An entrancing wine, still young, but showing fine texture and calling out for Côte de Boeuf, it was all about the cherries for Luigi Buonanno of Bianco43: ‘Good palate of cherry and sour cherry, great acidity and balanced tannins, with good length on the sour cherry notes.’ Christine Parkinson of Hakkasan Group found ‘very spicy oak, cumin, blackberry, gravelly and laurel leaf characters', while Andrea Fasan of La Petitie Maison noted graphite and blackcurrants.

£30.38 Liberty Wines

'Classic', 'ripe', 'long' and 'rich' – just some of the reasons why Capezzana took Gold. ‘Inky, pencil shaving nose, complex and stylish, very dry on the palate with lovely fruit and character, and soft, elegant tannins,’ said team leader Jade Koch, with Richard Brooks of Caroline Catering adding: ‘Really appealing ripeness and complexity.’ Match with roast lamb or rich pasta sauces.

£16.30 Liberty Wines

Without doubt youthful, this is one to snap up and cellar if you can. ‘Lovely open style with a gentle floral edge to its developed cherry and plum fruits,’ began team leader Simon Woods, continuing: ‘Balanced, good, refined and long.’ 'Red and black fruits, minerality and cedar wood, firm tannins, balanced alcohol and a long finish,' said Gareth Ferreira of Launceston Place.

£30.61 Bibendum

‘Classic bitter cherry accents and a lovely mouthfeel, with well-balanced mineral elegance,’ began James Hocking of The Vineyard Group. ‘Loads of tangy complexity on the palate,’ added Richard Brooks of Caroline Catering.

£23.00 Liberty Wines

‘Zingy Italian style, lightish with lively berryish fruit,’ began Richard Brooks of Caroline Catering, concluding: ‘Could go by the glass, but also an alternative, inexpensive match for most typical Italian fare.’ Food match suggestions for this complex, plummy and spicy wine included wild boar ragu and tagliata.

£6.90 The Flying Corkscrew

‘Complex, exotic wood, sandalwood spice aromas,’ began impressed team leader Olivier Marie, continuing: ‘Majestic, noble breed aristocratic use of oak, showing cigar, tobacco leaves and gingerbread spice, and great length.’ Partner with rich dishes, such as leg of lamb or roast suckling pig.

£34.99 Bibendum

Much appreciated by all, our judges felt this has yet to reach its window of accessibility.

'Too young to list,' said Laura Rhys MS, noting with approval: 'Rich, ripe and meaty. With mocha, toasty and smoky notes.'
‘Serious wine that’s very complex, with very good structure and a strong but elegant body,’ began Jonathan Kleeman of The Ritz Hotel, adding: ‘Both the red fruit and berries work together with a vanilla aftertaste on the finish.’

£65.21 Bibendum

‘Concentrated nose of cherry and violet, with notes of vanilla and chocolate, good weight on the palate, with balanced tannins and great length,’ said Luigi Buonanno of Bianco43. ‘Pretty, floral, inky black fruit aromas. Classy,’ added Christine Parkinson of Hakkasan Group.

£21.92 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

‘Opulent and rounded on the nose, showing purity and spices on a clean palate, with a persistent, balanced finish,’ said La Petite Maison’s Andrea Fasan. ‘Complex fruit with light oaking and soft spice,’ added Jonathan Kleeman of The Ritz Hotel.

£14.17 Alivini, Matthew Clark

‘Full, big, rich wine, still needs some age but the tannins are smooth and in balance with intense fruit and acidity,’ said Jonathan Kleeman of The Ritz Hotel, with consultant Michael Harrison adding: ‘Classical oxidative nose and good extraction.’

£23.00 Boutinot

Still a baby in Montalcino terms, the juicy red fruits are there alongside high tannins, good spices and a long finish.

'Lovely style, with fresh tomato and notes of savoury plum fruit and an appealingly rustic character. Easy to drink, and a good style,' said team leader Simon Woods.

'Wood and tannin need time to integrate,' advised Gareth Ferreira of Launceston Place.

£21.00 Alivini

‘Mild, warm, dark fruit; tannins are grippy but forgiving, balanced, moreish and good length,’ said Mark Graham of Butlers Wharf Chop House, with Caroline Catering’s Richard Brooks adding: ‘Smooth and soft, tangy style.’

£9.42 Laytons

Christine Parkinson of Hakkasan Group was taken with this wine’s ‘vivid black fruit, damsons, balanced crispness and length, with lovely integrated oak’. ‘Generous, deep, complex and structured,’ agreed Caroline Brangé of 28°-50° Mayfair.

£25.21 Laytons

'Hearty, leathery nose with a wild edge to it, followed by a clean, juicy, concentrated palate with juicy tannin support. Long and persistent on the finish,' said Andrea Fasan of La Petite Maison. Team leader Laura Rhys MS said of this still obviously young wine: 'Lovely structure, but needs food.'

£24.21 Enotria&Coe

‘Tough, iron-rich style with plenty of fruit in evidence, but this is firm and tannic, long and grippy, intense and complex,’ said team leader Simon Woods, concluding: ‘Tasty, but so young.’ We hope it will return, so we can see how it ages.

£27.50 Liberty Wines

‘Lots of intense, leathery, cherryish flavours, great foodie wine,’ said Richard Brooks of Caroline Catering, with Mark Graham of Butlers Wharf Chop House adding: ‘Juicy, moreish, balanced red fruit and cranberry, with hints of fig.’

£26.03 Alivini, Matthew Clark

‘Deep, brooding red, with big red fruit flavours, firm tannins and warm, raisined fruits on the palate,’ began team leader Jade Koch, continuing: ‘Ballsy, high tannin, very structured and tight. Will age very well.’

£33.82 Eurowines

‘Fruit-driven, hearty style with graphite notes. Classy wine with great length,’ said an enthusiastic Andrea Fasan of La Petite Maison, with team leader Simon Woods adding: ‘Ripe and generous, lovely grippy, spicy style.’

£52.00 Alivini

£23.40 Bibendum

£7.80 Berkmann Wine Cellars

£12.34 Justerini & Brooks

£26.41 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

£10.58 Vinum

£11.66 The Flying Corkscrew

£18.92 Enotria&Coe