Sommelier Wine Awards 2016 Winners

Complexity and maturity won the Gold for this more intense interpretation. There's a fresh, good balance between the acidity and the fruit,' said Ivan Vegas of Fox Fine Wines & Spirits, while Gabriele Galuppo of Theo Randall at the InterContinental said: 'Mineral flinty aromas and a little shy on the nose,' continuing: 'Big yet soft on the palate with good length and great minerals. Has great potential.'

£21.00 Fields, Morris & Verdin

Great value and charming typicity propelled Zero-G to Gold.

'Good fruit and minerality, vibrant on the palate with dandelion and citrus notes,' said Alex Cooper of Haymarket Hotel, with team leader Laura Rhys MS also finding 'slightly funky, earthy, vegetal and mineral notes, and great for By The Glass', and The Clove Club's Sam Heathcote noting 'white peach, a touch of florals and a saline hint'.

£7.75 Berkmann Wine Cellars

Sheer exuberance won the day with this flinty wine with its fresh acidity.

'Bright and fresh on the nose, with a citrus fruit profile and saline mineral character. Super-fresh,' said team leader Laura Rhys MS, with Elly Owen of Fifteen Cornwall noting 'a strong backbone of lime and stone underneath the spritzy acidity', and Richard Brooks of Caroline Catering calling this 'a real mouth filler'.

£8.20 Alpine Wines

Wonderfully expressive, this cool fermented Bacchus/Seyval Blanc/Pinot Noir blend caught the panel's imagination.

'Peach and stone fruit on the nose, with a good, zesty palate attack,' said The Clove Club's Sam Heathcote, adding: 'The slightly saline finish makes it a great food wine.'
Meanwhile Tomasz Kuszneruk of Plateau Restaurant found the 'jasmine, grassy, citrusy, white chalk' aromas of this wine attractive, also noting an 'almost spritzy palate of good minerality and fresh, summertime character'.

£9.43 Christopher Piper Wines, Templar Wines

'Great value for money and fine complexity,' said Gustavo Medina of Tate Britain, noting this wine's intensity, its oily, off-dry nature with notes of white pepper and long finish.

'Spice, rose and lychee on the nose, this has good body and texture and long length, said Rebecca Coates of Hakkasan London.

'Good varietal expression with an elevated intensity,' said team leader Olivier Marie, adding: 'There's a lovely food freshness on the palate.'

£6.27 Kingsland

'A fruity and more complex style with a touch of elegance,' began Gabriele Galuppo of Theo Randall at the InterContinental of this, Signé Vignerons' second Gold. Scott Levy of Smith & Wollensky London said: 'A lovely wine, with nice acidity, silky tannins – really mouthwatering and juicy,' while team leader Laura Rhys MS found it 'meaty, rather ethereal and moreish with peppery spice on the finish'.

£9.98 Enotria&Coe

A pair of Golds for Signé Vignerons, starting with this easy-drinking yet deceptively complex wine.

'Red fruit on the nose, crunchy texture with some nice spice notes on the palate and good acidity,' said team leader Laura Rhys MS, while consultant Sumita Sarma added: 'Cherry and raspberry fruit, this is both delicate and well rounded, in a floral, elegant style.'
A worthy winner of a Food Match Trophy.

£9.00 Agamy

'A richer style of Beaujolais with a more intense approach, with sweeter spice and liquorice spice notes,' began Alex Cooper of Haymarket Hotel, continuing: 'It still offers silky tannins and balanced fruit and acidity.'
Team leader Olivier Marie agreed with the serious nature of this Gold Lister.

'It's structured and characterful, this is densely concentrated, with a ripe nose but tight and firm palate.'

£13.50 Flint Wines

'Easy drinking, with fresh, fragrant cherries aplenty and an open accessibility, this is proper Bordeaux,' said team leader Simon Woods.

'Medium intensity on a fruity, plummy nose, good acidity with tannin well balanced, cherry and plum fruit with notes of black pepper,' added Julien Sahut of Sexy Fish, while Michael Fiducia of Drake's Restaurant called the bouquet 'pleasant and enticing'.

£6.86 Matthew Clark

'Wonderful nose, mellow and warming, with a well-rounded, balanced palate,' said Michael Fiducia of Drake's Restaurant, while Andrés Ituarte of Avenue Restaurant called the wood spice aromas 'seductive, with lots of pure fruit concentration', and team leader Sarah Jane Evans MW said: 'Red fruit and cedar aromas, very appealing. Bold and precise, redcurrant palate with broad mocha back-notes and a long finish. Definitely Bordeaux.'

£16.46 Matthew Clark

Class and complexity won the day.

'With pretty blackberry, concentrated blackcurrant, tobacco and cedar notes, this is elegant and refined, with a precise finish,' said Rebecca Coates of Hakkasan London. Team leader Simon Woods highlighted a 'supple, plummy, deep, fleshy character with some currant notes on the palate', while Ian Howard of The White Hart Inn at Lydgate found 'black fruit with slight notes of beetroot on the nose, plenty of tannin and acidity, but still good fruit and length on the finish, promising good further development'.

£43.71 Matthew Clark

Bold and elegant, with silky tannins, fresh herbs and a medium body.

'Ripe, with dark berry fruit and a slightly baked, extracted character, this also has a juicy, earthy freshness,' said team leader Simon Woods.

'Amazing value for money, this is rich but well delivered,' said Mikael Hannequin of M by Montcalm, continuing: 'Ideal with pulled pork, this bottle wouldn't last long with me!'

£9.00 Charles Taylor Wines

Bold and fruit-driven, a delicious balance helped Château Larose Perganson take Gold.

'Light spiciness and plummy fruit on the nose, followed by fresh, crushed fruit and blueberry notes on the palate. Sweet, medium tannins and a very drinkable style overall,' said consultant Luciana Girotto-Beckett.

'Leafy, floral wine with damson notes, bright acids and a lovely violet-scented finish,' added team leader Natasha Hughes MW.

£16.65 Liberty Wines

Showing fine typicity at an inviting price, Henri de Villamont matches its white Gold with this enchanting Pinot Noir, a worthy Critics Choice, too.

'Lovely freshly picked cherries and fresh acidity,' said team leader Annette Scarfe MW, while James Hocking of The Vineyard Group agreed, adding: 'Lovely mouthfeel – bargain Burgundy!' and Mya Brown of The Ledbury said: 'Soft, raspberry and kirsch notes, delicate and lovely for this price.'

£11.25 Berkmann Wine Cellars

Complex and concentrated, with a heady bouquet, a top-notch wine to round off the Burgundy Gold List.

'Truly classic Pinot,' began Mya Brown of The Ledbury, continuing: 'Elegant, nuanced and balanced, with mineral notes, cherries, raspberry and fresh earth tones. Lovely!' 'Bay leaf and black fruit, thick and warm with cherry on a breezy mid-palate,' added team leader Jade Koch.

£35.21 Matthew Clark

'Good structure for the price with velvety tannins, savoury notes, good acid and length, herbaceous and juicy fruit,' said Damon Little of Restaurant Nathan Outlaw, illustrating how Château de Santenay struck Gold.

'Complex nose with blueberries, leather and earthy notes, medium body on the palate with red cherry and soft tannins,' added Georgi Mihov of Bohemia Bar and Restaurant.

£14.40 Liberty Wines

Classic Chablis, came the cry, as Jean-Marc Brocard returned to the Gold podium.

'Apricot and peach, good depth, great acidity and stony minerals,' said Vinoteca's Charlie Young.

'Vegetal, intense, honeyed aromas with fruity freshness on a lengthy, smooth palate,' added consultant Luciana Girotto-Beckett, while Gareth Ferreira of 67 Pall Mall picked up notes of 'Granny Smith green apples, quince and pears', suggesting this would be perfect with oysters and scallops.

£12.25 Berkmann Wine Cellars

'Juicy and cheery, with lively, pert, dancing fruit on the palate and a mineral, salty tang,' began team leader Jade Koch, with Vinoteca's Charlie Young finding 'lovely purity, greengage and apple, long with good potential', and Gareth Ferreira of 67 Pall Mall, noting 'really silky on he palate with button mushroom earthiness and medium-plus acid on a long, balanced finish'.

£9.55 Boutinot

Complexity and a refined elegance took Louis Moreau to the top.

'Lemon, lime mandarin and quince on the nose,' said 67 Pall Mall's Gareth Ferreira, also noting the chalky minerality, long finish and good balance.

'Rich, ripe, plenty of pithy grapefruit but also a ripe pear and mineral richness,' said team leader Simon Woods, while Gabriele Galuppo of Theo Randall at the InterContinental was impressed with its 'buttery almond complexity'.

£16.55 SAS Louis Moreau

A second Gold for Laroche, with this fantastically complex 1er Cru.

'Waxy lemon, dried nectarine, quince, peach and mandarin pith, this has notes of salt and sweet tinned syrup on the finish,' said Piotr Tomaszewski of JKS Restaurants. James Hocking of The Vineyard Group enjoyed this wine's 'opulent style', with its 'aromatic, clean and bright nose, great length and persistence with balanced, crisp apple and cinnamon flavours'.

£18.55 Liberty Wines

Texture and finesse marked Laroche's Vieille Voye out.

'With flint in the foreground, this opens on green fruits and hints of tropical fruits, leading to a well balanced palate, with creamy texture and good acidity,' said Vittorio Gentile of Theo Randall at the InterContinental.

'Luminous brightness, steely firm acidity on a taut, lean palate that shows a measure of austerity,' said team leader Olivier Marie.

£17.50 Liberty Wines

Joseph Mellot continues its winning streak, scoring a brace of Golds, beginning with this versatile Sancerre, a Food Match Trophy winner as well.

'Elegant, pretty nose, a little restrained, a bit floral with green vegetal notes, followed by a balanced palate, elegant and nicely textured, showing gooseberry notes on a long finish,' said Ignacio Campos of Hawksmoor Seven Dials.

'Lovely depth of fruit,' added The Anchor at Walberswick's Mark Dorber, noting an 'interesting mineral edge with a savoury note'.

£13.76 Hatch Mansfield, Matthew Clark

'Lightly spicy and elegant, another delicious Gold winner for Joseph Mellot. Green notes, oak, floral elements and creamy texture,' began Sara Bacchiori of Chez Bruce, with team leader Annette Scarfe MW noting 'generous use of oak in a very modern style', while Dario Barbato of Individual Restaurants felt it was simply: 'Outstanding.'

£20.37 Hatch Mansfield, Matthew Clark

Great varietal character, good balance and fine value gave Cardinal Richard not only a By The Glass Trophy, but also a share of the Fish & Chips Food Match Trophy.

'Complex nose with fruity, floral notes, good, mouth-coating texture with apple and citrus fruit and fresh, well-integrated acidity,' said Enikő Heidenwolf of 67 Pall Mall, with Roka Mayfair's Nausicaa Rotolani noting 'aromas of white flowers and white peach'.

£6.83 Groupe GCF, House of Townend, The Wine Company UK

'Ripe pear and apricot notes with tertiary characters of salted almonds, hay and wet pebbles,' said Charles Van Wyk of FJB Collection of this Gold Lister, continuing: 'Complex wine with savoury tones and attractive, dried fruit character.'
'Every sniff offers something new,' said Michael Best of the WSET, 'with rich stone fruit, beeswax and hints of oak and herbs. Good acids keep this fresh. Match with scallops and fresh fennel.'

£15.45 Top Selection Ltd

Château de Fosse-Sèche has done the double, balancing its white Gold with this red one.

'Bright, crunchy fruit with freshness, ripeness and classic Loire character,' said Mya Brown of The Ledbury, with team leader Jade Koch adding: 'Gravelly texture, wild berries, pert, alive and funky,' and Bar 44's Owen Morgan saying: 'The fresh, perfumed spice continues the dance on to the palate. Classic Cab Franc.'

£14.12 Top Selection Ltd

Truly fresh varietal characteristics took this well-priced wine to the Gold podium.

'Elegant and mineral, with gooseberry and herbaceous style and decent acidity,' began Dario Barbato of Individual Restaurants, while Sara Bacchiori of Chez Bruce highlighted its 'asparagus, gooseberry and greengage, quince with some pear notes on a ripe, fruity palate with some length'.

£7.85 Levin Wines, l'Art du Vin

Barrel fermentation gives depth and creaminess to this Gold Lister. Gustavo Medina of Tate Britain found this 'complex with great concentration', finding 'gooseberry blossom notes on the nose, lime and lemon freshness with a touch of tropical fruit and a rich mid-palate'.

'Rich and complex, with some honeyed development,' added team leader Natasha Hughes MW.

£18.90 Levin Wines, l'Art du Vin

Syrah, Grenache and Carignan from three of Roussillon's best zones plus a dash of oak ageing leads to this spicy Gold Lister.

'Big on the tannins – best to decant – with a red fruit finish; this is pleasant and price perfect,' said Mauro Pirovano of New Street Grill. Carlos Ferreira of The Sign of the Don noted 'very fresh red and black fruit and good balance', while Charlotte Street Hotel's Mahesh Nair noted its 'soft tannins and great mouthfeel on a fruit-forward style'.

£6.14 Molson Coors

A juicy, well-balanced red, with 'gorgeous red fruit and spice in the mouth', according to team leader Angela Reddin. Matthieu Longuère MS of Le Cordon Bleu found the wine 'floral and herby with vegetal notes on the nose', while Hawksmoor Air Street's Rossano Antonelli noted 'red berry, liquorice and cloves' and 'good balance'.

£5.88 Majestic Commercial

Inspiring in its breadth and depth. Rossano Antonelli of Hawksmoor Air Street said: 'With aromas of earth, moss, mushrooms, herbs – and lavender, the palate shows dark and red berry fruit,' while team leader Angela Reddin said: 'Almost dainty for such a bruiser, with deep, dark scented cassis, plum and mulberry on the nose, and a palate of crushed herbs and spices. Decadent!'

£19.23 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

Impact and versatility won not only Gold but a share in the Pulled Pork Food Match Trophy for this characterful Cahors. Team leader Angela Reddin enjoyed the 'smoky oak and bitter chocolate aromas with black hedgerow fruits', also noting: 'The palate has grip and tension, with dense and deep black fruit flavours, good power and drive. Needs time to knit more fully together.'
Sweet, purple fruits offer dense, layered tannins and a long finish.

£12.75 Liberty Wines

Depth and complexity gave St Martin de la Garrigue Gold.

'With serious damson notes and star anise on the nose, the palate shows herbaceous layers alongside bright acidity,' said Bubbledogs' Sandia Chang, suggesting grilled leg of lamb.

'Plenty of spice on the nose here, attractive, crunchy red and black fruit compote with some raisiny intensity, a slight brett note and drying tannins,' added team leader Simon Woods.

£9.50 The Flying Corkscrew

'Old school on the nose, developing,' began Xabier Álvarez-Valdés of Trangallán, continuing: 'Powerful, delivering plenty of ripeness on the palate with some minerality.'
'Bloody, meaty, spicy and polished, with sweet plum on the nose, full and smooth on the palate with well-integrated tannins, and elegance on a really long finish,' added Matthieu Longuère MS of Le Cordon Bleu, while Bubbledogs' Sandia Chang suggested game stew as the dish of choice.

£11.25 Liberty Wines

One of St Desir's pair of well-priced Golds is this evocative Sauvignon Blanc, with its guava and passion fruit-infused flavours and zippy sub-structure.

'Green grassy aromas with notes of nettle and cucumber, crisp and zesty with citrusy fruit on the palate,' said team leader Andrea Briccarello, with Chantal Serrano of The Cinnamon Club agreeing, finding it 'aromatic, fresh and medium length'.

£5.75 Majestic Commercial

A lovely example of an oaked southern white, and one half of a red-and-white Gold pair for Gérard Bertrand, showing elegance with a broad mineral structure. Roger Jones of The Harrow at Little Bedwyn summarised the views: 'Lovely aromas – it smells expensive! – beeswax-textured, honeyed and spiced, this is long and fabulous, like a classic white Bordeaux. The flavours sit an age on the palate.'

