'Fresh, plush and juicy, with jammy red fruit and a deft hit of spice,' said team leader Natasha Hughes MW, illustrating why Delicato hit the heights with its Gnarly Head, harvested from head-trained vines aged between 35 and 80 years.

'The combination of dark fruits is complemented by spice and sweet Virginia tobacco notes,’ began Charles Van Wyk of FJB Hotels, adding: ‘Sweet and sour notes on the palate, with complexity coming from use of oak and ageing. A well-made wine with a lingering finish.’ Match with rich braised dishes or those with a touch of spice. Or dark chocolate!

£10.63 Bibendum

'There's lots of US oak, red fruit and a chocolatey nature to the palate, with its chunky tannins,' said team leader Natasha Hughes MW. ‘Really love it as a refreshing change from the classic grape varieties,’ began Jeremie Guiraud of Lords of the Manor, continuing: ‘Good balance, juicy fruit and a nice blackberry fruit finish with cinnamon spice complexity.’

£12.27 Matthew Clark

‘Full of black fruit and plenty of spice, food friendly, and could be a match for a Malbec,’ said Jeremie Guiraud of Lords of the Manor, with team leader Annette Scarfe MW adding: ‘Lean, spicy style with juicy, ripe tannins.’

£6.79 Hatch Mansfield

‘Lighter fruit style, on the cherry side, well made with good balance, and without being overpowering,’ said Gergely Barsi Szabó of Bread Street Kitchen, with team leader Natasha Hughes MW adding: ‘Simple, juicy, with nice aromatics.’

£10.15 Matthew Clark

‘What you look for in a Zin,’ began Sandia Chang of Bubbledogs, continuing: ‘A jammy, fruity style with the typical black fruit on the palate, and a touch of fresh tobacco sweetness to finish.’ ‘Plush texture and tannin, coconut oak and value for money,’ added team leader Natasha Hughes MW.

£8.52 Blends Wine Estates

‘Smoky and tasty, lots of vibrant, freshly picked fruit, simple but good,’ began team leader Annette Scarfe MW, with Jeremie Guiraud of Lords of the Manor adding: ‘Pleasant, easy drinking, smoky red cherries with no pretensions.’

£5.74 Sogrape UK

‘Nice red fruit juice with fresh mint on the finish, easy to drink,’ began Giuseppe Longobardi of The Cross at Kenilworth, with team leader Annette Scarfe MW adding: ‘Smoky, leathery bacon notes with juicy black plums, and well balanced.’

£6.55 Enotria&Coe

‘Plush and plump, with ripe berries and cherries, silky tannins and integrated oak,’ said team leader Natasha Hughes MW, continuing: ‘Long, with good depth and balance and a dash of spicy complexity.’

£22.50

£5.90 Berkmann Wine Cellars

£11.11 Fells

£17.43 Alliance Wine

£8.60 Matthew Clark

£10.15 Blends Wine Estates