Intense, punchy and likeable, it was the balance and value that set Ferreira's 10-year-old offering apart. Consultant Michael Harrison found a 'more ethereal nose' and 'simple but pleasing palate', while team leader Angela Reddin noted: 'Rich Christmas spice characters with a smooth finish.'
Match with salty blue cheese or pecan pie. £13.72/75cl

£13.72 Size: 75cl Sogrape UK

A classic tawny, it was the depth and richness that took Sandeman to the top. Neil Bruce of Studio Alto was impressed with this 'deep amber, many-layered powder keg', noting: 'Candied peel, nutty, developed aromas, dried fruit, sweet and super-rich.'
'Lovely, nutty intensity, pure tawny,' added consultant Michael Harrison. Bring out the chocolate crème brûlée or save for the Christmas pudding. £39.90/75cl

£39.90 Size: 75cl Sogrape UK

'Oaky bronze colour. Spicy Christmas flavours, lots of nuances, with minerals, smoke and spice coming together in brilliant balance,' said William Sheard of Donostia Restaurants.

'Nutty, with apricot sweetness, this will be popular,' said team leader Sarah Jane Evans MW, suggesting a cheese plate with either a semi-soft cheese such as Morbier or the harder Comte as top choices. £55/75cl

£55.00 Size: 75cl Amathus

Opulence and excellent balance won our judges over. ‘Stunning, really stunning, with such intensity and length,' said team leader Richard Bampfield MW. ‘Dried figs, this is a fragrant, almost sherried style,’ said Andrea Fasan of La Petite Maison, while consultant Anne Krebielh MW commented: 'This is endlessly complex, with caramel, smoke, candied orange peel and nutty oxidation.'
£26.10/37.5cl

£26.10 Size: 37.5cl Hayward Bros

'Rich, nutty and spot on. Still fresh and vibrant with perfect balance. Has years ahead of it, but is perfect now,' said Sandro Lyhs of Oxo Tower Bar.

'Smashing layering of flavours and near perfect balance,' added an impressed William Sheard of Donostia Restaurants. Match with a ploughman's platter, baked apple with caramelised feta, or a cinnamon soufflé. £17.10/75cl

£17.10 Size: 75cl Hallgarten & Novum Wines

Team leader Tom Forrest found a deep ruby colour and 'peppery red fruits' on the nose, supported by 'red and black fruits on a stewy pepper palate, with medium length and warming alcohol'. £9.98/75cl

£9.98 Size: 75cl Marta Vine

'Bright gold colour, with acetate and barley sugar notes on a good nose,’ began team leader Richard Bampfield MW, continuing: ‘Superb mid-palate. Complex, moreish and fantastic value.’ ‘Gorgeous,’ agreed Richard Brooks of Caroline Catering: ‘With almonds, or as an aperitif, maybe blue cheese…’ £9.15/75cl

£9.15 Size: 75cl Boutinot

Giuseppe Longobardi of The Cross at Kenilworth enjoyed notes of 'blackberry liqueur, gingerbread and caramel', while team leader Tom Forrest found 'sweet red and black fruits and a spicy steeliness'. £10.36/75cl

£10.36 Size: 75cl Sogrape UK

'Rich notes of red and black fruits followed by floral notes of rose and violet,' said team leader Tom Forrest, who also noted 'red berry fruits, white pepper and fresh acidity on the finish'. Giuseppe Longobardi of The Cross at Kenilworth found plenty of fruit complexity: 'Dry plum, zesty orange, blackcurrant cassis, with a long sweet taste of cherry compote.'
£27.38/75cl

£27.38 Size: 75cl González Byass, H2Vin

‘Dramatic, fiery orange colour, a gorgeous rich wine that’s amazing value,’ said Richard Brooks of Caroline Catering. ‘Fruity and complex on the palate, with orange peel notes. Exciting,’ added team leader Richard Bampfield MW. £9.81/75cl

£9.81 Size: 75cl Sogrape UK

‘Pithy, sweet, such a good match for almonds, nuts, dried fruit. Love it,’ said Richard Brooks of Caroline Catering. ‘Concentrated barley sugar, intense and nicely balanced,’ agreed team leader Richard Bampfield MW. £8.62/37.5cl

£8.62 Size: 37.5cl Sogrape UK

Well integrated and rich. Team leader Angela Reddin noted: 'Mahogany amber, with a rich, decadent, pecan pie nose. Gorgeous spice, crystallised dried fruits and a long finish.'
£22.79/75cl

£22.79 Size: 75cl Sogrape UK

'Rich and smooth, this is sweet, tart, tight, bright and balanced,' noted Neil Bruce of Studio Alto.

'Reddish amber colour, tea aromas, with caramel, nuts and raisins, and brilliant balance of oak flavours,' added team leader Angela Reddin. £23.41/75cl

£23.41 Size: 75cl Sogrape UK

Top marks from Neil Bruce at Studio Alto for this one: 'Browning/amber, many layers and lots of developed Christmas cake, walnut and leather. Sweet, long and lingering on the palate.'
Team leader Angela Reddin also noted: 'Earl Grey, Christmas cake, complex and irresistible. Yum.'
£73.15/75cl

£73.15 Size: 75cl Sogrape UK

'Amazing, sweet and rich, full of dried fruit and complex nut aromas. Thick and impressive,' enthused Sandro Lyhs of Oxo Tower Bar.

'The complexity is awesome,' agreed William Sheard of Donostia Restaurants, adding: 'Espresso bitterness marries deep raisiny flavours with tea and stony minerals.'
£85/75cl

£85.00 Size: 75cl Hayward Bros

‘So easy to like. Orange peel and herbal warmth, good fruit, nicely balanced,' said team leader Richard Bampfield MW. ‘Good on its own, or maybe find a spot with desserts and cheeses,’ added Richard Brooks of Caroline Catering. £11.80/75cl

£11.80 Size: 75cl Hallgarten & Novum Wines

'Mahogany bronze, brazil nuts, peel and espresso over dried fruit,' said team leader Angela Reddin, adding: 'Very nuanced, with exceptional diverse flavours.'
'Very soft, easy drinker,' added consultant Michael Harrison. £16.25/75cl

£16.25 Size: 75cl Hallgarten & Novum Wines

Team leader Tom Forrest praised its 'elegant, floral' style, noting: 'Soft, squishy red and black fruits with pepper and liquorice spice and a fresh, peppery finish.'
£12.63/75cl

£12.63 Size: 75cl Enotria&Coe

‘The herbal, spirity nose has a touch of vermouth about it,’ said team leader Richard Bampfield MW, adding: ‘Very clean and appetising, this is really rather delicious. Spirity on the finish, but pure.’ £9/75cl

£9.00 Size: 75cl Amathus

'Amber crimson, dried figs and raisins, nice balance of sweet dried fruits,' said team leader Angela Reddin, continuing: 'Well-integrated alcohol. Very good.'
Studio Alto's Neil Bruce added: 'Nutty, caramel, developed and long.'
£11.50/75cl

£11.50 Size: 75cl Amathus

£11.50 Size: 75cl Maisons Marques et Domaines

£13.32 Size: 75cl Sogrape UK

£9.81 Size: 75cl Sogrape UK

£11.29 Size: 75cl Sogrape UK

£10.00 Size: 75cl Boutinot

£15.50 Size: 75cl Boutinot