£16.99 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

A typically creative southern French blend – Vermentino with Sauvignon Blanc – intrigued our judges. Team leader Martin Lam was struck by its 'evolved, wild, complex and engaging style', while Stefan Kobald of Social Wine & Tapas found 'petrolly, honeyed apple freshness, mineral complexity with a long, buttery finish', and Roger Jones of The Harrow at Little Bedwyn called it 'perfectly balanced, fabulous', with its 'silky, layered nature', and 'perfectly ripe stone fruit balanced with wild flowers and delicate herbs'.

£24.95 Liberty Wines

Creamy and exotic, lively and refined, with lovely texture, length and balance, this Gold Lister 'opens up with a little air to reveal peach fruit aromas. Lively and refreshing acidity,' said Fiona Bastia of Park Chinois.

'Shows varietal character with notes of spice, herbal aromatics and a touch of warmth,' said fellow team leader Jade Koch, while The Harrow at Little Bedwyn's Roger Jones noted the 'delicate, perfumed nose, the savoury herbaceous hints mixed with citrus peel' on the nose.

£8.15 Liberty Wines

'Absolutely delicious,' said team leader Sam Caporn MW of this enchanting Burgundy, continuing: 'A lovely nose of spice, honey and fruit, this is firm, fresh and good value.'
'Elegant nose, quite a ripe entry,' said Chris Wood of Chelsea Vintners, while Bread Street Kitchen's Timothy Connor said: 'Creamy, with good fruit and lots of minerality', and Andre Luis Martins of The Cavalry and Guards Club picked out floral aromas and rich, herbal spice on the nose, and citrus and light oak on the palate.

£10.65 Berkmann Wine Cellars

An exceptional wine at a very good price. Andre Luis Martins from The Cavalry and Guards Club noted 'white flowers and gentle nut notes on the nose, leading to a palate with earthy as well as mineral characteristics'.

'Creamy oak notes on the nose, ripe citrus and stone fruits with some nice mineral complexity on the palate,' said team leader Laura Rhys MS, adding: 'Nice, full, rich style and good value.'

£15.62 Hatch Mansfield, Matthew Clark

A regular medal winner, Château des Jacques scoops Gold with this accomplished, versatile wine.

'Forward yet elegant on the nose with red apple and slight vegetal notes, nice freshness on the palate brings a taste of citrus fruit with cleansing acidity on the finish,' said Carlos Ferreira of The Sign of the Don. Andre Luis Martins of The Cavalry and Guards Club applauded the blend of earthy character and light oak aromas, adding: 'The palate is rich and floral, with white spices and a gentle, long finish.'
For dishes, why not try this with mackeral or Waldorf salad.

£9.19 Hatch Mansfield, Matthew Clark

'Crisp and moreish,' said team leader Sam Caporn MW, of this Gold Lister, impressed by its 'light and fresh' nature, with its 'apple fruit and toasted nuts'.

'Buttery and oily texture with spicy oak notes, very well balanced and complex, clean with good citrus fruit levels,' said Carlos Ferreira of The Sign of the Don, concluding: 'Very well made and elegant on the finish.'

£38.39 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

Fantastic versatility – with food or solo – and generosity of flavours gave Reh Kendermann's Closheim 2011 Gold for a record third time.

'Lively varietal character with a floral nose, exotic fruits and balance on the palate. A lovely example,' said team leader Sam Caporn MW.

'An almost smoky character on the nose follows through to the palate, which is delicate and attractive,' said Caroline Catering's Richard Brooks, who also commented on its food matching potential 'particularly with Asian dishes'.

£8.99 Greene King

'Beautifully made, the acidity and mid-palate are excellent,' said team leader Sam Caporn MW, illustrating how Dr Loosen took to the Gold podium for the second year in a row.

'Delicious and moreish, with florals and ripe fruit notes, both peachy and citrus in nature, a full body and a long spicy finish', said Sunaina Sethi of JKS Restaurants.

£27.67 Matthew Clark

Linear and precise, yet multi-layered and full bodied, with notes of quince, grapefruit and spice, no wonder Gelblack's Yellow Seal took Gold.

'Wet stone and subtle citrus fruit on the nose lead through to a beautifully textured palate and grapefruit finish,' said a clearly impressed Arnaud Fiol of The Sign of the Don.

'A buttery, honeyed nose with waxy texture on the palate and a fresh, peachy finish,' said Daniel Murray of Berners Tavern.

£15.62 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

'A classic example of round and ripe Pinot,' said Charles Pashby-Taylor of Dabbous, continuing: 'Bright raspberry and blueberry notes with a subtle floral finish.'
'Dried cherries and red berries, liquorice notes and forest floor aromas, oaky vanilla. Toasted on the palate, elegant but intense with fine, integrated tannin,' said Tobias Brauweiler MS of Hakkasan Group, while a highly impressed team leader Anne Krebiehl MW needed just a few words: 'Perfume, evolution, long, poetic!'

£21.20 The Winebarn

A distinctive Gold Lister at such a good price, Eschenhof Holzer won a By The Glass Trophy, too.

'Nicely done, this is smooth and spicy, well oaked, but still light and easy drinking,' said L'Ortolan's Guillaume Kaczmar. Consultant Sumita Sarma felt it would be easy to pair with vegetarian or meat main dishes, with its 'ripened black and red cherries, notes of clove and cinnamon spice with vanilla, well-integrated oak and supported by moderate tannins'.

£7.75 Berkmann Wine Cellars

For the second year in a row, interesting minerality and good depth has marked Papagiannakos' wine for the top.

'Cool ferment aromas, with elegant lemon peel freshness and chalky texture on a long, persistent palate,' said team leader Sarah Jane Evans MW.

'Peach, apricot and white flowers, green freshness with tiny bubbles,' added Julien Sahut of Sexy Fish.

£8.40 Boutinot

Fine complexity and an eloquent mix of flavours gave Gerovassiliou not just Gold, but the Scallops Food Match Trophy and a Critics' Choice Trophy, too.

'Bolder, with rich terroir characteristics and a balanced freshness,' said team leader Chris Cooper.

'Good intensity, fresh, clean and mineral on the nose, with a palate of waxy peach and apricot with citrus notes, good clean acidity and well balanced,' said Julien Sahut of Sexy Fish.

'Ripe and pretty,' affirmed Avenue Restaurant's Andrés Ituarte.

£13.40 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

Freshness and complexity won the day.

'Wood smoke and spiced nose, more brambly fruit on the palate with great length,' said Michael Fiducia of Drake's Restaurant, with team leader Angela Reddin recommending lamb to match its 'hedgerow fruits and garrigue herb scents', and Gustavo Medina of Tate Britain noting: 'Green fruit with fresh herbs on the nose, and red and black forest fruits on the palate.'

£4.78 Kingsland

Versatility and accessibility put Badet Clement on the Gold podium with this southern French Syrah.

'A supple food wine,' said Hakkasan London's Rebecca Coates, adding: 'Good depth of ruby colour and food-matching potential.'
'Complex nose and elegant on the palate,' said Carlos Ferreira of The Sign of the Don, adding: Black fruit aromas and a bit of oak, mushroomy wet leaves and some spicy notes on the palate, with good balance and a very good finish.'

£4.66 Molson Coors

A savoury tang and open, friendly nature made Winery Exchange a Gold-Lister with this Argentine Malbec.

'Lovely, easy, plummy red with nice vegetal notes and silky texture, plus some elegance on the finish,' said La Trompette's Tanguy Martin, while Bartosz Hilla of Drake's Restaurant felt the 'warm fruits on the palate, low acidity and medium tannins' added up to a wine with 'good balance'. The Vineyard Group's James Hocking succinctly concluded: 'Fantastic value!'

£5.08 Majestic Commercial

A blend of spice and ripe tannins, plus a lengthy finish and great value for money took this to Gold.

'Very spicy and toasty' despite a touch of reduction on the nose, said team leader Andrea Briccarello, pleased that on the palate the fruit was 'shining with wild flavours and a long finish'. Piotr Tomaszewski of JKS Restaurants noted nutty fruits, red cooked apple and hibiscus to add to the list of descriptors.

£5.50 Matthew Clark

'It's the balance, the aromas and the vinous nature of this dry rosé that sets it apart,' said team leader Martin Lam of this Gold winner. Mya Brown of The Ledbury applauded the 'citrus and rose petal nose, dry, clean palate with peach and pear drop fruit and balanced freshness', while Devon Pryor of Blandford Comptoir enjoyed its 'delicacy on the nose'.

£5.19 Frederic Robinson

Pale salmon in colour but seductive and refreshing in the glass, this won Gold for its well-structured palate, fruity style and dry finish.

'Quite a tight, high-acid style,' began team leader Sam Caporn MW, while Matthew Cocks of WineEd found: 'Tart fruit, green strawberry and red apple fruit.'

£5.49 Molson Coors

With its well-poised balance between richness and acids, fruit and minerality, Vistamar struck Gold with its modern Chardonnay.

'There's a flinty, smoky finish on the palate, along with grassy herbal notes,' said Bubbledogs' Sandia Chang. 'Noticeable residual sugar, but good flavour,' began Orrery's Gaetano Giangaspero, who also noted its 'aromatic and rich, exotic, passion fruit style'.

£4.78 Kingsland

Excellent length, bright flavours and a balanced off-dry palate made this not only Gold but also one of our Pub & Bar Trophy winners, too.

'Grapey, fruity and floral, refreshing with nice acidity, and offering real value,' said James Hocking of The Vineyard Group.

'Tropical lychee fruit and Turkish delight. Great with Thai food,' added team leader Annette Scarfe MW, while Sandia Chang of Bubbledogs felt it was 'the perfect summer picnic wine'.

£4.47 CyT UK

Balance, delicacy and a refreshing, broad flavour profile with pretty, lemon fruit notes took this to the top.

'Lovely, approachable fruit, hints of spice with an oily texture. Dry style, but sophisticated and fresh,' said team leader Annette Scarfe MW.

'Good minerals and rich acidity,' added Carlos Ferreira of The Sign of the Don.

£5.39 Crown Cellars

True elegance sets Royal Tokaji's Dry Furmint apart from the crowd, from the hints of spice and honey on the nose, to a long mineral finish.'
Honeyed with ripe mango notes on the nose,' began team leader Laurent Richet MS, continuing: 'Late harvested, crème brûlée aromas, a fun wine that could suit the palate of those who prefer a sweeter style of wine.'

£14.77 Bibendum

'Really refreshing, lovely and rich mouthfeel with savoury but fruit-laden Rhône-like character,' began Chris Wood of Chelsea Vintners, while team leader Laurent Richet MS noted: 'Melon, yellow plum and golden apple fruit, with rich intensity on the palate and an oaky structure,' and Avenue Restaurant's Andrés Ituarte added: 'With peach and red apple, there's a creamy texture on the medium-bodied palate.'

£9.40 Bibendum

While Ham Yard Hotel's Sarah Williams called this 'summery and happy', team leader Simon Woods said: 'Nice, heady style,' illustrating the breadth of appeal, and how Torri's Pecorino struck Gold.

'It's quite pungent and juicy, with that bitter herbal edge. Good and with grip,' continued Woods, while Roger Jones of The Harrow at Little Bedwyn noted 'yellow flowers, juicy, clean full fruits and good acidity', and the Oxo Tower's Lukasz Walkowiak picked out citrusy notes on the nose and palate.

£9.58 Rosarubra

'A great food wine,' said team leader Martin Lam, of this 'darker, more complex Verdicchio, with its rounded fruit'. While The Cinnamon Club's Laurent Chaniac noted the mix of yellow and citrus fruits on the palate, team leader Natasha Hughes MW agreed on the versatility, saying: 'Complex and honeyed, with dried mango fruit aromas and subtle oak presence. Rich and spicy on the palate, which is long and clean.'

£15.00 Liberty Wines

'This has the "wow" factor,' said Roger Jones of The Harrow at Little Bedwyn of Isole y Olena's beguiling Chardonnay, adding: ' It's a fabulous wine that delivers at this price.'
'Very well done, with a touch of smoke on a creamy, mouth-coating palate of stone fruits and tropical fruit, showing great texture, soft acidity and a clean finish,' said Enikő Heidenwolf of 67 Pall Mall.

'Honeyed, spicy and complex, with lovely candied citrus fruit flavours and a really long, concentrated finish,' agreed Le Cordon Bleu's Matthieu Longuère MS.

£23.95 Liberty Wines

Pecorino strikes again with Orsogna's Gold Lister.

'Powerful and aromatic on the nose, with notes of straw, citrus and almond, spicy and concentrated on the palate with a really ripe, juicy style, almost exotic, really complex and long,' said an impressed Matthieu Longuère MS of Le Cordon Bleu. Meanwhile Oxo Tower's Lukasz Walkowiak noted the golden colour, and the 'big bomb' of a palate with its rich, full-bodied nature, 'but it's still very fresh'.

£13.22 Cantina Orsogna

'A heady wine,' said Mark Dorber of The Anchor at Walberswick, indicating how this struck Gold, and continuing: 'Very concentrated aromas of oak, fruit and sweet spices,with a rich, smooth, creamy mid-palate and very ripe tannins.'
Team leader Tom Forrest agreed, saying: 'Toasty oak with red and black fruits, soft and squashy cherries, plus nice spice and liquorice.'
Good to cellar for a year or two more, to allow it to evolve further.

£18.95 Rosarubra

Big and serious, this bold Gold Lister has generous alcohol, and ripe, firm, big tannins. Understandably, team leader Angela Reddin painted a dramatic picture: 'Nose is like being in a battlefield, blood and gunpowder with hot steel. Cooking meat notes, too. The intensity is outrageous!' 'There's tar, burnt rubber, sweet spices – and an incredible length,' said Restaurant Nathan Outlaw's Damon Little.

£57.88 Rosarubra

With its 'expressive aromatic nose of flowers, rose petals and red berries, good fresh acidity and long finish', Lukas Nikanorovas of Plateau Restaurant predicted 'Italian Gold' from the start – and he was right! 'Lovely balance, interesting and complex,' began Sunaina Sethi of JKS Restaurants, going on: 'Violets, lavender on the nose, rose petals, elegant and feminine, with black pepper spice and hints of Turkish delight.'
Great value and the Pulled Pork Food Match Trophy winner, too.

£8.81 Alivini

'Relaxed, honest, sexy and nutty - a very sexy modern style with good depth and potential too,' said team leader Simon Woods – no wonder it made Gold! Chantal Serrano of The Cinnamon Club found 'ripe, velvety fruit, red cherries' on a 'long, balanced, intense yet fresh' palate, while Laurent Richet MS of Restaurant Sat Bains said: 'Bready, toasty notes, harmonious with moderate tannins and ripe, perfumed cassis fruit.'

£24.23 Matthew Clark

'Very modern – international,' said team leader Martin Lam of this youthful Gold Lister. Deborah-Lynn Morris of Aramark at JP Morgan highlighted its 'cigar box and petrol nose, with well-balanced fruit and integrated oak and tannin', finding it 'excellent', while The Vineyard Group's James Hocking agreed: 'Delicious, clean with massive concentration and great minerality'.

£13.36 Eurowines

'A great wine, with ultra-ripe, modern style,' said team leader Olivier Marie, highlighting how it scooped a Critics' Choice Trophy, and continuing: 'Complex, opulent and fleshy – moreish.'
'Amazing balance between its plentiful black fruits, acidity and ripe tannins,' began Alexandru Pastrav of Fenchurch Sky Garden, continuing: 'Aromas of bramble fruit, tea, blackcurrant and sweet spices with a long finish.'
Great with guinea fowl.

£33.12 Vinicola Tombacco srl

The care and attention – 120 days appassimento for the grapes prior to fermentation – from one of Italy's finest co-operatives show in this Gold Lister's style and depth.

