicy fruit, mushroom notes and touch of Brett. This needs time to open up in the glass, but its rich nose already shows plenty of sous bois and forest floor character.

'Fine but firm tannins with fresh acidity, good concentration and length,' said consultant Peter McCombie MW.

'Approachable but will improve.'
Consider braised veal cheek.

£14.00 EWGA

One of only two wines to score both a Food Match rosette and a By the Glass award, concentrated yet elegant Viña Alarde is Old School at its best. Savoury flavours, spicy dried fruits and coconut notes sit alongside 'excellent tannin management'.

'Much more liquorice, this is smooth and rounded, with good integrated oak, and a long tannin structure,' said Michael Harrison, Hotel du Vin, Henley. Food matches? Need you ask, roast lamb of course!

£7.99 United Wineries

Typicity and complexity led CVNE's Reserva to the Gold Podium, with its smoky, earthy nose of red fruits. Oozing character, according to Galvin La Chapelle's Andrea Bricarello, this has 'very savoury, meaty notes and an intense dark spiced cherry core and savoury finish.'
'Really woody and a little volatile, but I think this is what people want when ordering Rioja,' observed Terroirs' Emilie Courtois. Another classic match for lamb or venison.

£8.75 Hatch Mansfield

With its mixture of freshness and vinosity, this is a very solid, well balanced and structured wine,' said the Northcote's Adam Pawlowski. Typically Riojan in style, with ripe, dried plums and raisins alongside eathy characters, spice, chocolate and a good use of oak, the palate is 'long and delicious,' said Kofler & Kompanie's Nigel Lister.

'Excellent value,' added team leader Susanna Forbes.

£10.21 Berkmann Wine Cellars

Fragrance, honeyed fruits, lovely spicyness and texture score Gold for Marqués de Cacéres.

'With a nose of almonds and flowers, the creamy palate shows some nuttyness, a dry mineral finish and good length,' said Sara Bachiorri, The Glasshouse.

'Appetising, classy, well-balanced oak,' added consultant Richard Bampfield MW. Perfect with salmon or exotic salads.

£5.82 Moreno Wines

Tradition and evolution mark out the food-loving Dan Jacobo with its 'rustic finish' for Gold List status. Andrea Bricarello picks up dry roses and spices on the nose, while Angus Macnab notes clove, orange peel and star anise.

'On the palate there is a serious stucture of tannins,' he adds.

£15.52 Matthew Clark

Despite its obvious youth, this elegant, inky wine soared to Gold.

'An interesting modern style with black cherry, smoked bacon, nutmeg and cinnamon. said Angus Macnab, adding: 'An intense palate peppered with black cherry and smoky notes.'
'Deep and dark with extreme concentration,' said Galvin La Chapelle's Marco Feraldi.

'Try with venison and a red wine and berries reduction.'
Best decanted.

£28.95 Bancroft Wines

The first Gold for an English sparkler in SWA - and what a wine. The red fruits, brioche and spices on the nose open up to a complex, textured palate, with an abundant fine mousse and savoury notes. Good acids balance the experience, which closes with pink grapefruit on the finish. Obviously accomplished enough on its own, consultant Frédéric Billet recommended summer berry jelly as its perfect match, while The French Table's Stéphanie Dhont took the savoury route, suggesting scallops in bacon.

£19.74 Enotria&Coe

'Rich… complex… extravagant…' – I think Club Gascon's Antonin Charlier liked this wine, as did the rest of the judges. While consultant Angela Reddin liked the pretty floral nose and the biscuity long finish, The Tate Group's Hamish Anderson thought the classic yeasty, bottle-aged style would work well with food, and smoked halibut and crab soufflé were the first suggested matches. Decisions, decisions!

£18.80 Walker & Wodehouse Wines

Such fun to see this wine wow the judges at every stage! 'Spicy sweet fruit, a touch of residual sugar with zingy acidity,' noted Mike Harrison, Hotel du Vin, Henley. 'Blackcurrant, liquorice, pepper, pencil lead, with rich, ripe fruit. Well balanced with good acidity and a touch of sweetness,' said Laura Ward, Vivat Bacchus. And food? Well why not, since the wine's distinctive flavours offer such scope. Fillet of venison with blackcurrant or red fruit sauce was the considered opinion.

£16.67 Alliance Wine

All the elements are there: the buttery brioche aromas with floral top notes, the depth of flavours and the finish. It's the way that it's all presented that sets it apart.

'There's a driving blast of fine mousse, a powerfully zesty mid-palate, and it all develops into a long dry finish,' says Sarah Jane Evans MW, consultant. Class.

