For the price, pretty incredible.

'Rich, complex and well-structured, with lots of dark morello cherries, plums and spices,' said team leader Andrea Briccarello. Gareth Ferreira of Launceston Place found ‘slightly smoky, ripe red fruit aromas’ on the nose, along with a palate of 'ripe blueberry and raspberry, soft tannin, nice balance and length’. Aim for the steak and stews with this one.

£5.50 Boutinot

The ‘good, easy-drinking nature’ of this happy Merlot with its medley of floral aromas was what appealed to all, securing the first House Red Gold medal. ‘There’s nice, ripe, central fruit, with a touch of refreshing acidity and soft tannins,’ said Louise Gordon of Lime Wood Hotel, while team leader Tom Forrest found a deepish purple colour with ‘sweet, ripe red and black fruits’ on the nose: ‘Soft, savoury red and black fruit flavours, with some spice and medium length.’

£4.20 CyT UK

The fruity, easy-going pleasure of this wine made our judges smile.

'Leafy blackcurrant and juicy, ripe, red fruits,' said Louise Gordon of Lime Wood Hotel, while Charles Van Wyk of FJB Hotels was impressed by the 'soft, silky tannins', also noting: 'Primary and secondary notes of vanilla, red berry and oak, good weight, with notes of sour cherry, currant, silky tannins and a mouthfilling, lingering finish.'

£5.49 Eurowines

Good fruit allied with New World warmth set Pablo y Walter's Malbec aside.

'Lots of warm berry fruit, this lasts well on the palate,' said Caroline Catering's Richard Brooks, continuing: 'Versatile and very good value.'
‘A whiff of farmyard and admirable concentration,’ added Gus Gluck of Vinoteca King's Cross.

£5.50 Boutinot

Excellent balance, good texture and a complexity way beyond its price tag took Borsao to the top. Team leader Martin Lam found 'a nice bit of savoury funk on the nose, with dark red fruits and a savoury edge'.

'Medium weight but intense, with black berries and a note of freshness,' added Yves Desmaris MS of Lutyens, while Julien Sahut of Wine Culture noted the nose of strawberries, the soft tannins and good acidity.

£4.55 Molson Coors

'Soft and easy but with a bit more to the fruit, this holds well in the mouth,' said Richard Brooks of Caroline Catering, adding: 'Pleasant by the glass and enough there to cope with modest red meat dishes.'
Laurent Richet MS of Restaurant Sat Bains highlighted the ‘delicate, soft palate, good structure of fruit, tannin and acidity’, adding: ‘Lovely balanced, rich texture.'

£4.80 Boutinot

‘Floral entry, with notes of canned asparagus and spices,’ began Andrea Fasan of La Petite Maison, continuing: ‘Long and beefy on the palate. Juicy, spicy, complex, vibrant and long.’ ‘Good by the glass, but enough weight for a variety of lightish dishes,’ added Richard Brooks of Caroline Catering.

£4.80 Boutinot

Well balanced, with soft red fruit and tannins. ‘Aromatic and youthful, with hints of black fruit and a minty/eucalyptus aroma. High alcohol finish, but ripe, juicy and jammy delivery,’ said Laurent Richet MS of Restaurant Sat Bains, adding: ‘A lot for the money.’

£4.00 CyT UK

‘Richly textured with ripe tannins, this shows primary fruit character, with morello cherry and damson plum,’ said team leader Olivier Marie. ‘Simple, easy drinking, fruity on both nose and palate,’ added Jonathan Kleeman of The Ritz Hotel.

£5.35 Bibendum

Guillaume Kaczmar of L'Ortolan felt that 'richness and a little grip' made this a 'very decent wine', while team leader Laura Rhys MS highlighted its 'red fruits, meaty hints of spice and elegant tannin'. Great for pub grub and hearty dishes such as sausage cassoulet or venison burgers with cranberry sauce.

£4.50 Copestick Murray

Vittorio Gentile of Theo Randall at The InterContinental Hotel felt that this was a wine with a purpose: 'Juicy, barbecue-calling wine, with some complexity and red fruit finish.'
'Good delivery, herbaceous quality, with ripe, grippy tannins,' added Debbie Smith of 21212.

£5.35 Boutinot

‘Precise and clean winemaking gives a sweet redcurrant finish and excellent value for money,’ said team leader Annette Scarfe MW, with Sandro Lyhs of Oxo Tower Bar adding: ‘Easy, simple, fruit-driven and dry, with flavours of red berries.’ Floral notes and freshness complete the package.

£3.90 CyT UK

‘Clean and simple, fresh, with bright red berry aromas. Fruity character with a lactic note to the finish, with ripe fleshy tannins. Well made,’ said team leader Olivier Marie. Ram Chhetri of Bread Street Kitchen agreed.

'Balance, with enjoyable tannins. Definitely crowd pleasing.'

£4.00 CyT UK

'Lovely berried nose leading to an inky, dark, brooding palate,' said team leader Jade Koch. ‘Medium intensity of aromas of fresh red and black fruits,’ noted Gareth Ferreira of Launceston Place, adding: ‘Nice, well-rounded and balanced palate with herbal thyme notes and a decent finish.’

£5.30 Boutinot

James Hocking of The Vineyard Group found this 'fresh and appealing', going on to describe: 'Some pleasant fruit character here, and a long finish.'
'Dark berries and a full finish,' agreed consultant Deborah-Lynn Morris, adding: 'Good with food or alone.'

£5.26 Cockburn & Campbell

Consultant Deborah-Lynn Morris enjoyed the 'light, fresh Pinot complexity' of this wine, while team leader Simon Woods highlighted its 'soft, gentle, juicy, spicy style and good grippy finish', and The Harrow at Little Bedwyn's Roger Jones noted the lovely balance and zingy nature.