'Ripe, jammy and concentrated on the nose with blackberry and blackcurrant aromas,' began Charles Van Wyk of FJB Collection, continuing: 'Full-bodied in the mouth, cut by fresh acidity that brings the wine to life, then tannins ripe and well integrated. Well-made wine.'
Indeed.

£25.00 Alivini

Great balance, intense dark, small berries and sweet spices captured the judges' hearts.

'The nose is elegant with red and black fruits, but not jammy,' began Francesco Gabriele of The Dining Room at Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa, continuing: 'The palate is sweet and balanced with no aggressive tannins and medium length.'

£15.00 Alivini

'Refreshing, green, leafy aromas with light rhubarb hints, dancing on the palate with bright fruit and cherry drops,' said team leader Jade Koch, adding: 'Could be served chilled.'
Consultant Sumita Sarma felt it was a 'great value proposition', adding: 'It's beautifully mouthcoating, but also delicate and evenly structured. Great food-pairing wine with a lingering finish.'

£7.28 Ca' del Colle

'Absolutely delicious,' said team leader Sam Caporn MW, expanding: 'Beautiful fragrance, spice and Morello cherries.'
Meanwhile Mattia Scarpazza of Petersham Nurseries Café highlighted its 'spiced and peppery, plum, capsicum and cherry' character, and Gregg Lambert of Galvin La Chapelle said: 'Dark cherry and plums on the nose, good fruit support, with ripe tannins and spice.'

£7.28 Berkmann Wine Cellars

Capturing the coveted Steak Food Match Trophy, this concentrated wine shows dark berries, spice and dark chocolate throughout.

'Red forest fruit nose, fresh palate with a bit of thyme and white pepper, well-integrated tannins, making this a great food option,' said Gustavo Medina of Tate Britain.

'Big, tangy cherry fruit, good with anything Italian, or light enough for By The Glass,' agreed Richard Brooks of Caroline Catering.

£8.18 Berkmann Wine Cellars

'A lovely wine with amazing texture and an aristocratic finish, gamey and animalesque, with a great savoury complexity,' said team leader Olivier Marie. Meanwhile, Dario Barbato of Individual Restaurants noted 'black fruits, soft tannins and spice on the palate with notes of green pepper and rose petal', and Sara Bacchiori of Chez Bruce found it 'pleasant and interesting, with cured meat and plum aromas, grippy body and good structure'.

£8.18 Berkmann Wine Cellars

An exotic star for the Gold List.

'Intense tropical nose with green mango, pineapple and pear drop, followed by a floral palate with fragrant, almost pot pourri notes,' said Mya Brown of The Ledbury, while team leader Jade Koch highlighted 'lychee and Turkish delight, warm spice and a sweet touch on the finish', and Mark Dorber of The Anchor at Walberswick said succinctly: 'Big, ripe and very full.'
Perfect for green curry.

£18.71 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

Seductive and sassy, a worthy Critics' Choice Trophy winner.

'Fresh green grass, kiwi fruit and light gooseberry hints on the nose,' began Spring's Peter McDaid, continuing: 'Subtle key lime sweetness with lemon and tangerine notes, freshening acidity and a lingering finish.'
'Beautifully crafted, with lots of citrus but well-balanced fruit and structure on the palate. Very rounded, with appealing richness and mature texture,' agreed consultant Sumita Sarma.

£11.10 Eurowines

'Classic Soave at a good price,' said Vinoteca's Zigmars Grinbergs, noting 'marzipan, apple blossom and saffron, with a ripe, nice kick of freshness'.

'Complex and intense aromas with plenty of citrus and green fruits, very rounded and balanced on the palate, with great structure and terroir expression, light mineral notes on the finish and a rich mouthfeel,' said consultant Sumita Sarma.

'Opulent, decadent nose with a textural, rich palate,' agreed The Tate Group's Hamish Anderson.

£6.75 Liberty Wines

Great value and good food-matching potential took Dezzani's Barbaresco to the top.

'Dried fruit and attractive notes of sour cherry on the nose, with leather and spice,' began Charles Van Wyk of FJB Collection, continuing: 'Vibrant acidity with ripe, well-integrated tannins. Wonderful for a starting-point Nebbiolo.'
Team leader Annette Scarfe MW agreed, saying: 'Lovely example showing roses and petals with red fruit. A more feminine style.'
Match with steak and much more.

£12.36 Eurowines

A star in the traditional style, this is long and complex with perfumed notes on the nose and a slightly gamey palate.

'Firm yet poised. Elegant. An iron fist in a velvet glove,' said team leader Annette Scarfe MW.

'Slightly shy at first on the nose, but gains in complexity as it evolves in the glass,' began Nausicaa Rotoloni of Roka Mayfair, continuing: 'Displays mushroom and leathery characteristics on the palate, with good tannin balance and acidity.'

£22.50 Moreno Wines

'Super-depth on this long-lasting, exquisite wine,' said Vinoteca's Zigmars Grinbergs, pinpointing 'notes of chocolate, mocha, rose and violet'.

'Initially very fruit-forward, but with a good, grippy finish,' continued Chris Wood of Chelsea Vintners, with team leader Laura Rhys MS adding: 'Bright, juicy dark fruits, elegant with some punchy but integrated oak.'

£12.95 Liberty Wines

'A fantastic, traditional example of Barolo, showing evolution, with its garnet rim,' said team leader Annette Scarfe MW, advising decanting because it's 'still very big'. First noting this wine's 'lovely orange-brick colour', Enikő Heidenwolf of 67 Pall Mall said: 'Old-fashioned, very ripe with a velvety texture on the palate and well-integrated tannins.'
'Structured and complex with silky concentration, a superb expression of Nebbiolo,' added FJB Collection's Charles Van Wyk.

£35.35 Jascots Wine Merchants

'Very seductive,' began Avenue Restaurant's Andrés Ituarte, highlighting what propelled Nino Negri's wine to Gold: 'Big oak notes, ripe red fruits and vanilla and coconut notes.'
'Beautiful, smooth palate, with a style reminiscent of ripasso,' added Chris Wood of Chelsea Vintners, continuing: 'The length is extraordinary, almost endless.'
'Menthol, cherry fruit, liquorice, a good food wine,' added Ian Howard of The White Hart Inn at Lydgate.

£40.00 Enotria&Coe

A complex array of flavours, according to an impressed Carlos Ferreira of The Sign of the Don: 'Eucalyptus, mint, pine, lots of tannins on the palate with tobacco, tomato, green and black pepper notes, fine complexity with a really good finish.'
Avenue Restaurant's Andrés Ituarte agreed: 'Showing some age, this has notes of black tea and violets. Dense red berry fruit marries well with the tannin structure and balanced body.'

£22.71 Alivini

Full bodied and well integrated, a stylish addition to the Gold List.

'Ripe, desnse fruit that stays pure, with big tannins that are well integrated and a long finish,' said an approving Andrés Ituarte of Avenue Restaurant.

'Earthy aromas with floral notes and dark red fruits, juicier red and purple fruits on the palate, a touch of meaty extraction and chalky, drying tannins,' added Portland's James Fryer.

£19.50 Alliance Wine

Delicacy and phenomenal value took Araldica to the top.

'Angelica and talc aromas, with pear and a dash of citrus on a light, delicate flavour profile. A nice wine for the price,' said team leader Angela Reddin, with Carlos Ferreira of The Sign of the Don noting 'very fresh, green apple and lemon fruit with very good balance and acidity'.

£5.52 Majestic Commercial

Classy and pretty, the Roast Salmon Food Match Trophy winner has depth alongside distinctive flavours. Team leader Angela Reddin found 'banana and orchard blossom' aromas on the nose, also noting: 'Quite full in the mouth, with some yellow stone fruits and a clean, long, classy finish.'
'Herbaceous with asparagus notes, and very elegant,' said Mahesh Nair of Charlotte Street Hotel.

£10.00 GIV UK

Perfume, power and balance took Pala to the top.

'Smoky notes mix with floral aromas on the nose, leading to a palate with sinewy tannins and a long finish,' explained team leader Natasha Hughes MW. Jez Manterfield of The White Horse on Parson's Green noted 'espresso, oak and powerful black cherry notes', while Richard Brooks of Caroline Catering said: 'Rich, savoury character with great warmth and real depth in intensity of flavour. This needs some big spicy food.'

£8.65 Berkmann Wine Cellars

Fragrant and complex, this enchanted, striking Gold in the process.

'Aromatic nose, super-fresh and packed full of stone fruits. Cheerful and lively, and great value for money,' said Gustavo Medina of The Arts Club, while team leader Laurent Richet MS noted its 'pear and pear drop aromas, intense palate with pithy notes of grapefruit and kiwi on the finish'.

£7.30 Liberty Wines

An evocative Gold Lister inspiring, among others, team leader Annette Scarfe MW: 'Beautiful vibrant lemon colour. Delicate use of French oak; there's flavours of ripe lemons and quince with a refreshing acidity. Great with seafood.'
'Rich and creamy on the nose, with cooked fruit notes,' began Julien Sahut of Sexy Fish, going on: 'Rich texture on the palate too, with medium-weight body and alcohol, notes of honeysuckle, stone fruit and white pepper minerality.'

£10.72 Eurowines

Excellent value, a refreshing palate and beautiful balance gave Minini Gold, with James Hocking of The Vineyard Group in full support, noting: 'Creamy, white peach aromas, balancing acidity. Could cope well with scallops.'
'Cool ferment aromas with bright lemon curd, creamy freshness on the palate,' said team leader Sarah Jane Evans MW.

£5.81 Bibendum

'Fantastic mineral balance of oak and fruit,' said James Hocking of The Vineyard Group of this poised Gold Lister, adding: 'Lovely citrus and apple notes, a touch of vanilla and wood spice. Great wine.'
'Honeysuckle and peach nose, creamy and waxy textures on the palate, though it remains vibrant and fresh. Very nice,' said Daniel Murray of Berners Tavern.

'Lovely spicy oak, good texture and yellow plum fruit. Yum!' added team leader Sam Caporn MW.

£16.95 Matthew Clark

This one will 'warm up your body and heart', according to Enikő Heidenwolf of 67 Pall Mall, who said: 'Old style, pronounced black olive and sweet spices with bready, fruity notes. Rich on nose and palate, super-smooth with ripe tannins. Pricey, but worth it.'
Team leader Jade Koch agreed, saying: 'With its dark, brooding flavours it feels like a treat.'

£25.46 Matthew Clark

A second Gold for Argentiera with this serious yet silky wine.

'Rich, heady aromas with warm oak and a developing character,' began Mya Brown of The Ledbury, with Matthew Cocks of WineEd noting its 'concentrated fruit and quality oak', and the WSET's Michael Best noting that it opened slowly, but when it did 'each visit rewards with a different flavour'.

£33.70 Eurowines

While 67 Pall Mall's Enikő Heidenwolf highlighted its 'black cherry and plum fruit and ripe tannin', the WSET's Michael Best felt this was a 'versatile wine. It will be a lover of food from the most simple rustic stew to the precise cooking of fine dining.'
Matthew Cocks of WineEd felt that its 'plush, dense and modern, powerful style is well suited to tempting lovers of Malbec back from Mendoza to the Old World'. Interesting challenge…

£16.32 Eurowines

Complexity and a memorable finish helped Barone Pizzini strike Gold. Andrés Ituarte of Avenue Restaurant found this wine 'fantastic value', noting: 'Massive tannins, dark cherry and plum with a good dose of zippy acidity.'
'Sour red cherries, spices, plus a touch of leather, this is fresh and creamy, with hints of mint chocolate. Outstanding,' said Rossano Antonelli of Hawksmoor Air Street.

£11.95 Vintage Roots

'Aromatically this is so exciting,' began an intrigued Michael Best of WSET, continuing: 'It's boisterous but highly intelligent, still opening up so has much potential. Classy fruit with herbal chalky notes, the cheek of spice, oak and balanced acidity.'
Mark Dorber of The Anchor at Walberswick was similarly entranced: 'Lovely colour, this is mature and harmonious, spicy and long, with a touch of incense.'
'Lovely length, delicious and moreish,' concluded JKS Restaurant's Sunaina Sethi.

£30.00 Liberty Wines

'A beguiling combination of power and elegance,' said Vincent Pastorello of Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester, continuing: 'Intense and youthful nose with violets, spices and black fruit, the palate is elegant with juicy fruity, crunchy acids, and fine firm tannins.'
Team leader Jade Koch felt it was 'robust yet feminine, daring and elegant'.

£16.39 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

Deeply loved from the start. Piotr Tomaszewski of JKS Restaurants found a 'beautiful nose of roses and violets with nuts and cherry', then more cherry on the palate and 'a touch of crème caramel, almond and green pepper' on the palate, while Adriana Valentini of Massimo Restaurant & Bar admired its 'integrated tannins and wood, black pepper spice and maturity'. Team leader Natasha Hughes MW called it 'a classic balance of leafy Cab and spicy Shiraz, well balanced, fleshy and appealing. Ideal with slow roast lamb tagine.'

£13.16 Molson Coors

'Great value and food friendly,' said team leader Annette Scarfe MW, illustrating how Trapiche won one of its three red 2016 Golds, continuing: 'Lovely Cab Franc nose, complete with pencil shavings, and fresh acidity.'
'Red fruits and some darker fruits with roasted aromas on the nose, plus a chocolate richness alongside a ripe tannin balance and good finish,' said Marco Marcuzzo of Skylon.

£9.06 Enotria&Coe

A great wine with serious red meat and game-matching potential. Fifteen Cornwall's Elly Owen said: 'Generous on the palate with cedar and black cherry on the finish,' while Marco Marcuzzo of Skylon found the 'pepper and black cherry aromas' very appealing, equally enjoying the 'ripe, jammy cherry fruits, integrated oak and chocolatey finish' on the palate.

'There's a richness of mixed berries and great balance of freshness,' added Sue Jones of The Harrow at Little Bedwyn.

£18.24 Matthew Clark

The deft use of oak on this ambitious wine gives Valle Secreto a worthy Gold Lister. Team leader Sam Caporn MW commented on the 'very attractive nose of basil, mint and black fruit compote with notes of vanilla', while JKS Restaurant's Sunaina Sethi said: 'This is silky smooth, with ripe deep fruits, a hint of sweet spice and a nice length. It will be versatile with a lot of dishes.'

£13.90 EWGA

'Silky and well balanced, with ripe, dark fruits and rounded tannins,' said Piero Pruneri of Aramark at JP Morgan, epitomising how Cabernet champions Redheads Studio struck Gold.

'Smooth on the palate with dark notes of leather, chocolate and liquorice, and a lovely viscous texture on the palate,' said Daniel Murray of Berners Tavern, with team leader Sam Caporn MW noting its 'fruits of the forest and summer pudding aromas, a very pretty wine of great purity and structure'.

£15.55 Direct Wines Production

Soft and easy drinking, but full of eucalyptus and a typical sense of place. Team leader Laura Rhys MS noted this Gold Lister's 'rich, bold fruit and herbaceous character', while Alex Cooper of Haymarket Hotel found 'generous fruit, good spice and soft tannin', and Caroline Catering's Richard Brooks said: 'Big wine!. This calls for some really big red meat dishes.'

£9.92 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

‘Very full mouthfeel, showing plenty of ripe cassis, dates, dried fruits and nice balance,’ began Mahesh Nair of Charlotte Street Hotel, with Hamish Anderson of The Tate Group agreeing: ‘Grippy but balanced, with a tarry, old school nose, notes of cigar and smoke.’ ‘Meaty, rusty nail notes with deep-set cassis fruit, smooth and well-developed tannins and nice structure. Ageing gracefully,’ concluded team leader Angela Reddin.

£16.93 Bibendum

Serious and inspiring, this, was a worthy Critics' Choice Trophy winner. Team leader Angela Reddin said: 'Deep and dense, an uncompromising style with velvety texture and tenacious grip on the palate, showing incredible density yet great balance,' while Mahesh Nair of Charlotte Street Hotel added: 'Good, elegant red with nice juicy fruit, chocolate and cassis,' while the Brackenbury Wine Rooms' Giancarlo Cuccuru picked up on the 'inviting nose', with its leather, herb, cigar box and smoky notes.