£19.95 Champagnes & Châteaux

It was the balance between complexity and delicacy that pushed this wine to the top. The nose seems to defy description, with everything from spring flowers and citrus notes to peach kernel and savoury aromas cited. Claire Love summarised it as 'very fresh and fragrant, this is a well-balanced wine, and the length is lovely,' Gergely Barsi Szabo said 'there's so much detail going on. Good structure, long finish – great value for money, even in this category!', and Sara Bachiorri wanted to partner it with white meats or vegetable millefeuilles with cheese.

£43.39 Pernod Ricard UK

Recognised as 'serious stuff', this balances autolytic flavours with clear-as-a-bell fruit with style.

'Apple strudel nose, with chalky, flinty mineral notes, this has a lovely attack, maturity and excellent length,' said a happy Angela Reddin.

'Crisp and refreshing with layers of floral aromas and a touch of stone fruit,' said Serdar Balkaya, Hakkasan.

'Fresh and joyful,' added colleague James Teng. A food match? Lobster thermidor.

£23.35 Berkmann Wine Cellars

With its blossom nose, peach and lemon palate, fine texture, all imbued with bready, biscuity aromas, and a fine length to muse upon, this is a head turner.

'Mountain air - very pure and clean,' said an inspred Angela Reddin. Its depth and texture makes it excellent food prospect, thought The Glasshouse's Sara Bachiorri, suggesting salmon or mackerel dishes with a light sauce, or salads with cheese and nuts.

£33.91 Hatch Mansfield

It was the mix of exuberance and elegance that made this wine stand out. Salmon in colour, the nose is packed with ripe summer fruits with a touch of nettle and hint of marzipan. There's a good mousse and some residual sweetness, alongside creamy, red berries on a well-structured palate, with a citric zest marking out the long finish. Whether it's the easy drinking solo number or the one for cured meats or strawberries and cake, the choice is yours. Price quoted is RRP.

£12.99 Pernod Ricard UK

At a seriously respectable price, this brings the fun of good pink fizz within the reach of all. Almost cranberry in colour, with plenty of strawberry and cherry flavours, this is dry, fruity and refreshing.

'With good-to-medium acidity and a long finish, this is good value,' said Julien Sahut, China Tang at The Dorchester, while Vinopolis' Tom Forrest felt it was ideal By the Glass material.

£6.66 Barwell & Jones

A second Gold for the Deutz family, this won through for its vibrancy and elegance.'
It has the perfect kick of acidity,' said consultant Maria Rodriguez.

'Pretty, with fragrant cherry, raspberry and strawberry aromas and underlying savoury notes,' said consultant Peter McCombie MW, adding: 'Quite youthful but very forward and drinkable. And it will age.'
'Perfect by the glass or by the bottle,' said Rodriguez.

'Or try with lamb with coriander seeds.'
Now there's a thought!

£29.50 Berkmann Wine Cellars

'Classic sparkling rosé,' said Xavier Chapelou, China Tang at The Dorchester, echoing the panel's view that this was serious, top-of-the-list material.

'A joy,' said River Café's Emily O'Hare. The palate is silky and gentle, the mousse is soft but long-lasting, while the flavours are complex and multiidimensional. Have it with breakfast, brunch, picnic or dinner! But the simpler the dish the better. Paté and cornichons, Comté cheese…'

£39.99 Pernod Ricard UK

More top value from European pink fizz producers with this balanced, just off-dry number with its high acidity and good finish.

'Packed with strawberry compote with a hint of redcurrants, this would be great as an aperitif or to accompany cake,' said a happy Athila Roos, The Arts Club.

£7.00 Annessa Imports

With a complex bouquet of dried orange, quince, custard and croissant, the Vineyard Group's James Hocking declared this 'Well made,' saying it was 'Delicate yet firm with a fine persistent mousse, a crisp palate with decent acidity. While Terroirs' Emilie Courtois thought it was 'great summer material,' Etrusca Restaurant's Luigi Buonanno was going off-piste, and suggesting spaghetti carbonara. With such versatility, it's no wonder it scooped a coveted By the Glass award.

£13.50 Furleigh Estate

Much appreciation for this Pinot Noir/Chardonnay Brazilian sparkler.

'Nice acidity and good length,' said Henley Hotel du Vin's Mike Harrison.

'At this pricepoint, this is a good example of a wine with autolytic character. Refreshing, bready and complex, it's great traditional method sparkling,' said an enthused Matthew Cocks, Cubitt House, adding: 'Serve with warm cheese puffs, preferably Emmenthal and Comté.'

£10.31 Barwell & Jones

With its light peachy aromas following on to a refreshing, well balanced palate with good fruit and texture, Henley Hotel du Vin's Mike Harrison felt this was bound to be 'a crowd pleaser.'
The 'lovely creamy finish and very delicate mousse' made Claire Love think of Parma ham, gravadlax and speciality breads as potential playmates.

