Versatility and an 'outstanding price' took this wine to the top, while its freshness and balanced tannic structure gave it the trendy Beef Burgers Food Match trophy. ‘Great nose, red fruits with leather tones but nice freshness too,’ said Gustavo Medina of Rex Whistler Restaurant, with team leader Sarah Jane Evans MW adding: ‘Typically rich with mocha and red fruits, long, brisk freshness and a tarry finish.’ 'Deep youthful and light, you could drink on its own or with food,' said team leader Richard Bampfield MW.

£7.99 Vinum

‘Red fruit and dark cherry nose, smooth and spicy palate, an inviting style,’ said Giancarlo Cuccuru of The Gilbert Scott, with Winexponent’s Simon Cassina noting: ‘Rose, violet and blackcurrant on the nose, tarry, savoury black cherry palate with mineral notes and well-defined tannins.’ 'Gamey notes with soft spice and silky tannins. Would love pigeon!' said Louise Gordon of Lime Wood Hotel.

£16.10 Eurowines

‘Gentle, lithe fruit but still good, firm structure; there’s a floral, herbal lift to the gentle cherry and rosehip fruit flavours,’ said team leader Simon Woods, concluding: ‘Good now, but still bags of life in it.’ ‘Cherry, strawberry, leather notes, wet forest floor, concentrated with a chalky mineral backbone,’ agreed an equally impressed Matteo Malquori of Hakkasan Hanway Place.

'A beautiful wine,' said Louise Gordon of Lime Wood Hotel, suggesting veal shank or strong game as the food match of choice.

£45.00 Boutinot

'Love it – this is very deep, youthful yet restrained,' said team leader Richard Bampfield MW, continuing: 'Rich, flavoursome, juicy. Partner with pepper steak.'
While Gustavo Medina of Rex Whistler Restaurant admired the ‘concentrated, great texture’ of this wine, noting: ‘Good backbone of tannins with red and black fruits and forest herbs,' team leader Sarah Jane Evans MW said: ‘Dense, concentrated, extracted, plenty of oak but it is refreshing.'

£21.95 Liberty Wines

'Showing some maturity, this is expressive, with spicy and tarry notes. Intensely flavoured, with high acidity and dried fruits,' said team leader Richard Bampfield MW, while Ram Chhetri of Bread Street Kitchen noted 'cranberry jam, leather and smooth texture'.

£9.10 Azienda Vinicola Ruinello

‘Spicy and leather notes, dry with good minerality and a relatively light structure,’ began Giuseppe Longobardi of The Cross at Kenilworth, with team leader Annette Scarfe MW adding: ‘Juicy red fruit with structured but fine tannins, attractive leather and spice.’

£12.28 Vinum

'Silky-soft tannins, beautiful complexity with plenty of dark fruit, this is marvellous,' said Jeremie Guiraud of Lords of the Manor, with team leader Annette Scarfe MW adding: 'Lots of French oak and more traditional winemaking.’

£24.00 Liberty Wines

‘Typical light ruby appearance, sour cherry and raspberry aromas with a mineral freshness on the palate and soft tannins; broad flavours right to the back of the mouth,’ said Simon Cassina of Winexponent, with team leader Simon Woods adding: ‘Huge style, grippy and intense, long and tangy with plenty of fruit, but needs years.’

£42.89 Enotria&Coe

‘Good regional expression, with rose and violet floral notes and sour cherry on the nose, concentration and potential for ageing on the palate, with elegance and finesse,’ said an impressed Matteo Malquori of Hakkasan Hanway Place. ‘Big, meaty, slightly bretty and intense style,’ added team leader Simon Woods.

£21.06 Matthew Clark

‘Slightly jammier fruit style, intertwined with savoury notes. Big tannins but well integrated, with balance,’ said team leader Annette Scarfe MW, with Giuseppe Longobardi of The Cross at Kenilworth adding: ‘Cocoa and cassis, tannin with personality, and very long, with a finish ranging from dried fruit flavours to marmalade.’

£44.50 Liberty Wines

'Notes of dark fruit, chocolate and cassis lead to a dense, powerful but still enjoyable palate,' said Ram Chhetri of Bread Street Kitchen, with team leader Sarah Jane Evans MW adding: ‘Floral, with redcurrants, dense and rich with jammy fruits and punchy, lifted acidity.’

£9.00 Boutinot

‘Floral and perfumed notes on the nose, a more elegant style that’s not too complex, but is fabulous value,’ said team leader Annette Scarfe MW, with Giuseppe Longobardi of The Cross at Kenilworth highlighting its ‘plum and leather, and high tannins’.

£10.60 Boutinot

‘Chocolate and plum aromas, nice body with sweet tannin and toasted cocoa and vanilla on the finish,’ said Giuseppe Longobardi of The Cross at Kenilworth, with team leader Annette Scarfe MW adding: ‘Lovely integrated wine, bags of acidity and tannins, with leather and floral notes.’

£16.00 Eurowines

‘Floral, cherry and rose petal nose, concentrated with red fruits and power on the finish, well structured and good value,’ said Matteo Malquori of Hakkasan Hanway Place. Team leader Simon Woods added: 'Elegant and delicate, with richness and texture to balance the tannin.’

£12.65 Eurowines

Team leader Annette Scarfe MW found this wine ‘complex and long’, saying: ‘Lifted aromas, attractively juicy with a bold tannin structure.’ Still young, Louise Gordon of Lime Wood Hotel noted: 'MInty bramble jam and a gamey base, with soft spice and velvety tannins. Match with steak.'

£31.00 Boutinot

£7.50 Boutinot

£14.67 Bibendum

£15.07 Vinum

£24.27 Vinum

£15.54 Alivini

£14.96 The Flying Corkscrew

£15.61 Berkmann Wine Cellars