£25.36 Enotria&Coe

'This is generous yet fresh, with great balance and a very complex, long finish,' said The Clove Club's Sam Heathcote, while consultant Sumita Sarma added: 'A black fruit-driven, ripe and intense meat and food wine, with tobacco and leather-perfumed complexity on the palate, spicy pepper and clove notes, well-integrated oak plus a solid, structured base of alcohol and fruit.'

£12.40 Matthew Clark

Bursting with juicy red fruit, this fresh, balanced wine hit Gold with ease. Julian Bicknell of Hawksmoor Air Street found it 'very typical, with ripe fruit, dark berries, hints of menthol and spice', while Giuseppe Longobardi of The Cross at Kenilworth noted its 'cherry, pencil, blackcurrant compote nose, sweet start on the palate with chunky tannins and plum compote ending'.

£9.32 Enotria&Coe

Not one but two Cabernet Golds for Pascual Toso, starting with this easy-drinking, good-value single varietal.

'Creamy, red fruit nose, medium weight on the palate with good fruit and juicy acidity,' began Georgi Mihov of Bohemia Bar and Restaurant, while Frédéric Jean-Yves Billet of Luton Hoo Hotel Golf & Spa found 'earthy, eucalyptus notes with food-friendly tannin and acidity', and team leader Tom Forrest said: 'Juicy, plump cherry and blackberry notes.'

£7.73 Kingsland

'Great quality, complex wine with sweet oak, coffee and capsicum notes on the nose,' said Frédéric Jean-Yves Billet of Luton Hoo Hotel Golf & Spa of Pascual Toso's second 2016 Gold, continuing: 'Followed by a palate of leather, violets and herbs, and blueberry jammy notes. Great for a steak.'
Team leader Andrea Briccarello agreed, saying: 'Wild berries, game, spices continue on to the palate. Will evolve with time.'

£13.31 Kingsland

A deft touch of oak allied with properly ripe fruit gives this Gold Lister 'long-lasting complexity', according to Vinoteca's Zigmars Grinbergs.

'Dark, rich and spicy red with plenty of fruit and good potential to develop,' said Michael Moore of Moore Show Cuisine, while team leader Natasha Hughes MW added that this is a 'crowd-pleasing style, with its smoky capsicum, plum and chocolate character and blackcurrant yoghurt notes on the finish'.

£8.91 Cockburn & Campbell

'Really delivers on balance and length,' said team leader Angela Reddin of this well-priced LFE Gold, continuing: 'Plum and redcurrant with a splash of cassis on a fruit-forward palate.'
Gustavo Medina of Tate Britain found 'good, red forest fruit aromas' followed on the palate by 'firm tannins and good texture, with fruity freshness and cassis notes. Good by the glass.'
Whatley Manor's Andrea Domenicucci went further: 'Good to drink on any occasion.'

£8.43 Matthew Clark

Classic notes allied with a polished finish helped Apaltagua bring home the Gold. Team leader Martin Lam highlighted 'typical mocha and plum notes, classic Maipo style, with lovely ripe fruit and acidity, and not over-oaked'. Enikő Heidenwolf of 67 Pall Mall found it 'velvety, spicy and complex', while Matthieu Longuère MS of Le Cordon Bleu added: 'Full-bodied and extracted style, ambitious and modern, with really ripe, jammy fruit and toasty oak, vanilla notes.'

£15.96 Anthony Byrne Fine Wines

Freshness and good value lifted Siegel to the top.

'Nice modern character married with a menthol, eucalyptus note. Good length and character at this price,' said Chris Wood of Chelsea Vintners, while team leader Angela Reddin added: 'Sweet spice and plums on the nose carry through to the palate,' and Andrea Domenicucci of Whatley Manor complimented the 'good balance between acidity and alcohol'.

£7.00 Addison Wines

'Very elegant and complex,' said team leader Andrea Briccarello, illustrating how Chilcas won its second 2016 Gold, and continuing: 'Crimson plums and violets, with good use of oak.'
'Good expression of fruit, with balanced tannin and acid and a good length finish,' said Harry Crowther of M Restaurants, with Vinoteca's Zigmars Grinbergs adding: 'Floral, sweet spice notes, the new oak works well.'

£21.37 VIA Wines

'Very typical, soft and light, good fruit ripeness combining with green vegetal notes,' began consultant sommelier Emily Bonsor, with team leader Andrea Briccarello picking up 'intense deep blueberry and red fruits'. Spring's Peter McDaid noted: 'Spicy red pepper flakes, eucalyptus, restrained but bruised dark bramble and cherry fruit. Needs some time.'

£10.45 Boutinot

A good one for keeping, suggested Vinoteca's Zigmars Grinbergs, with its 'complex nose, very good structure with great tannins', while team leader Tom Forrest noted its 'leafy black fruits, damson and currants with grippy texture and balance'. Portland’s James Fryer enjoyed the contrast between its ‘smudgy purple fruits, velvet tannins, juicy mid-palate with pepper spice and dark, earthy finish’.

£11.75 Berkmann Wine Cellars

Concentrated and juicy, as Julian Bicknell of Hawksmoor Air Street said: 'Fresh and amazing value!' 'Bell pepper with dried herbs and spice on the nose, palate of cherry and tropical zest, spiced plum, white pepper and sappy balsamic notes,' said Spring's Peter McDaid, while Gareth Ferreira of 67 Pall Mall noted 'some delicate blueberry and blackcurrant, with fresh green herbs and delicate, smooth tannins and bright acidity.

£6.16 Bibendum

Flinty elegance allied with balanced oak complexity and a long finish gave Langmeil Gold.

'Plenty of fruit on the palate and energetic acidity balancing the oak influence,' said Timothy Connor of Bread Street Kitchen.

'Approachable style with bright, juicy fruit and integrated oak,' added team leader Laura Rhys MS.

£9.15 Berkmann Wine Cellars

'Classy' came the comment from Gold List coordinator Christine Parkinson. No wonder it picked up a Critics' Choice Trophy. Team leader Jade Koch found 'butter, banana and butterscotch' on the nose, commenting: 'Juicy and alive, with crunchy fruit character on the palate, coupled with moreish and elegant minerality.'
'Pure, mineral, classy nose. Intense, long, great integration and quality,' confirmed Vinoteca's Charlie Young.

£16.22 Bibendum

Depth and balance made this a stand-out, with its lemon and lime aromas, and soft tropical fruits and lightly spiced palate.

'Complex, attractive nose, nice flowing acidity, fresh and genuinely enjoyable,' began Vinoteca's Charlie Young, with team leader Jade Koch adding: 'Rich, buttery and juicy, with elegant, breezy minerality. Enticing, bright and engaging.'

£12.20 Enotria&Coe

'Expressive' and 'very focused' according to The Clove Club's Sam Heathcote, Giant Steps Gold Lister was 'ripe yet not sweet, with well-handled oak, a generous mouthfeel and a very persistent finish'. Consultant sommelier Emily Bonsor found this a 'more savoury style with good tropical flavours', while Portland's James Fryer enjoyed its 'subtle white peach, pear and quince nose, rich apricot and stone fruit palate with some notes of wheat and oak spice'.

£14.00 Liberty Wines

A white Gold to match Chilcas' Carmenère Gold sees this zesty number ascend the podium.

'White peach with floral and honey aromas,' began Kelvin McCabe of Yauatcha City, going on: 'Butterscotch richness, peach fruit on a grippy, intense palate. Full, off-dry with hints of apricot yogurt on the finish.'
'With its whiff of vanillin, this is beautifully expressive with wonderful length,' added team leader Angela Reddin.

£10.78 VIA Wines

An eloquent balance between freshness and gentle vanilla oaking gave Argento not just Gold but a By The Glass Trophy.

'Toasted brioche nose, lifted palate with refreshing acidity,' began Michael Fiducia of Drake's Restaurant, with Portland's James Fryer finding 'concentrated apricot, malo and almond characters', and team leader Lionel Periner noting 'peach, white pepper, spice and vanilla, with a dry, lemon finish'.

£7.63 Bibendum

'Aged and much more complex,' said Vinoteca's Zigmars Grinbergs, illustrating how Salentein reached the podium, and continuing: 'There's a beautiful balance, where the oak is in the back, letting the fruit show through.'
Michael Fiducia of Drake's Restaurant was struck by the 'wonderful, opulent nose of creamy, caramelised peaches and cashew, echoed on the palate with great length', while team leader Tom Forrest noted 'pineapple and stone fruit flavours with a touch of coconut on the finish'.

£21.21 Matthew Clark

'What a quaffer!' said team leader Angela Reddin of this Gold Lister, continuing: 'Fresh citrus blossom, lemon sherbet palate,' while Kelvin McCabe of Yauatcha City added 'peach, apricot, lime juice and tropical notes on an off-dry palate with a chalky texture', and Sara Bacchiori of Chez Bruce noted 'fresh, crisp apple and citrus' flavours.

£6.49 Frederic Robinson

A distinctive breadth marked Saint Clair's wine out for the Gold List.

'Smoky oak, red grapefruit aromas, smooth and medium-bodied on the palate with good fruit and balance of citrus and integrated oak, then a buttery finish,' said Georgi Mihov of Bohemia Bar and Restaurant, with Richard Brooks of Caroline Catering adding: 'Very zingy and clean, but has an underlying depth. Lovely wine for full-flavoured creamy foods.'

£14.66 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

This had all the 'characteristics of great Chardonnay', said team leader Hamish Anderson, continuing: 'The nose is tight, bright and intriguing. There's a very classy almost European note to the palate, with its spice and seamless character and length.'
While Rustem Mingaleev of Bovey Castle noted 'peach and apricot fruit, a touch of minerality and moderate acidity', Ignacio Campos of Hawksmoor Seven Dials picked up on 'light texture, with dried fruits, sultana and cooked apple notes'.

£17.75 Ellis of Richmond

'Classically exotic Chardonnay,' began team leader Sarah Jane Evans MW of Newton Johnson's Gold Lister, going on: 'Tropical fruit, but it is fresh and well balanced, with a mineral undertow.'
'Bold use of oak, seductive and creamy palate with red apples, ripe and juicy,' added Andrés Ituarte of Avenue Restaurant, with The French Table's Sarah Guignard suggesting a match with monkfish wrapped in potato with asparagus and lemon and herb hollandaise.

£11.54 Bibendum

'Elegant use of oak, really good quality, showing good apple and lime fruit and great balance for the price,' said Andrés Ituarte of Avenue Restaurant, illustrating how Glen Carlou struck Gold. Team leader Sarah Jane Evans MW added: 'Floral, waxy, with a fine, delicate palate. Individual with charming freshness,' while Ubiquitous Chip's James MacDuffie noted: 'Honey nut nose with fried banana. The palate is full, rich and moreish, with a nutty lingering finish.'

£9.55 Liberty Wines

An inspiring balance alongside intricate flavours set Truchard's Chardonnay apart.

'There's an almost Chablis minerality,' said Vinoteca's Zigmars Grinbergs, complimenting 'the judicious use of oak' and 'ripe stone fruit'.

'Clean, complex, fruit-forward nose with fresh and candied citrus, orange blossom and light spice notes,' began Francesco Gabriele of The Dining Room at Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa, continuing: 'Palate is toasty and gentle, with some softly rounded tannins.'

£17.53 Bibendum

South Africa's Chenin Blanc specialist Kleine Zalze returns to the Gold podium, this time with the 'great value' Cleefs Classic Collection.

'The nose opens with notes of zingy, citrus peel, green apple and pears, and some white flowers,' said Hawksmoor Air Street's Rossano Antonelli, continuing: 'With grapefruit and orchard fruit on the palate, there's very good tension, and a good finish,' and team leader Angela Redding picking out a 'bracing citrus and crab apple plate, a superb but balanced acidity'.

£5.16 Hatch Mansfield

Tantalising texture and freshness hands Stellenrust Gold. Vinoteca's Zigmars Grinbergs noted 'apple strudel and honey characters', finding it 'complex for the money', while team leader Martin Lam highlighted the 'golden colour, good, creamy oak and lees stirring', and Hawksmoor Air Street's Rossano Antonelli picks out 'cinnamon, honeysuckle and toasted seeds' and the 'round and fresh' palate.

£12.76 Bibendum

Attractive and food friendly, Trapiche struck Gold with this rich, full style of Malbec.

'Shows medium intensity with restrained fruit, the palate is soft and juicy with well-integrated tannins,' said team leader Olivier Marie.

'Light and floral on the nose with some liquorice notes, and full-textured palate,' added Vittorio Gentile of Theo Randall at the InterContinental.

£7.48 Enotria&Coe

The perfect balance of gentle acidity and ripe, sweet fruit gave Trapiche another Gold. Kelvin McCabe of Yauatcha City found 'strawberry juice and cherry aromas', followed by 'jammy fruit and dusty tannins on a sweetish style but well-structured palate'. Team leader Annette Scarfe MW noted 'ripe black olive and dark chocolate with a juicy mid-palate'.

'It gets more floral as it opens up,' said one judge at the final Food Match round, where it scooped the popular Beefburger Food Match Trophy.

£9.06 Enotria&Coe

Salentein sashayed on to the Gold List with this elegant and perfectly integrated complex wine.

'Showing big legs, with cherry, plum and blackcurrant fruits on the nose echoed on the palate, along with a nutty touch,' said JKS Restaurants' Piotr Tomaszewski, continuing: 'Elegant, medium body for an Argentinian Malbec, round and rich tannins, with a touch of spice.'
'There's a silky-textured mouthfeel to this sophisticated wine,' said Bar 44's Owen Morgan.

£26.98 Matthew Clark

Big yet racy, an intense addition to the Gold List.

'Black fruits, spice and liquorice on the nose, with a meaty, leathery palate, supported by elegant tannins and a long finish,' said Dario Barbato of Individual Restaurants.

'Big, concentrated, rich and chewy texture with black berries, plum and morello cherry,' added Sara Bacchiori of Chez Bruce.

£21.92 Vinothentic

Completing Luis Felipe Edwards' hat-trick of Golds, a relatively young but already captivating wine.

'Massive structure with a great nose, and quite complex on the palate,' said The Vineyard Group's James Hocking, continuing: 'Big palate of sweet fruit and spice with a long finish, showing berry fruit and more spice notes. Well made.'
'Rich and smooth, with dark chocolate notes,' said Michael Moore of Moore Show Cuisine, suggesting pairing with duck and goose.

£15.42 North South Wines

Good complexity, structure and balance propelled The Lost Barrel to the Gold List. Consultant Sumita Sarma said: 'Black fruits with medicinal, herbal, peppery, herbaceous aromas, a meaty palate with tobacco, coffee and dark chocolate notes. Developed flavours in a full-bodied, expressive wine,' while Michael Fiducia of Drake's Restaurant said: 'Concentrated dried fruit nose, with supple fruit and decent length.'

£19.00 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

A big wine with a long finish, Santa Ana struck Gold.

'A big, plush, ripe wine,' began team leader Annette Scarfe MW, continuing: 'Ripe and juicy, with a raisined style.'
'Very fruit-driven style, good aromatics,' added James Hocking of The Vineyard Group, with 67 Pall Mall's Gareth Ferreira adding: 'The black fruit and juicy ripe tannin is well balanced and well integrated.'

£12.82 Enotria&Coe

Richness and concentration led Trefethen to the Gold List. Team leader Andrea Briccarello found it 'big and structured, with leafy spice and blackberry notes', while Scott Levy of Smith & Wollensky London highlighted its 'rich, fruit-forward style and nice, dry palate', and Piotr Tomaszewski said: 'The wild forest fruit, black and blue berry fruits dominate. It's very well balanced.'
Match with steak, roast lamb, or duck.