£5.50 Boutinot

Charles Van Wyk of FJB Hotels noted the good complexity here: 'Aromas of red and black fruit, with hints of vanilla from the use of oak.'
He found 'secondary notes of cinnamon and spice' on a ripe fruit finish bolstered by 'grippy tannins'.

£5.15 Boutinot

Joao Ribeiro of Buddha-Bar London noted ‘berries and strawberry with no wood, this is easy on the palate with a medium finish and mid-intensity’. ‘Dolcetto-esque, gets the juices going,’ added team leader Jade Koch.

£5.50 Boutinot

'A walk on the wild side' was how team leader Angela Reddin saw it, adding: 'Vibrant red colour, bramble fruits. Really complex with umami notes – perfect.'

£5.39 Bibendum

Team leader Annette Scarfe MW found ‘fruit and freshness with simple carbonic character’ in this wine, with Sandro Lyhs of Oxo Tower Bar adding: ‘Fruity, with noticeably light tannins.’

£4.59 Greene King

Team leader Richard Bampfield MW found this ‘really characterful’, with ‘deepish, young, clean black fruits on the nose, good fruit and spice and a fresh and long finish’. ’Spicy, vibrant, juicy palate,’ agreed Andrea Fasan of La Petite Maison.

£5.50 Boutinot

‘Attractive red berry aromas on the nose, juicy and balanced on the palate, with a touch of earthiness,' said Caroline Catering’s Richard Brooks. Spicy and fresh. Good aperitif material.

£4.65 CyT UK

Team leader Laura Rhys MS liked this wine's 'dark fruit and juicy cherries', with Guillaume Kaczmar of L'Ortolan adding that its black fruits and full body were 'calling for food'.

£5.00 Matthew Clark

'They've done a good job here,' concluded team leader Angela Reddin: 'Summer fruit compote with hints of iodine and minerals.'
'Soft, ripe, very drinkable, with smoky black hints,' added Neil Bruce of Studio Alto.

£5.50 Cockburn & Campbell

‘Sweet red fruits, slightly jammy character, with pleasant hints of spice and some refreshing acidity,’ noted team leader Annette Scarfe MW. ‘Medium-light body with slightly candied red fruit,’ added William Sheard of Donostia Restaurants.

£5.06 Bibendum

‘Inky purple fruit with a little touch of bay on the nose,’ said team leader Jade Koch, going on: ‘Juicy, dry palate and great acid. Dusty but well balanced, this will have good appeal to a lot of people.’

£5.30 Boutinot

'Good acidity, slightly meaty, with nice grip and berry and plum fruit. Chewy, but friendly finish,' noted team leader Simon Woods, with consultant Deborah-Lynn Morris adding: 'Good balance. Easy-to-drink quaffing wine.'

£5.00 Boutinot

‘Bright and medium length, with notes of red fruit and liquorice,’ said William Sheard of Donostia Restaurants. ‘Baked strawberry with a hint of residual sugar and a redcurrant finish,’ added team leader Annette Scarfe MW.

£4.93 Bibendum

Roger Jones of The Harrow at Little Bedwyn appreciated this wine's 'lovely colour' and delicate perfume: 'Fresh, clean Pinot-style, soft red fruits in a juicy, raspberry crumble and sour cream style. Food friendly with a long finish.'

£5.50 Boutinot

'Spicy, lifted aromatics, clean and fresh. Dry, clean, tart and fresh on the palate, with good balance,' said Neil Bruce of Studio Alto, with team leader Angela Reddin suggesting it as a good option for wine by the glass.

£5.00 Majestic Commercial

Diego Muntoni of Oxo Tower Restaurant found ‘blackcurrant aromas with charry smoke and tobacco notes’ on the nose, adding that it had: ‘Well-balanced tannins, mid-weight body and intensity, and middling length.’

£4.75 Majestic Commercial

‘Nice cherry and bubblegum notes, fresh, fruity, vibrant and well balanced,’ said Sandro Lyhs of Oxo Tower Bar, with William Sheard of Donostia Restaurants spotting: ‘Deeper, violet and plum fruit on the palate.’

£5.29 Majestic Commercial

Tipping roast lamb as a good match, Roger Jones of The Harrow at Little Bedwyn said: 'Juicy meat wafts on the nose, spiced, balanced and juicy on the palate. Cool oak, with sweet and lingering bright fresh berries.'

£5.29 Majestic Commercial

‘Fruit and spice on a very attractive nose,’ said team leader Richard Bampfield MW, adding: ‘Lovely balance on the palate with a fresh, spicy finish.’ ‘Very drinkable,’ said Richard Brooks of Caroline Catering.

£5.35 Boutinot

‘Clean, bright, with red fruit and a crunchy, blackberry character,’ began team leader Olivier Marie, continuing: ‘Tannins are ripe, sweet, soft and integrated, and the finish is slightly on the bitter, morello cherry side.’

£4.69 Molson Coors

£5.35 Bibendum

£5.49

£4.20 CyT UK

£4.70 Boutinot

£4.42 Majestic Commercial

£5.40 Boutinot

£3.85 Copestick Murray

£4.50 Copestick Murray

£5.40 Boutinot

£5.50 Boutinot

£4.25 Majestic Commercial

£5.50 Matthew Clark

£5.20 Boutinot

£5.47 Berkmann Wine Cellars

£4.90 Fine Wines Direct, Wine Importers, Wine Fantastic

£3.90 Bottle Green

£4.60 Boutinot

£4.45 Bottle Green

£4.90 Fine Wines Direct, Wine Importers, Wine Fantastic

£4.94 Sogrape UK

£4.60 Boutinot

£4.55 Boutinot

£4.00 Copestick Murray

£5.15 Boutinot