£13.08 Bibendum

Golden in colour, golden in taste and Gold in the Sommelier Wine Awards, this combines wonderful flavours at a frankly incredible price. with honey, marmalade and dried apricot notes on the nose. There's a fine concentration of marmalade and apricot on the ripe but lightly caramalized body. With the right amount of acidity offering a lengthy finish, this is the perfect partner for apricot tart and other fruit-based puds.

£4.25 Size: 37.5cl Bottle Green

A complete star, despite the price - 'mindblowing' and 'delightful' were just two of the adjectives bandied about. A complex bouquet of toffee, coffee, roasted almond and marmalade, this has a good acid structure to back up the palate full of caramel, fig, orange peel and Christmas cake. Ideal with toffee cheesecake or blue cheese. Enjoy! Price quoted is for 37.5cl.

£23.85 Size: 37.5cl Bancroft Wines

Wonderful to see southern Spain's Monastrell pioneers, Bodegas Castaño, hitting the top spot with this, the sweet version of this characterful varietal. Sweet and fragrant with prunes, damsons and intense berry and cherry fruit flavours alongside raisined notes.

'Beautifully rounded and balanced, this is a classy chocolate-driven wine,' said consultant Maria Rodriguez.

'A serious alternative to LBV Port'. Price quoted is for 50cl bottle.

£10.86 Size: 50cl Liberty Wines

Fabulous sweetie that appealed to all.

'Grilled nuts, honeycomb, nut brittle and lemon marmalade was how consultant Angela Reddin put it, adding that its unctuous mouthfeel and 'quite thrilling acid balance' made it, quite simply, 'nectar'. Meanwhile, The Tate Group's Hamish Anderson liked the 'pineapple interplay with spice and smoke – long and delicious'. Ideal matches? try almond cake or Torta San Marco. Price quoted is for 37.5cl bottle.

£11.84 Size: 37.5cl Hallgarten & Novum Wines

A textbook definition of what good Argie Malbec should be, with a welcoming 'sweet fruit character and a lovely middle palate', according to Coq d'Argent's Oliver Marie. Succulent, opulent and finishing dry, Kofler & Kompanie's Nigel Lister liked the wine's aromatic plummy nose with herbal notes, rich ripe fruit and good length. When it came to food he had one word: 'grilled'! So be it.

£7.28 John E Fells & Sons

The sumptuous nature of this wine allied with its happy complexity made it stand out. Black fleshy fruit, with distinct notes of oak, liquorice, spice and pepper, are just for starters. By the time the panel got to the deep palate of ripe red and purple fruits, herbal notes, high tannins and balanced acidity, the call had gone out for steaks, preferably rare.

£10.48 Matthew Clark

Once more this modestly priced trooper has garnered the gongs.

'Rich black and purple fruits, combine with leathery spicy notes on the nose,' said Terroirs' Emilie Courtois. The palate is juicy with some grip, showing good concentration and hints of liquorice and leather. Excellent value, and it goes with food. Burgers for starters, steak as you'll see in our Food Match chapter.

£5.25 Boutinot

Not all Gold medal winning Aussie Shirazes have to be big and butch, as shown here.

'Fairly fresh but restrained style with good structure and length,' said Borough Wines' Gergely Barsi Szablo. Complex aromas of mint chocolate, fennel, cooked spices, plums and rhubarb lead through to a rich, textured yet balanced palate with good tannins.

'An all round classic,' said a happy Igor Sotric, China Tang at The Dorchester.

£9.28 Enotria&Coe

One to excite the tastebuds, this exemplifies in spades why New Zealand Sauvignon is a regular on wine lists.

'This has rich aromas of lime zest, watermelon and elderflower, while the palate offers intense flavours of ripe tropical fruit balanced by crisp limes, gooseberries, Granny Smith apples and a herbal tinge to finish,' said Claire Love, Loves Restaurant. Highly food friendly, the obvious match is Thai cuisine, but many shellfish salads or firm-fleshed fish dishes would also work well.

£8.42 Bibendum

It's the balance as well as the complexity that puts this wine ahead. With a shopping list full of flavours – think pineapple, green apples, unripe pears, mandarin, even asparagus – not to mention a touch of lemon sherbet, there's also a 'lively refreshing minerality' and a delicate finish.

'Can I have another bottle please?', said consultant Maria Rodriguez as she recommended scallops as the food partner of choice.

£10.26 Louis Latour Agencies

While the Rib Room's Louise Gordon liked the elegance and restraint of this wel-priced, mineral-infused, cool climate PInot Grigio, the Northcote's Adam Pawlowski noted the 'very fresh nose of apples, pears and grapefruit. It's nicely balanced with good acidity and minerality. A clear winner,' he said.

£6.38 Berkmann Wine Cellars