£26.00 Daniel Lambert Wines

Power and a deft spicing added up to an elegant Gold Lister.

'An intense expression of rich fruit, tannin and mouth-filling full body that must be paired with the most robust of foods,' advised Michael Best of WSET, adding: 'Powerful and dark fruit filled, with a coffee and smoke-infused nosed. Tons of flavour.'
Will evolve further with time.

£30.82 Enotria&Coe

Concentration and squashy, friendly fruit characterise this Gold Lister.

'Bold, juicy fruit with malty coffee notes and good tannin structure,' began Scott Levy of Smith & Wollensky London, with Mauro Pirovano of New Street Grill also noting 'cranberry and strawberry juice, showing some evolution but decent balance', and Arnaud Fiol of The Sign of the Don adding: ‘Medium to full, well balanced with liquorice and spice.’

£18.43 Matthew Clark

'Tangy and joyful', 'delicate and bright' – no wonder Bouchon scored Gold.

'A summer red, ideal for chilling,' began team leader Anne Krebiehl MW, continuing: 'Very fragrant, spicy, soft and individual.'
'Plush soft texture, slightly green tannins but well balanced with ripe fruit concentration and a floral edge,' said Avenue Restaurant's Andrés Ituarte, concluding: 'Expressive for the price.'

£9.65 Bancroft Wines

'A foodie wine,' said Caroline Catering's Richard Brooks, illustrating the versatility that won MontGras Gold. Stefan Kobald of Social Wine & Tapas noted its 'Ribena-like cassis fruit, spicy tar and vanilla oak on the nose, with baking spices and green notes on a minty palate', while team leader Tom Forrest commented on its 'soft, squashy palate' and 'herbal red fruit finish'.

£9.97 Enotria&Coe

A head-turner from the start, and a worthy winner of the Green Thai Curry Food Match Trophy.

'Very Gewürz-like, with its exotic, spicy flavours and subtle sweetness,' said Bart Michelewicz of Park Chinois, adding: 'The finish is lifting. Wow!' 'Turkish delight nose, very lychee, with lime on a punchy-fruit palate, all in good check with delicious texture and mouthfeel,' said team leader Jade Koch.

'Talcum powder and peach, fresh and floral fruit,' added consultant Luciana Girotto-Beckett.

£11.54 Matthew Clark

'Good flavour in an aromatic, medium style,' began Orrery's Gaetano Giangaspero, noting: 'Minerality with good freshness and fruit.'
'Green apricot aromatics and quite long,' said team leader Natasha Hughes MW, with Hakkasan London's Rebecca Coates adding: 'Lychee, spices and white pepper, this is creamy and full, with good length and fine complexity.'

£8.72 Enotria&Coe

An intriguing savoury-sweet tension marked Te Awa's Albariño out for the Gold List.

'Fresh green notes with guava, this is nicely textured and balanced with good intensity,' began team leader Sam Caporn MW, with Giuseppe Longobardi of The Cross at Kenilworth enjoying its 'lime leaf, peachy taste and honeyed apricot finish', and The Cinnamon Club's Laurent Chaniac picking out 'a blend of citrus fruits and vegetal notes, alongside a long finish'.

£10.41 Hatch Mansfield, Matthew Clark

'One to embrace,' said WSET's Michael Best, explaining: 'Beautiful nose, brilliant aromatics, pronounced citrus with a lovely length.'
Consultant Claire Love agreed, finding this wine full of 'rich, vibrant, ripe fruit' and 'nutty on the finish', while Diana Rollan of Hakkasan London noted its 'good length, with mineral, fresh, citrus and green apple'.

'Pair with grilled mackerel with salsa verde or oysters, if you feel decadent,' said Best.

£9.32 Enotria&Coe

Back to the medal podium for the latest vintage of this aromatically intense wine.

'There's aromas of blossoms in full bloom, with a little petrol and minerality,' said Bubbledogs' Sandia Chang, continuing: 'The palate is bursting with tart red apples and citrus. Great with salads and crudités.'
'Flinty aromas followed by fresh lime and clementine citrus fruit palate, balancing the minerality,' said Robert Mason of Cheese at Leadenhall.

£9.40 Bibendum

Structure and character made this a Roast Chicken Food Match Trophy winner as well as a Gold Lister.

'Fruity, cedar aromas with some richness and toasty notes on the palate. Good value,' began Giancarlo Cuccuru of Brackenbury Wine Rooms, while team leader Tom Forrest noted 'spicy mineral aromas and lemon and herb palate', and Fifteen Cornwall's Elly Owen suggested curry or something with spices as other great food matches.

£10.54 Top Selection Ltd

This interesting blend made it to the Gold List with its 'ripe gooseberries and cherry blossoms on the nose', according to Bubbledogs' Sandia Chang, while its palate with its 'sweet floral tea and citrus bursts made it great with grilled salmon'.'
Green fruits, slight petillance, good acid and a decent finish,' said Diana Rollan of Hakkasan London, with Robert Mason of Cheese at Leadenhall identifying an 'Alsatian, minerally fresh style, with green apple, pear and lemon freshness on the palate'.

£11.75 Liberty Wines

'Complex, fruity and herbal on the nose and palate, which is complex, peppery and long,' began Gustavo Medina of Tate Britain of Ceres' Gold winner, with Richard Brooks of Caroline Catering noting: 'Soft and amiable aromas, attractive fruity finish. By the glass or with light summer salads.'
Team leader Tom Forrest hoedg in on the oily pear and ginger spice notes, concluding: 'Great balance and acidity.'

£15.20 Matthew Clark

With its exotic notes and heady hints of gingery spice, this rich Gold winner proved popular, with 'plenty of character'.

'Intense pear and tropical fruit aromas, good, complex, balanced palate showing savoury, mineral, spicy and white fruit characters,' said Vinoteca's Charlie Young, while Alexandru Pastrav of Fenchurch Sky Garden also noted 'mineral notes, lime and tangerine fruit'.

£10.05 Bibendum

'With its lovely green spice on the nose – curry leaf and green pepper – this has a nice roundness and good balance, making it a strong food wine, particularly with Asian flavours,' said an approving Sunaina Sethi of JKS Restaurants. Meanwhile team leader Natasha Hughes MW found 'rose petals and spiced pears' on the nose, followed by 'mid-palate weight and an oily texture, brisk acid with apricot notes and some complexity and length'.

'Lovely, intense fruit finish,' added Richard Brooks of Caroline Catering of this worthy Gold winner.

£11.05 Matthew Clark

What a difference a year makes. Silver for this same wine in 2015, and now the excellent balance between dark purple fruits and sweet oak spices gives this not just Gold but a Roast Lamb Food Match Trophy, too.

'It's dark and smoky and quite developed, with cherry liqueur fruit,' said team leader Martin Lam, while Fifteen Cornwall's Elly Owen said: 'Delicate in colour with good earthy notes on the nose, it's cranberry and herbaceous on the palate. Enjoyable and affordable.'

£12.31 Bibendum

A worthy Pub & Bar Trophy partner for Cono Sur's Gewürztraminer, this Pinot Noir appealed for its 'lively presence, its juicy nature, and its pure, elegant finish', according to team leader Jade Koch.

'Pronounced smoky, red berry aromas with strawberry hints, attractively sweet on the palate with grippy tannins and notes of raspberry on the finish,' said John Giffrin of China Tang at The Dorchester.

'The oak is there, with a well-structured palate with good concentration,' said Vincent Pastorello of Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester.

£6.12 CyT UK

Wonderful value for money alongside a friendly palate gave Foley a By The Glass Trophy on top of Gold.

'Typical red fruit characteristics on the nose, vibrant with good balance of acidity,' began Nausicaa Rotolani of Roka Mayfair, with FJB Collection's Charles Van Wyk noting 'redcurrant and plum, hints of green apple, a slight greenness on the palate with hints of spice and clove', and team leader Tom Forrest picking up spicy cherry fruit on the nose and cinnamon on the palate.

£6.80 Greene King

'Nice complexity', 'good texture', 'yum!' – just some of the opinions that propelled Invivo to the Gold podium.

'Elegant yet robust nose with a generous, smoky fruit style married with balanced oak, giving very good value,' said Chris Wood of Chelsea Vintners.

'Smooth, approachable and well balanced,' agreed Timothy Connor of Bread Street Kitchen.

'Aromas of strawberry jam and smoky minerals with a tannic finish,' added Mauro Pirovano of New Street Grill.

£17.50 Invivo Wines New Zealand

Delta struck Gold with this 'luscious' wine.

'Bolder, more tannic style, balanced, with hints of coal dust mingling with its concentrated red fruits,' said Andrés Ituarte of Avenue Restaurant.

'Clean, with red fruits and elegant tannins,' added Bovey Castle's Rustem Mingaleev, while Mark Dorber of The Anchor at Walberswick picked up on the 'delicate raspberry and red cherry aromas' and the 'good acidity'.

£11.40 Liberty Wines

An expanse of flavours on the palate enabled Nobilo to strike Gold.

'Ready to drink and well done,' began Enikő Heidenwolf of 67 Pall Mall, going on: 'Complex nose of fruit, smoke, spice. Super-smooth and long on the palate, lots of fruit such as red cherry, strawberry, sour cherry, and showing some signs of ageing with hints of mushroom and wet leaves.'
JKS Restaurants' Sunaina Sethi agreed, saying 'There's a good fruit profile, with underlying minerality, a well-integrated palate, and a long, vanilla finish.'

£15.45 Matthew Clark

'Very complex', 'silky smooth', 'great wine for fine dining' – no wonder Santa Rita Hills topped the Gold podium.

'Lovely bramble fruit with a crunchy texture on the mid-palate, complex with a long finish,' said team leader Annette Scarfe MW.

'Outstanding, extremely smooth and elegant, with rounded tannins and a nice touch of evolution,' added Dario Barbato of Individual Restaurants.

£30.70 Matthew Clark

Universally appreciated for its savoury complexity as well as its sweet red fruit-laden palate. Jonathan Kleeman of Social Eating House said: 'Elegant style, showing good fresh fruit on the nose with a touch of sweet spice, soft tannins and some confected notes, but acidity that shows it can age well.'
'A lot of ripe cherry fruit, rounded with a smoky, spicy finish,' added Piotr Tomaszewski of JKS Restaurants.

£24.90 Liberty Wines

A red Gold to match its Chardonnay Gold, Truchard's Pinot showed 'beautiful, floral, perfumed aromatics', according to the WSET's Michael Best, who continued: 'Broad on the palate, with delicious freshness. Match with roast pheasant.'
'Sweet raspberry with rhubarb and cola hints on the nose,' added team leader Olivier Marie, 'with a clean palate showing light minerality, sweet cherry and plum fruit, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove spices, and fresh herbal notes of dill.'

£18.19 Bibendum

For the second year in a row, Best's strikes Gold with this wine.

'Smashing!' said Vinoteca's Zigmars Grinbergs, continuing: 'Petrol and ginger, citrus and honey notes.'
'Pear, melon and stone fruits, very fresh, very well balanced,' said Carlos Ferreira of The Sign of the Don, with team leader Angela Reddin commenting: 'Showing bottle age, with candied fruits and sweet peach and flower notes on the nose. Lovely balance of ripeness and purity of character on a tight, wonderful palate. Great.'

£12.20 Bibendum

Delightful minerality and a refreshing balance made this a Gold Lister. Mahesh Nair of Charlotte Street Hotel found 'good fruitiness, elegance and subtle hints of vanilla', while Hurley House's Alex Sergeant said: 'Lovely flint on the nose, bags of mineral and tropical fruit on the palate,' and team leader Angela Reddin noted: 'Roasting lemons and seashells with lovely nectarine ripeness in the mouth. Showing signs of some maturity, and very good indeed.'

£14.70 Top Selection Ltd

Refreshing typicity led this delicate, balanced wine to the top.

'Very aromatic, very typical, with great freshness, balance,' said Erik Simonics of The Savoy, adding: ‘Delicate, balanced and elegant.’ Team leader Tom Forrest highlighted its 'fresh grass and gooseberry notes, soft structure and nice acidity on the finish'. With 'more complexity', Vinoteca's Zigmars Grinbergs picked up 'an interesting saline note'.

£8.43 Matthew Clark, North South Wines

One of Cono Sur's hat-trick of Gold's, this exudes typicity.

'Juicy fruit with bright citrus and tropical character,' said team leader Laura Rhys MS, while Alex Cooper of Haymarket Hotel noted its 'honeyed white peach' notes, and Jez Manterfield of The White Horse on Parson's Green said: 'Big NZ style now, with gooseberry notes. Value for money – does what it says on the tin.'

£4.87 CyT UK

Depth and fine fruit gives Siegel a white Gold to match its red Cabernet Gold.

'Olive brine and saline mineral notes on the nose, with a rich, rounded, tropical fruit palate,' began Cafe Murano's Mark Gurney, with team leader Tom Forrest adding: 'Clean lemon and lime acidity with grapefruit pith notes on a fresh finish.'
'There's a lovely fruit greenness with a mixture of tropical fruit,' said Vinoteca's Zigmars Grinbergs.

£7.00 Addison Wines

With enough personality and power to stay the course, Yealands scored the tricky Green Thai Curry Food Match Trophy with this textured wine.

'With stone fruit and lemons, this is a richer, riper style,' said Annette Scarfe MW, suggesting seafood or drinking as an aperitif.

'Fresh, super-ripe fruit and high acidity with green apple and gooseberry notes, and a good clean finish,' said James Hocking of The Vineyard Group.

£8.97 Enotria&Coe

Great typicity and top value for money marked The Frost Pocket for the Gold podium. Team leader Sarah Jane Evans MW said: 'Leafy, herbal, fresh peapod aromas, followed by very punchy lime curd fruit on the palate with good acidity.'
Great By The Glass potential, and Bar 44's Owen Morgan noted 'sharp gooseberry and cut-grass notes plus high acidity – a perfect pub wine'.

£4.62 Enotria&Coe

The Envoy range acts like a flagship for each varietal, and all are given special treatment, as in this barrel-fermented and matured Gold Lister.

'A different style, with flowery and grassy aromas and peppery on the finish,' said Julien Sahut of Sexy Fish, while team leader Sarah Jane Evans MW found it 'clean, zesty and lean with powerful acidity, but a very pure style'. Sophisticated and food-friendly.

£13.02 Bibendum

The white half of Nobilo's Red-White pair of Golds, this shows 'a lovely balance, herbaceous but zesty', said Ham Yard Hotel's Sarah Williams.

'A classy Sancerre style,' said a happy Roger Jones of The Harrow at Little Bedwyn.

'Rounded and vegetal, smooth style with peachy fruit on an off-dry palate. Fine, elegant and fleshy, with medium body and good length,' said consultant Luciana Girotto-Beckett.

£12.61 Matthew Clark

'Bringing NZ Sauvignon Blanc back to the top,' said Roger Jones of The Harrow at Little Bedwyn of this Gold Lister, continuing: 'A delicate fruit salad nose, vibrant and racy on the palate, with a touch of creaminess on the finish.'
'Pronounced nose of gooseberry, grass and lemon, classic Sauvignon profile, with good body and length,' said Ian Howard of The White Hart Inn at Lydgate, with team leader Annette Scarfe MW also noting a 'good stony style, has a pumice-like grip and vibrancy'.

£11.05 Liberty Wines

Complex and long, this deliberatly more Old World-style wine struck Gold.

'Aromatic, creamy nose followed by a well-textured mid-palate with tropical fruit and zesty, mineral hints,' said Gustavo Medina of Tate Britain.

'Earthy mineral and kiwi fruit aromas, rich balance with hints of crème patisserie on the palate,' added team leader Laurent Richet MS.

£16.07 Matthew Clark

The riper style of Steenberg's Semillon found favour with our judges.

