Richness and texture took Gladstone to the top. ‘Red cherry and raspberry, orange peel and chocolate. Gorgeously textured, silky and smooth. Beautiful wine,’ said an impressed team leader Angela Reddin, with consultant Donald Edwards adding: ‘Balanced fruit and good vibrancy.’ Floral, smoky and spicy, match with carpaccio of venison or crispy duck salad.

£13.40 Boutinot

Spy Valley return to the Gold podium with not one but two of its PInots. Last year it was one of the Envoys, this year it another Envoy and this one.

'All you want out of a good Pinot,' said Athila Roos of The Arts Club, noting 'tones of dark floral petals and sweet spices'. ‘Toasty oak with orange peel notes and spicy cherry and raspberry, with a hint of mocha on the palate,’ said team leader Tom Forrest, with Neil Bruce of Studio Alto adding: ‘Smoky, oaky, deep, dark and spicy, with firm, silky-soft elegance.’

£12.68 Bibendum

The Envoy Outpost vines perch on a west-facing hill and undergo careful handling, which reveals itself in a delicate style.

'Deep, silky and smooth, showing great class on the nose,' began an impressed Neil Bruce of Studio Alto, adding: 'Lovely balance, poise and elegance.'
'A bit peppery, and very fresh, with high acidity, fine but grippy tannins,' said Sara Bachiorri of Chez Bruce, continuing: 'Delicious and very drinkable. "Gourmand" as the French would call it.'

£16.95 Bibendum

Smooth, rich and dark, with a good savoury edge and liquorice notes. Consultant Sam Caporn MW liked its: ‘Light colour and crunchy red berry fruit with a touch of spice. Pretty, with decent length and balance.'
‘Sweet red cherry fruits with a fresh earth hint,’ added team leader Angela Reddin. Match with braised lamb, game, or swordfish.

£8.00 Boutinot

‘Dark fruits, spice, complexity and elegance with lovely balance,’ began team leader Laura Rhys MS, with Oscar Miller of Vinoteca King's Cross adding: ‘Light, soft red fruits, quite restrained but well balanced.'
Sara Bachiorri of Chez Bruce described it as: 'A sexy PInot Noir. Delicious at the table or, with its soft round tannins, on its own.'

£15.40 Matthew Clark

'Savouriness and complexity alongside the slightly bitter cherry fruit, with an edge of dark chocolate – there's plenty hiding under that overly fruity nose,' said Athila Roos of The Arts Club of this good value Pinot. Charles Van Wyk of FJB Hotels added: ‘Good red fruit of raspberry and cherry, with palate fruit driven by a hint of spice.’

£8.74 Bibendum

‘Dark fruits on a meaty, smoky nose,’ began team leader Laura Rhys MS, continuing: ‘Lean and elegant on the fruit and acidity, but showing a lot for the money.’ ‘Perfumed violets combined with redcurrants and smoky undertones,’ agreed Charles Van Wyk of FJB Hotels.

£10.90 Liberty Wines

'Mature red berries on the nose with jammy fruit on the palate and a slight spritzy prickle, but decent structure and a nice finish,' said consultant Donald Edwards, with Guillaume Mahaut of The Jugged Hare adding: 'Plenty of oak but shows some complexity and good fruits.'

£13.29 Berkmann Wine Cellars

‘Very forward, but very clean, healthy fruit, grippy tannins and low in spices,’ said Oscar Miller of Vinoteca King's Cross. ‘Palate concentrated and balanced with soft tannins and refreshing acidity,’ added Charles Van Wyk of FJB Hotels.

£14.85 Negociants

‘Complex and elegant with smoky fruit concentration,’ said Matteo Malquori of Hakkasan Hanway Place, with Neil Bruce of Studio Alto adding: ‘Lovely, ripe, rich and smoky, with raspberry/plum character.’ 'Dark and aromatic, with good concentration, there's a lot of wine for the money,' said team leader Martin Lam.

£14.85 Negociants

‘Spicy oak and red cherry on the nose, with soft, squishy red fruits and cedar spice on the palate, with a hint of rhubarb, balanced and juicy on the finish,’ said team leader Tom Forrest of this complex, serious wine, while Kate Hawkings of Bell's Diner noted 'spice, cherries, and a nicely lingering finish'.

£10.33 Negociants

‘Full of red fruits with hints of leather,’ noted Matteo Malquori of Hakkasan Hanway Place, adding: ‘Good typicity, balance and elegance with a complex, long finish.’ Team leader Tom Forrest added: Tutti frutti cherry aromas with some vanilla spice.’

£11.70 Les Caves de Pyrène

‘Lovely, heady, relaxed style showing plump and floral aromas and lovely, restrained raspberry and plum fruit on the palate,’ said team leader Simon Woods. ‘Precise, elegant nose with a bit of a kick,’ added Andrea Fasan of La Petite Maison. Match with rich dishes such as bison or game.

£39.05 Ellis of Richmond

‘Lovely, lifted fragrant fruit, good oak and balance,’ began consultant Sam Caporn MW, with The Jugged Hare’s Guillaume Mahaut adding simply: ‘Lovely palate, lovely fruits.’

£14.75 Laytons

‘Vibrant, showing some signs of early maturity and good structure, with some nice hints of vegetal undergrowth,’ said consultant Donald Edwards. ‘Loamy undergrowth with black/raspberry fruit and an element of spicy wood,’ agreed team leader Angela Reddin.

£9.25 Boutinot

‘Very pleasant, delicate red cherry nose and a juicy, delicate palate that carries through well, with good structure on the finish,’ said Guillaume Mahaut of The Jugged Hare, with team leader Angela Reddin adding: ‘Summer berry compote.’

£9.85 Liberty Wines

‘Quite a butch style,’ began team leader Angela Reddin, ‘but has substance and style. Smoky, spicy nose, redolent of bonfires, lovely depth of fruit, taut, smooth tannins and a lovely finish.’

£11.30 Jackson Nugent Vintners

‘Deep and ripe, with a lovely, smoky black fruit nose,’ began Neil Bruce of Studio Alto, continuing: ‘Dry, silky, soft and ripe with many layers, if a little young.’

£14.85 Negociants

‘Big, thick, ripe and young, this is powerful with a nice cherry intensity and great promise,’ said team leader Simon Woods. ‘Classical style, tight-knit and grippy, needs time,’ added consultant Michael Harrison.

£17.55 Ellis of Richmond

£13.13 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

£13.32 Grupo Codorníu

£9.35 Boutinot

£13.17 Spencer Hill Estate

£14.25 Liberty Wines

£13.99 González Byass

£14.85 Negociants

£9.13 Majestic Commercial

£10.12 Laytons

£8.25 Molson Coors