'Honeycomb and citrus; acid, fruit and oak all very well integrated,' said Sunaina Sethi of JKS Restaurants, with team leader Angela Reddin adding: 'Long, waxy, fresh. A wonderful style,' and Vincent Pastorello of Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester saying: 'Generous winemaking with a full-bodied, high oak influence. This is textured, with good acids to back up the oak.'

£15.93 Bibendum

Gold once more for Mitolo, this time with its Angela Shiraz. Scoring Bronze in 2015, what a difference a year makes. Team leader Martin Lam found this 'savoury with good, refreshing red fruit, not heavy but balanced', while Laure Patry of Social Wine & Tapas felt it was 'good value, with concentrated blueberry and liquorice notes'.

'Syrah is shining here, giving a lot of typical bacon fat meatiness on the palate, with very Old World stony mineral notes,' added Vinoteca's Zigmars Grinbergs. A winner.

£15.00 Liberty Wines

'An iron fist in a velvet glove,' said team leader Olivier Marie of this Gold Lister, continuing: 'Elegant and refreshingly textured, this is plum with fleshy tannins and great length. Amazing wine.'
'A big, bold, traditional style,' agreed Ned Neville-Rolfe of Vinoteca King's Cross, going on: 'Black fruit in abundance, filled with tobacco notes within a great texture and good balance. Oak integrated well, bringing great expression.'

£25.00 New Generation McKinleys

'Harmonious. Great freshness with elegance,' as pronounced by team leader Olivier Marie, gives Henschke Gold for another year. Tobias Brauweiler MS of Hakkasan Group found plenty to enjoy, highlighting its 'open, red fruit aromas of cherry and plum, and palate showing notes of black tea and wild raspberries'.

'More restraint than some,' added Richard Brooks of Caroline Catering, 'and a versatile foodie wine.'

£22.10 Enotria&Coe

'Big, big colour, big tears, big wine!' began Caroline Catering's Richard Brooks of this Gold Lister, continuing: 'On the palate, it's smooth but intense. Needs big, spicy, gamey food.'
'Lovely, juicy, but not overblown,' said team leader Annette Scarfe MW, with Julien Sahut of Sexy Fish noting 'a juicy, complex palate with red berry, cassis, vanilla and sweet spices'.

£25.18 Bibendum

Silver in 2015, Gold in 2016 – the benefit of age. Bread Street Kitchen's Stefano Pirondi found this a 'classic, well-balanced, youthful Shiraz', while Richard Brooks of Caroline Catering admired its 'big fruit flavours and smooth intensity, to match well with a big steak or game', and team leader Olivier Marie found it a 'sophisiticated style with rich, opulent fruit and decadent richness, with bramble fruits and chocolate mocha'.

£15.33 Bibendum

Vibrant character and a rounded, approachably peppery style secured Gold for this top-range Hardys red.

'Powerful nose of tobacco, meat and mushroom aromas, spicy with good acidity and high tannins on the palate, but very well balanced,' began an approving Carlos Ferreira of The Sign of the Don, while Tomasz Kuszneruk of Plateau Restaurant felt it was 'complex, and already showing some evolution'.

£26.95 Matthew Clark

'An amazing wine, this is savoury with blackberry and smoky notes,' said team leader Olivier Marie of this Gold Lister. Fellow team leader Laura Rhys MS found 'bright fruit, good depth and complexity', while Chris Wood of Chelsea Vintners enthused: 'Very structured and good poise, with lots of fruit and menthol character. Great typicity!'

£26.53 Liberty Wines

Balance and elegance lifted Babylon's Peak to the top. Robert Mason of Cheese at Leadenhall enjoyed its 'Marmite, baked raisin and black cherry aromas', adding: 'Very smooth, delicate tannins, well made and very drinkable.'
'Lovely purity of fruit, if a hand-sell,' added team leader Anne Krebiehl MW, with Vinoteca's Zigmars Grinbergs saying: 'Very aromatic on the nose, with rose, coffee and sweet juice notes. Very good balance and very elegant.'

£9.75 Berkmann Wine Cellars

A welcome return to the winners' enclosure for Errazuriz's concentrated Max Reserva.

'Complex nose with black fruit notes,' began Ivan Vegas of Fox Fine Wines & Spirits, continuing: 'Palate is soft with maturing tannins, good balance of fruit and acidity. Good length, and would be even better with food.'
'This is long and balanced, dry and fresh,' added The Cinnamon Club's Chantal Serrano, continuing: 'Chocolate and black fruit notes run alongside chewy tannins.'

£11.68 Hatch Mansfield, Matthew Clark

Elegant and seductive, it was the fleshy, well-rounded nature of Swartland Winery's Viognier as well as its price that won it a Critics' Choice Trophy. While Luca Campi of Plateau Restaurant found 'white and yellow peach, clean, nice acidity', Carlos Ferreira of The Sign of the Don noted: 'Pear and red apple, spice notes, very fresh and balanced with a long finish.'

£8.05 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

With a plentiful supply of 'jammy red and blue fruits' and sweet spice on the nose, this was both appealing and affordable. Team leader Sam Caporn MW noted its 'fruits of the forest, soft and smooth, commercial' style, while Devon Pryor of Blandford Comptoir said: 'The palate shows baked, pruney fruit, freshening up at the finish,' and team leader Tom Forrest picked up on the 'sweet ripe red fruits on the palate, alongside soft smoke and spice'.

£9.52 Enotria&Coe

Length, spice and breadth of vision took Seghesio, with its soft and jammy blue and red berries, to the Gold podium.

'A big wine, suitable for further ageing,' suggested Jonathan Kleeman of Social Eating House, adding: 'Shows complexity, with floral and aromatic notes, sweet spices and clean black fruit.'
'Rich, powerful and complex, classic old vine Zin character,' agreed The Ledbury's Mya Brown.

£26.30 Liberty Wines

Exotic and unusual, this captivated from the start, giving Diren's unusual wine not just Gold, but this year's Caspar Auchterlonie Fortified Critics' Choice Trophy.

'It's like Christmas,' said team leader Jade Koch, 'plenty of juicy cherries and cinnamon.'
Indeed, all sorts of flavours combine on a very complex palate, with sour black cherry and hazelnut to the fore, sweetness and savoury characters, and an extremely long, deep and multi-faceted finish.

'Dried figs, pear and peach notes, sweet and lively with a very good finish,' said Carlos Ferreira of The Sign of the Don, while Chris Wood of Chelsea Vintners felt it was 'extremely good value, and a great alternative' on any list'. Consider serving chilled. £5.99/50cl

£5.99 Size: 50cl Taste Turkey

'Brilliant!' said Roger Jones of The Harrow at Little Bedwyn of D'Oliveiras' second Gold noting: 'Wonderful flavours, with liquorice, Turkish delight, Moroccan markets. This is both sweet and dry, luscious and controlled, with very fine tangerine notes.'
'Hazelnut and almond skin on the nose, bright acids on a very focused palate, showing brown sugar, chocolate and coffee notes with a balanced, lengthy finish,' said Andrés Ituarte of Avenue Restaurant.

'Smoky aromatics with lime juice, lemon curd and orange marmalade. Full of youth,' added team leader Sarah Jane Evans MW. £24.30/75cl

£24.30 Size: 75cl Bovey Wines

'Perfect', 'lovely', 'very complex' – just some of the descriptors illustrating how D'Oliveiras won one of its pair of Golds. Team leader Sarah Jane Evans MW highlighted its 'glorious aromatics and palate alive with limes, vanilla, brown sugar and passion fruit', while Ignacio Campos of Hawksmoor Seven Dials found complex notes of 'honey roasted nuts, chocolate and coffee, fennel and caramel with anis seed', and Lukasz Walkowiak of Oxo Tower noted: 'The palate is very rich, with lots of figs and spices, but still very fresh.'
£40/75cl

£40.00 Size: 75cl Bovey Wines

‘Opulent’ was the word most often used to describe this tobacco-scented red- and black-fruit-infused Gold winner. ‘Rich plums with black cherries,’ said Mark Dorber of The Anchor at Walberswick, while Sunaina Sethi of JKS Restaurants picked up the ‘sweet spice, deep, rich, rounded fruits, and the elegant, rounded palate, with its broad shoulders’. A delight. £43.66/75cl

£43.66 Size: 75cl Sogrape UK

Richness and power, plushness and complexity gave Quinta do Vallado Gold.

'Great evolved colour, rich and intense on the nose with raisin and cherry notes, a richly fruity and complex palate with a never-ending aftertaste,' said an impressed Gabriele Galuppo of Theo Randall at the InterContinental.

'Well-rounded with nutty notes,' said consultant Sumita Sarma, adding: 'Delicate yet expressive, voluptuous and opulent.'
£20.40/50cl

£20.40 Size: 50cl Bibendum

A worthy winner of a By The Glass Trophy, team leader Angela Reddin enjoyed 'warm spices with oodles of black fruit, along with notes of orange zest, good tannins and a long, clean finish', while Spring's Peter McDaid highlighted its 'delicate spiced plum and allspice with nicely integrated oak' characters.

'Such a progressive port, with its nice, delicate finish,' agreed Bart Michalewicz of Park Chinois. £12.63/75cl

£12.63 Size: 75cl Enotria&Coe

The complete package – rancio notes and nutty hints alongside mocha coffee flavours helped Sogevinus secure its first Colheita Gold. Team leader Laura Rhys MS highlighted the 'punchy fruit aromas and full, rich palate with beautiful complexity' of this wine, while Alex Cooper of Haymarket Hotel noted its 'elegant, dried apricot character', and consultant Sumita Sarma picked out the 'beautifully high acidity', calling it 'balanced and harmonious, with its almond, pistachio and dark chocolate finish.'
£21.16/75cl

£21.16 Size: 75cl Hallgarten & Novum Wines

Coffe, mocha, complex rancio-like flavours – the list of descriptors is seemingly endless. No wonder this Colheita scored a Critics' Choice Trophy.

'Delicious and elegant, showing ripe, rich, full, complex and nutty character with lovely spices on the finish,' said team leader Laura Rhys MS, with consultant Sumita Sarma saying ‘this is full of life, with a memorable finesse’, and Gabriele Galuppo of Theo Randall at the InterContinental adding simply: 'Never-ending.'
£85/75cl

£85.00 Size: 75cl Hayward Bros

Complexity, powerful aromatics and a lengthy finish took Quinta da Gaivosa to the Gold enclosure.

'A less oxidative, more fruit-driven style, different but with nice concentration and balance,' began team leader Laura Rhys MS, adding: 'Juicy, rich fruit and sweet mincemeat aromas, bold on the palate with sweet spice character.'
'There's a wide spectrum of flavours, both baked and dried, and earthy, nutty notes alongside mouthwatering acidity,' said consultant Sumita Sarma. £17.68/75cl

£17.68 Size: 75cl Atlantico UK, Top Selection

Gold once more for Monte da Ravasqueira with this oak-infused, tropical fruit-laden white with its creamy texture and brisk acids.

'With mineral lees and brioche notes, this is elegant with some sweetness on the finish,' began JKS Restaurants' Piotr Tomaszewski, while Adriana Valentini of Massimo Restaurant & Bar felt it was 'very good for pairing, especially with fish'.

£11.75 Bancroft Wines, ABS Wine Agencies, Bottle Apostle

Fresh, tingling and typical: it adds up to Gold for Quinta das Arcas.

'Rich and quite intense nose with mineral and blossom, dry on the palate with floral and herbal notes,' began Diana Rollan of Hakkasan London, with Robert Mason of Cheese at Leadenhall enjoying its 'salinity, developed apple, peach, honeydew melon and papaya complexity'.

£9.53 Bibendum

'Exactly what you want from a Vinho Verde,' declared Robert Mason of Cheese at Leadenhall, continuing: 'Typical melon nose, juicy, peachy, refreshing and easy on the palate.'
Sunaina Sethi of JKS Restaurants found it 'floral and perfumed on the nose with a long finish', while The Arts Club's Bart Michelcwicz said: 'Lovely, bright and delicate. Limey and lemony.'

£6.44 Perfect Cellar

Elegance and style provided Monte da Ravasqueira with one of its Golds. With 'minerals and soft rounded tannins', this is 'subtle and versatile', according to team leader Annette Scarfe MW. Plenty going on here for Hakkasan London's Diana Rollan, too: 'Cedar, leather, black fruit, toasty, big and bold with tobacco notes. Dry, ripe and round on the palate, savoury with ripe tannins and concentration on a long length.'

£14.45 Sociedade Agricola D Diniz SA

Another Gold for Quinta do Vallado with this inky, deep, brooding wine.

'Nicely integrated, with red fruits and plum fruit characters and a spicy finish,' said Marco Marcuzzo of Skylon, while Ed Verrill of Vinoteca King's Cross found it 'refined and elegant'.

'This sings out to you on the nose, with great rounded oak and spice,' said Bar 44's Owen Morgan.

£22.75 Bibendum

Great balance, a 'burst of damson, cassis and kirsch' plus class gave Quinta do Vallado not just Gold but a Critics' Choice Trophy.

'Full of liquorice, cocoa, tobacco and farmyard aromas which are reflected in the palate,' said Giuseppe Longobardi of The Cross at Kenilworth.

'Savoury, earthy and luscious style,' agreed Sue Jones of The Harrow at Little Bedwyn, with Trangallán's Xabier Álvarez-Valdés saying succinctly: 'Amazing. Character. Terroir.'

£18.32 Bibendum

The first of two Golds for Ermelinda Freitas, this is both generous and well structured.

'Intense dark berry aromas with notes of cigar, cedar and sweet vanilla from time in oak,' began Charles Van Wyk of FJB Collection, adding: 'Complex palate with hints of tertiary character. This is balanced, with good potential to age.'
'Oaky with sweet blackcurrant, cassis notes, this is jammy and spicy,' noted The Clove Club's Sam Heathcote.

£8.00 Atlantico UK

'Velvety style that lingers on the palate,' said FJB Collection's Charles Van Wyk, illustrating how Ermelinda Freitas scored its second Gold.

'Clean, with sweet paprika and cinnamon spice, red fruit on an elegant palate and fine tannins,' said Aurélien Constant of Galvin La Chapelle, while Jonathan Kleeman of Social Eating House also enjoyed its ‘fresh red fruits with notes of pepper and star anise’.

£11.55 Casa Ermelinda Freitas - Vinhos, Lda

While Andrés Ituarte of Avenue Restaurant felt that this wine’s ‘angular tannins demand ageing’, he also found it ‘very elegant and plush, with big, bright acids, purity of fruit and lots of stoniness with cigar box spice’. Team leader Martin Lam found it a ‘very serious wine’, though he also admired its ‘delicious, rich, ripe, cassis-laden fruit’, while Stefano Marro of Etrusca Restaurants noted its ‘dark fruits, chocolate and eucalyptus notes’.

£29.46 Enotria&Coe

Intensity allied with harmony gave Delas its second Gold, with team leader Tom Forrest saying: 'Lifted berry aromas with some savoury, smoky bacon notes. Heady, ripe berry fruits on the palate with some darker fruit sweetness, notes of white pepper and florals leading to a juicy finish.'
'Signs of new oak and sweet spices. Would be great for further ageing,' added Erik Simonics of The Savoy, while consultant Sumita Sarma noted 'meat, leather, tobacco, cloves and liquorice' in the mix.

£16.50 Berkmann Wine Cellars

Enticing bramble and berry scents marked St-Esprit out, giving Delas its first Gold of 2016.

'Spicy and peppery on the nose, chunky palate with slightly rustic tannins and good bramble fruit,' said team leader Natasha Hughes MW.

'There's a nice juiciness, with a touch of spice and a good medium finish,' said fellow team leader Angela Reddin.

£7.68 Berkmann Wine Cellars

'Quite distinctive, with layered, fresh minerals, and minty notes and smoky bacon hints on the palate,' began Mark Gurney of Cafe Murano, with team leader Olivier Marie noting 'sandalwood and soy sauce aromas alongside the gamey, leathery notes', and The Savoy's Erik Simonics adding: 'Well-developed, showing a little oxidation but at its peak, full-bodied on the mid-palate.'

£51.21 Bibendum

Perrin strikes Gold again with its poised, savoury Crozes-Hermitage, this time with the 2013 vintage.

'Smoky pepper notes on the nose, sweet berry fruits on the palate with floral and violet hints, soft, ripe fruit on the finish with some medicinal notes providing contrast,' said team leader Tom Forrest, while Scott Levy of Smith & Wollensky London said: 'Big and meaty with dark fruits, sour cherry and hints of herbs.'

£14.00 Liberty Wines

'Great complexity here, spicy with new oak on the nose, followed by a rich palate with notes of white pepper and sweet spices,' said The Savoy's Erik Simonics, while Mark Gurney of Cafe Murano found 'mushrooms, meat, plum and damson fruit, different and quite surprising', and team leader Olivier Marie said: 'Richly textured, with granitic minerality and grippy tannins. A beautiful wine that will benefit from more time.'

£17.64 Enotria&Coe

Savoury complexity in a richer, new style with a hint of sweetness on the finish gave La Célestière Gold.

'There's pepper, earthy notes, spice and liquorice on the nose,' said Rossano Antonelli of Hawksmoor Air Street, continuing: 'The palate shows good balance and finish, with notes of graphite, raspberry and strawberry.'
Bubbledogs' Sandia Chang also noted 'beef jerky nose and animal skins, with very peppery notes'.

£9.00 The Flying Corkscrew

A star from the start, scoring not just a coveted Critics' Choice gong, but also sharing the Roast Chicken Food Match Trophy. Team leader Natasha Hughes MW highlighted its 'red berries and plum aromas with leather and spicy notes, fairly rustic tannins', while Harry Crowther of M Restaurants enjoyed its 'sweet, ripe black cherry notes, spice and old oak with a clean finish'.

'Match with slow-roasted beef brisket and patatas bravas,' said the WSET's Michael Best.

£8.98 Matthew Clark

Elegance and clear fruit flavours of quince, stone fruit and peach coupled with toasty notes led Ixsir to the Gold podium. Team leader Angela Reddin said: 'Wonderful orange blossom, fresh citrus and melon notes on the nose, followed by an impressive palate that combines luscious, fragrant fruits with a balancing, pithy edge,' continuing: 'This would be a sublime match with a good bouillabaisse.'
Good idea.

£12.88 Enotria&Coe

An exotic nature alongside 'nice fleshiness' and a great price has given SWA its first Romanian Gold.

'Rather good, aromatic, fun and easy, with tutti-frutti flavours, light spice notes and bright acid, pure and excellent value for money,' said Hamish Anderson of The Tate Group, while Spring's Peter McDaid found 'yellow pear aromas, with peach, lemon and kiwi on a very pleasant palate'.

£6.24 Matthew Clark

Mid-orange in colour, this zingy, rounded wine offers something distinctive, scoring it Gold in the process.

'Nice, fresh, spicy and fruity nose, restrained in style with a very interesting palate,' began consultant sommelier Dominique Raclin, while team leader Sarah Jane Evans MW enjoyed its 'oxidised/salmon colour, grapefruit aromas and pink grapefruit palate', concluding: 'Unexpected, and not typical.'

£7.99 Frederic Robinson

Minerality and a plentiful variety of red berries – think raspberries and loganberries for starters – set this wine apart, lifting it to Gold.

'Very modern style, but bright and attractive,' began team leader Annette Scarfe MW, while Sara Bacchiori of Chez Bruce noted 'greengage and herbaceous aromas, strawberry and raspberry palate with a soft, dry finish', and Julien Sahut of Sexy Fish said: 'Peach, apricot, mango and honeyscukle – well balanced.'

£10.75 Enotria&Coe

Gold for the second year in a row for this complex, seductive gem. Chris Wood of Chelsea Vintners found 'complex, nutty, creamy aromas with vegetal and oxidative notes on a delicious,beautiful palate', while team leader Sarah Jane Evans MW noted: 'Powerful vanilla and caramel, volatile aromas, and an equally powerful palate, alive with limes, walnuts, honey and terrifically long. No wine to match this originality.'
Andrés Ituarte of Avenue Restaurant agreed, saying: 'Delicious, with touches of burnt sugar, almond skin, clotted cream and Christmas spices.'
£21.70/50cl

£21.70 Size: 50cl Boutinot

It was the freshness of this PX that marked it out for the top.

'Elegant, balanced and very sweet, as expected, with notes of maple syrup, tarte tatin and an elegant finish,' said Laurent Richet MS of Restaurant Sat Bains, while team leader Sarah Jane Evans MW found it to be 'all about raisins and Christmas cake, overlaid with vanilla and caramel notes on a silky mid-palate, finishing tangy with a certain metallic edge'.

'A great food match,' enthused Zigmars Grinbergs of Vinoteca. £14.02/75cl

£14.02 Size: 75cl Liberty Wines

A great food wine, according to team leader Olivier Marie, who said: 'Aromatic, with slightly floral expression, Muscat-like rose petal and lychee fruit with an exotic finish. Light body but nice fresh acidity.'
Charles Van Wyk of FJB Collection agreed, enjoying its 'lovely mouthfeel and lingering finish', while team leader Hamish Anderson focused on the fragrance, saying: 'Very perfumed, fresh and floral, this is tight, bright and good. Exotic but well balanced.'

£8.35 Top Selection Ltd

Fragrance, length and freshness propelled Franck Massard to the Gold podium with this wine with its lovely, lively spice.

'There's notes of leathery oak on the nose and a finely balanced palate of ripe black fruits and elegant, fine-grained tannins, and a good, long finish,' said team leader Sarah Jane Evans MW, while Alan Brady of Hotel du Vin at One Devonshire Gardens noted 'violet perfume, solid fruits and warm spice'.

£20.29 Enotria&Coe

Power and versatility gave Comenge not just Gold but a Steak Food Match Trophy.

'Garnet in colour, with strong notes of vanilla and spice on the nose, the palate is balanced with fine tannins and acidity, and a good lick of fruit,' said Fifteen Cornwall's Elly Owen.

'Fruity nose with flowery hints, complex with a touch of green herbal aromas,' began Gabriele Galuppo of Theo Randall at the InterContinental, adding: 'Elegant and balanced with silky tannins.'

£12.75 Eurowines

'Very easy drinking, with vanilla, cherries and deep intense fruit,' said JKS Restaurant's Sunaina Sethi of this Gold Lister, continuing: 'The use of new oak is evident. Great value.'
Alex Cooper of Haymarket Hotel found 'bold, dark, rich fruit with a charred and earthy character', while team leader Laura Rhys MS noted 'well-integrated tannins with the acidity bringing freshness on the finish'.

£8.06 Hayward Bros (Wines) Ltd

Toasty oak and spice marry with spicy red and black fruits and a fine price to give Torreduero Gold. A good example of Tempranillo with juicy red and black fruits, and fresh acidity. Team leader Laura Rhys MS found 'dark cherry and berry fruit', while Haymarket Hotel's Alex Cooper noted 'richness and cherry intensity with clove spice notes'.

£6.90 Hayward Bros (Wines) Ltd

A weightier style of white, with its well-integrated oak, the lovely balance and flavours gave Marqués de Riscal a white Gold to match its two red ones. Team leader Annette Scarfe MW enjoyed the 'delicate oak on the nose, fresh acidity and complexity', while Richard Brooks of Caroline Catering found it 'attractively clean and fresh, but rich and ripe with some nice, toasty complexity'.

£9.73 Enotria&Coe

Depth and deft use of oak marked Milénico for the top table.

'Deep purple colour with smoky tobacco, ripe black fruits bringing sweetness on the palate, but fresh blackcurrant acidity and drying tannins providing good balance,' said team leader Tom Forrest, while JKS Restaurant's Sunaina Sethi added: The lovely fruit is deep and intense, tannins are nicely ripe, while oak gives structure. This could do with time or a steak!'

£22.63 Milénico

While still regarded as young, quality shone through for La Unica.

'Ripe with dark fruits on the nose, soft, squashy dark berries and plum on the palate, blackened with vanilla oak,' said team leader Tom Forrest, continuing: 'Drying tannins on the finish, with nice spice.'
'Rich, soft, complex and well balanced,' confirmed Erik Simonics of The Savoy.

'Plenty of potential to be bright and beautiful,' said Bread Street Kitchen's Timothy Connor.

£83.67 Matthew Clark

Great food-matching potential with good value gives Pagos del Rey one of its pair of Golds.

'Lively, young red fruit on the nose, very attractive warm, plummy character,' said Caroline Catering's Richard Brooks, continuing: 'Develops well on the palate, with a good length. Ideal for a range of red meat dishes.'
The Sign of the Don's Arnaud Fiol noted 'good balace, medium body with a vanilla finish'.

£6.20 Matthew Clark

Richness and complexity led Rejadorada to the Gold enclosure.

'Robust and intense, with leathery tobacco characters and grippy tannins,' said Alex Cooper of Haymarket Hotel, while team leader Tom Forrest noted: Llight aromas of violets and black fruits, the palate is soft and smooth with some leafy violets. Nice wine.'
Decant well before serving.

£32.00 Enotria&Coe

Serious and savoury, Godelia struck Gold with its class.

'Good cedar aromas, palate tightly structured with some red fruit notes,' said team leader Sam Caporn MW, while The Vineyard Group's James Hocking added: 'Dusted cocoa powder, coffee and vanilla, the palate is showing bags of rich, red fruits. Crying out for a rare rib-eye steak.'

£10.26 Moreno Wines

Minerals and a zesty fruit flourish marked Mar de Frades out for Gold.

'With its ripe peach and white melon, it's like biting into a fresh peach,' said Ned Neville-Rolfe of Vinoteca King's Cross, 'the acidity cutting through its oily texture.'
Emilie Sagot of The Sign of the Don added: 'Interesting peach and apricot fruit with a nice almond finish.'

£9.75 Cellar Trends, Ellis of Richmond, Sommelier's Choice

Balance and individuality gave Algueira's 100% Mencia a Gold.

'A very pure varietal style with lovely length and fruit purity,' said team leader Sam Caporn MW, continuing: 'Fragrant and unusual, herbal, complex and long. Pure and interesting.'
Zuzanna Rogowska of M Restaurants added: 'Smooth, juicy and delicate, with oak aromas and nice balance. Great quality.'

£28.54 Bibendum

'Aromatic, bath salt fragrance with apricot notes, a little green on the palate but has freshness and length,' said team leader Natasha Hughes MW of this different style of Albariño, with its hint of Moroccan lemons and notes of sea salt. Tanguy Martin of La Trompette also noted 'fennel, almond, peach and apricot' flavours on a 'dry, mineral, classy and vibrant' palate.

£7.63 Majestic Commercial

The first Txakoli Gold for SWA, with a richer version, with texture and depth. Team leader Angela Reddin felt this wine to be 'very specialised' but an ideal match with oysters, with its 'pink grapefruit, pretzel saltiness and very long, mineral finish', while Michael Fiducia of Drake's Restaurant enjoyed its 'warm nose and creamy citrus palate', and The French Table's Sarah Guignard found a 'rich palate of quince and lemon rind, pure on the finish, with camomile and herbs'.

£13.57 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

'Bold and expressive on the nose but very smooth in texture on the palate,' began consultant Sumita Sarma, continuing: 'Leather, tobacco and cedar combine with toasty oak and spices for a beautifully complex, fruit-driven and very concentrated red, that shows great structure and balance in all its elements.'
'Bold style with cranberry, pot pourri herbs, minerals and dried flowers,' added Spring's Peter McDaid.

£11.45 Matthew Clark

Remarkable value alongside engaging flavours gave Casa del Valle a Pub & Bar Trophy.

'Citrus, peach skin nose, consistent flavours on the palate with a spritz on the tongue. Good length and nicely made,' said team leader Angela Reddin, with The French Table's Sarah Guignard picking up on the 'herbaceous nose, slight bite and great weight'.

£4.37 C&D Wines

Sheer quaffability plus a great price took Contralto to the top.

'Bursting with blueberry fruit on the nose, generous and opulent with soft tannic structure on the palate, a really good food wine,' began Harry Crowther of M Restaurants, with Michael Moore of Moore Show Cuisine finding it 'smooth and rich with clean berry fruit, and well suited to roast beef or smoked roast lamb'.

£4.26 C&D Wines

Poise, balance and a delicate complexity gave Finca Constancia Gold.

'It's a lovely bright garnet colour, with plum and ground pepper in the centre and a soft candy finish,' said Nelio Pinto of Candlesticks Hotel & Restaurant. Meanwhile Matthieu Longuère MS of Le Cordon Bleu commented: 'Spicy, violet, herby and floral aromas, full-bodied, easy-drinking, ripe and juicy style with spicy tannins. Good value,' and Vinoteca's Zigmars Grinbergs added: 'There's some sweet spice alongside the red berry fruit.'

£7.99 González Byass

With its 'harmonious, luscious fruit, charming personality and savoury finish, this is very good-value Rioja', said Sketch's Sarah Riddle, while Spring's Peter McDaid found the nose 'floral with notes of cherry, cigar tobacco and heirloom tomato', with some complexity on a palate of 'more tobacco and cherry with hints of orange and eucalyptus'.

'Svelte and elegant, with underlying power and good length,' concluded team leader Angela Reddin.

£9.25 Berkmann Wine Cellars

'Very well made', 'perfect ripeness' and 'well integrated' – some of the reactions from our judges illustrating why Marqués de Riscal is so successful with Rioja.

'Rich, ripe, juicy style, showing soft red strawberry fruit, well integrated and balanced, soft and approachable,' said team leader Annette Scarfe MW.

'It's elegant, with great balance and developing nicely,' said Trangallán's Xabier Álvarez-Valdés. Allow time to open up in the glass.

£8.79 Enotria&Coe

'Really excellent crianza,' said team leader Angela Reddin, illustrating why Rioja Vega struck Gold, and continuing: 'Classic nose, with clean, vibrant fruits, smooth tannins and background oak.'
'Smooth, with tobacco and spicy notes, good balance of tannin, fruit and acidity with herbal notes on the aftertaste,' said Carlos Ferreira of The Sign of the Don.

£10.00 From Vineyards Direct, House of Townend

Appealing on many fronts, with some saying 'rustic', others 'classic', Trangallán's Xabier Álvarez-Valdés spoke for all when he said: 'Lovable and drinkable'. Erik Simonics of The Savoy said: 'It's smooth and soft with juicy tannins, fruity and well balanced, with a medium-length finish,' while team leader Angela Reddin said: 'Raspberry coulis with soft, elegant tannins and length.'
'I would like this in Bar 44!' said Owen Morgan.

£10.07 Majestic Commercial, Direct Wines, C&D Wines

Enikő Heidenwolf of 67 Pall Mall enjoyed the 'classic style' of this wine, noting: 'Savoury, with decent spices on the nose, has a very good texture, grown-up barrel treatment and a long finish.'
'The palate is rich and balanced, with vanilla, bittersweet chocolate and subtle eucalyptus,' said The French Table's Sarah Guignard.

'Save it for your Sunday roast lamb,' added Matthew Cocks of WineEd.

£13.75 Boutinot

'Bright, juicy, well-handled oak with a lovely soft finish. Simple pleasure, but brilliant for the price,' said team leader Hamish Anderson, illustrating how Rioja Santiago lifted Gold.

'Sweet vanilla notes, tobacco, complex and long-lasting. Impressive,' said Zigmars Grinbergs of Vinoteca, with Sushi Samba's Maurizio Palomba adding: 'Coconut spicy notes with toasty vanilla, the very definition of the style and the region.'

£6.47 United Wineries

Breadth of elegant flavours, classic vanilla tones and great value propelled this to the top.

'Dusty, toasted oak typical of the style, with dried fruits and flowers,' began Devon Pryor of Blandford Comptoir, continuing: 'The palate has some good concentration, moderate chewy tannins and nice length.'
'Warm brambly fruit on the nose, with a good creamy finish,' added Sarah Guignard of The French Table.

£10.00 EWGA

Balance, integration and richness sung out from Riscal's second Rioja Gold of 2016. Maurizio Palomba of Sushi Samba enjoyed its 'clean, ripe intensity and rich concentration', while Vinoteca's Zigmars Grinbergs noted a 'rich, aromatic nose, and very balanced dried fruit and toastiness on the palate', and Sue Jones of The Harrow at Little Bedwyn noted 'softer oak, mulberries and damsons'.

£18.30 Enotria&Coe

Phenomenal value alongside purity of fruit gave this a Pub & Bar Trophy as well as Gold.

'Berries and floral notes with good balance on the finish,' said Emilie Sagot of The Sign of the Don, while team leader Martin Lam said: 'Fresh, unoaked, with nice structure. A medium-weight, very good value modern wine.'
‘Very fresh, nice focus, great quality to price ratio,’ added The Clove Club’s Sam Heathcote.

£4.90 Hayward Bros (Wines) Ltd

From Silver for the 2014 in 2015, to Gold for the 2013, age obviously suits Baigorri's barrel-fermented blanco, with its delightful apricot and tart peach notes and lengthy finish. Devon Pryor of Blandford Comptoir found 'sunned hay, bruised golden apples on a savoury, floral palate with good texture', while Laure Patry of Social Wine & Tapas highlighted its 'almonds, floral notes, full toasty palate with herbal notes and well-integrated oak'.

£14.64 Matthew Clark

Exuding class from the start, this Gold Lister shows confit lemon, honey and dry flowers on the nose, according to team leader Andrea Briccarello, with Vittorio Gentile of Theo Randall at the InterContinental saying: 'The palate is elegant, with some coffee layers alongside fruit and mineral notes,' while thinking 'food'! 'Lively mousse, perfumed nose with farmyard hints followed by a citrus profile on the palate with racy acidity,' said Robert Mason of Cheese at Leadenhall.

'Rich, decadent flavour profile in place,' added consultant Claire Love.

£35.00 Boutinot, Christopher Piper Wines

With its crisp elegance and great value for money, Les Roches Blanches scored a worthy Gold with this easy-drinking champagne. With notes of green apple freshness and pastry on the nose, this showed medium-intensity bubbles and a fresh, sherbety finish, according to team leader Tom Forrest.

'Some nutty notes and hints of lemon and pear fruit,' added Piotr Tomaszewski of JKS Restaurants.

£13.50 Kingsland

Ample waves of 'brioche and yeasty notes and great creaminess, with notes of spice. Very good quality', said Andrés Ituarte of Avenue Restaurant, illustrating how Besserat de Bellefon scaled the Gold podium.

'Earthy, delicate nose opening out into red berries and red apple with white grapefruit on the palate,' said Cheese at Leadenhall's Robert Mason, concluding: 'Youthful character, lively and complex.'

£22.50 Bibendum , Matthew Clark

Length, balance and elegance gave Taittinger one of its 2016 Golds.

'High intensity,' began Ivan Vegas of Fox Fine Wines & Spirits, adding: 'Concentrated and very well-developed aromas, fruit and yeast, with a strong but pleasant mousse.'
'Very elegant and smooth with great richness, and a good price point,' said The Savoy's Erik Simonics, while Gareth Ferreira of 67 Pall Mall noted a 'mineral edge, with chalk and flint, to the lemon pithy finish'.

£31.39 Hatch Mansfield

Not one but two 2016 Golds for Palmer & Co, kicking off with this complex Blanc de Blancs with its elegant finish. Michael Fiducia of Drake's Restaurant enjoyed its 'pleasant toasted brioche nose and nicely rounded palate', also highlighting a 'beautifully creamy drive on the finish'.

'Fragrant and smooth, well balanced with great complexity,' added The Savoy's Erik Simonics, and Vittorio Gentile of Theo Randall at the InterContinental noted: 'Dark fruits and spices, with a layer of smoky leaves.'

£28.65 Bibendum

'Well-judged maturity here, very complex and muscular style with a great range of flavours. Good for ageing, and good price point for top-flight restaurants,' said Erik Simonics of The Savoy, while team leader Angela Reddin highlighted its 'heady, toasty nose and very intense, lovely undergrowth aromas', and Hakkasan London's Rebecca Coates noted: 'Roast hazelnut, toasted almond, and baked pastry with red apple and quince.'

£58.07 Bibendum

Not just care but time – this ages for at least five years in the bottle – propelled Devaux's Ultra D to the Gold podium. While Andrés Ituarte of Avenue Restaurant complimented the 'vibrant bubbles, long, pretty palate, with a touch of candied apple and pear', Devon Pryor of Blandford Comptoir found 'some faint brioche or fresh bread, but not toasty', along with 'fresh cream and hints of flowers' on the nose, adding: 'Fine bubbles and loads of minerality on the palate, which lasts alongside fresh lemon and chalky flavours.'
'It's supple, generously flavoured, rich, ripe and pristine,' concluded team leader Simon Woods.

£28.75 Liberty Wines

'Powerful, yeasty flavours but well balanced with a long finish,' said Bread Street Kitchen's Stefano Pirondi, with Tobias Brauweiler MS of Hakkasan Group also finding 'ripe apple and pear, zesty fruit and hints of walnut character'. Team leader Hamish Anderson noted: 'Savoury and complex nose, this has a pure style on the palate with lemon pith and warm bread. Very long and elegant. Yum!'

£30.49 Bibendum

For the second of Heidsieck's two Golds, we have a mature champagne.

'Great stuff, ageing well, with truffle and warm orchard notes,' said team leader Hamish Anderson.

'Here we go,' said an eager Stefano Pirondi of Bread Street Kitchen, adding: 'Freshness, creamy complexity and beauty, nuanced through to the end, and a long and pleasant finish.'
'Soft and easy, but with a lovely intensity of fruit,' added Richard Brooks of Caroline Catering.

'Well put together, elegant and complex,' said Giancarlo Cuccuru of Brackenbury Wine Rooms.

£86.92 Liberty Wines

Delicacy, elegance and a refreshing finish took Gobillard to the Gold podium.

'This is a soft, pretty style. It's young and driven by fruit – pear and raspberry,' said team leader, Hamish Anderson. Richard Brooks of Caroline Catering meanwhile found this 'fresh and attractive on the nose, an easy-drinking style', showing 'zingy, attractive fruit, holding well in the mouth, with decent length for good value'.

£24.91 Enotria&Coe

Freshness, a complex, floral bouquet and a lengthy finish added up to a Gold-winning formula for Jenkyn Place. Apple blossom, citrus zest and lime juice on the nose lead to an apple, lime and grapefruit-infused palate. Rudina Arapi of Galvin at Windows found it 'refreshing, with salty minerality', while team leader Annette Scarfe MW said: 'Zesty, green apple and citrus with a persistent bead.'

£19.00 New Generation Wines

'This really ticks all the boxes, for a very reasonable price,' said Hurley House's Alex Sergeant of England's first sparkling Gold of 2016, commenting on the 'nice, citrus acidity', the 'notes of sharp green apple and lime', and the 'good, lingering finish'. Matthew Cocks of WineEd agreed, saying that this would give 'good exposure for English sparkling at this price point', with its 'ripe pear nose, autolytic notes and rounded balance of fruit and acidity'.

£13.50 Bancroft Wines, Page & Sons Ltd

'Tasty and fresh. And complex,' said Trangallán's Xabier Álvarez-Valdés, neatly summarising how Camel Valley took Gold with its Cornwall Brut. Team leader Angela Reddin noted: 'Nougat and praline, citrus and blossom on the nose,' and Sunaina Sethi of JKS Restaurants concluded: 'With good fruit and floral blossom notes, it's well made and balanced, elegant and delicate.'
Indeed.

£20.79 Matthew Clark, Camel Valley, St Austell Brewery

A worthy winner of the Fish & Chips Food Match Trophy, 'This is very toasty and rich in the mouth, showing fruit skin and hazelnut flavours, some oxidation, but plenty of body and length,' said team leader Angela Reddin.

'Quite ripe, beautifully lifting,' agreed Bart Michalewicz of Park Chinois, while Trangallán's Xabier Álvarez-Valdés called it 'intense, ripe and elegant', noting 'texture, ripe citrus fruit and complexity'.

£13.99 Bluebell Vineyard Estates

'English wine rivalling champagne – and more,' said Vinoteca's Zigmars Grinbergs, adding: 'There's some slightly oxidative notes which mean to add complexity – and they do!' 'Deep in colour, ripe fruits join toasty notes, light smoke and bracing acidity,' said Skylon's Marco Marcuzzo, while Nelio Pinto of Candelsticks Hotel & Restaurant said: 'White pepper, honey and grapefruit, with a persistent mineral character,' and Tobias Brauweiler MS of Hakkasan Group highlighted its 'almond hints and apple pie on the palate, smooth texture and balance with notes of rich fruit, hazelnut and mineral freshness to finish'.

£22.00 Wright Wine Co, Clark Foyster Wines Ltd

Not many producers do the double, bagging two Golds, but Gusbourne has, with this complex, finely balanced Blanc de Blancs with a lengthy finish responsible for one of the pair.

'Very interesting palate,' said Sarah Riddle of Sketch, 'with its mix of floral, violet tones, and its biscuity richness and lemony hints.'
Team leader Anne Krebiehl MW found 'riper apple flavours and a richer, honeyed style with layered citrus and mineral characters', while Andrés Ituarte of Avenue Restaurant enjoyed its 'fine mousse and very creamy mouthfeel, delicate but lovely'.

£26.00 Wright Wine Co, Clark Foyster Wines Ltd

The second year in a row for High Clandon at the Gold table.

'La classe!' began an impressed Christopher Delalonde MS of Medlar Restaurant, continuing: 'Fresh, bright nose with nuts, confit fruit, crushed berries, underlined with minerals. Complex, driven and taut mid-palate with texture and lift. The composition brings ripeness, density and tension together on a long finish with a touch of saltiness adding to the spectrum. Lovely weight with chiselling acidity profile.'
'Great style,' added team leader Angela Reddin, 'with a sustained sparkle and roast lemons on the palate.'

£23.00 High Clandon Estate Vineyard

From Silver in 2015 for its Brut Royal to Gold in 2016 for its Extra Brut, this predominantly Chardonnay sparkler, with 13% Riesling and 7% Sauvignon Blanc, was pronounced 'very unusual,' by team leader Sam Caporn MW, who added: 'With its green grass and pepper nose, this is very refreshing with lovely acid and balance.'
Stefan Kobald of Social Wine & Tapas found a range of aromas of 'citrus, nuts, white peach, apple, raspberry and light toasty notes', and Andre Luis Martins of St James's Hotel and Club noted 'delicate herbal and intense, zesty aromas mix with a bouquet of white flowers, and a delicate minerality on the finish'.

£10.38 Viña Undurraga

The benefits of time gave this wine both class and a Gold.

'Gentle toasty notes mix with white floral aromas and light apricot aromas,' said Andre Luis Martins of St James's Hotel and Club, adding: 'Citrus and earthy characters mix with rich toast on the palate, leading to a fresh finish.'
Vincent Pastorello of Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester found 'elegant, vibrant, lemony notes and a hint of minerals on the nose, and a clean palate with balanced acidity', while The Savoy's Erik Simonics noted a 'broad range of flavours and great drinkability'.

£12.46 Bibendum

This had baked apple notes aplenty.

'Clean and commercial, but rich, ripe and enticing on the nose,' said team leader Olivier Marie, continuing: 'Shows a generosity of fruit with a balanced, off-dry style, a little autolytic character and fresh brioche notes. Fantastic with Indian or other spicy dishes.'

£11.00 Boutinot

Versatility, elegance and complexity were just a few of the reasons 1701's Satèn took Gold.

'It has green apple and lemon aromas alongside pastry and toast notes, and hints of bruised apple,' said team leader Tom Forrest. A good match for sole meunière or butter sauce dishes, suggested Laurent Richet MS of Restaurant Sat Bains, or on its own as an aperitif, with its 'forward, hazelnut aromas and clean, balanced palate'.

£17.43 1701 srl

Richness, a great price and fine food friendliness brought Szigeti its second Gold.

'Yeast notes mix with ripe tropical fruit on a balanced palate,' said Erik Simonics of The Savoy. Devon Pryor of Blandford Comptoir found 'aromatic, bitter orange fruits' and a palate of 'considerable concentration', while The Ledbury's Mya Brown noted 'tropical, green pineapple, melon and lemongrass acidity'.

£10.75 Grays & Feather

Delicacy and restraint won Szigeti the first of its two Golds.

'A real mouthful of strawberry fruit,' said Richard Brooks of Caroline Catering, continuing: 'An appealing summer wine to drink on the lawn or pair with chicken salad-style dishes.'
'Notes of rosewater, melon and cranberry,' said Hakkasan Group's Tobias Brauweiler MS, adding: 'Fresh, crisp acidity on the palate leading to touches of spice on a long finish.'

£10.35 Grays & Feather

'A bright, easy, balanced wine,' said Caroline Catering's Richard Brooks, adding: 'It's an easy-drinking style and versatile enough to drink solo or with a range of foods. Develops well in the mouth with a pleasant lemony finish.'
Team leader Olivier Marie said: 'Palate shows elegance and depth of bright fruit and a saline, nautical character.'

£9.25 Majestic Commercial

'Elegant and classy,' said Lois Dufouleur of 28°-50° Maddox Street, summarising why Ferrari's Perlé took Gold. Team leader Andrea Briccarello enjoyed its 'clean, intense, ripe pineapple aromas and guava hints, dry, crisp and complex' character, while Laurent Richet MS of Restaurant Sat Bains also found 'intense aromas of hazelnut pancakes with a note of ginger'.

£22.13 Enotria&Coe

An exciting find, this Slovenian Gold. Tobias Brauweiler MS of Hakkasan Group found complex aromatics of 'floral, lavender, orange blossom and hazelnut', followed by an 'open, dry palate with fresh acidity, good phenolics and light bubbles', while consultant Sunaina Sethi noted: 'Stewed apples and pears on a rounded, elegant palate, with a great, bright acid structure.'

£20.02 Radgonske gorice

An intricate fragrance way beyond its price point impressed the judges, as did its versatility, epitomised by its triumph in the Food Match round, scooping up the inaugural Pannacotta Trophy. Pure Yellow Muscat, at 6% abv, there's 'plenty of floral aromas, continuing to the palate', said Timothy Connor of Bread Street Kitchen.

'Peach and honey on the nose, not complex yet quite rich on the palate, good value for a well-chilled option in the summer,' suggested Fiona Bastia of Park Chinois.

'Very aromatic, easy-drinking style, with banana and lychee aromas,' agreed Emilie Sagot of The Sign of the Don.

£7.97 Ca' del Colle

'Floral, easy and open, with a well-integrated sweetness, and juicy pear flavours that add texture,' said team leader Hamish Anderson. Not just a Gold Lister, but a By The Glass Trophy holder, too. Meg Ryan of Fox Fine Wines & Spirits said: 'Delicate lemon and grapefruit citrus with stony mineral and green apple notes; highly carbonated but soft bubbles,' and Plateau Restaurant's Tomasz Kuszneruk added: 'Floral, aromatic and expressive.'

£9.10 Eurowines

'Interesting,' began team leader Andrea Briccarello, going on: 'Very intense honeyed notes on the palate with lots of flowers, good complexity and a dry finish.'
'Intense fruit, rich peach and light citrus with sweet spice notes,' added Andre Luis Martins of The Cavalry and Guards Club. While good as an aperitif, many recognised its food-matching potential, with suggestions of sashimi and Asian dishes being the most popular.

£20.24 Bibendum

Power, richness and spice shone through in this 10-year-old vintage champagne. Andre Luis Martins of The Cavalry and Guards Club highlighted its 'light raspberry and gentle pear character, elegant body and strawberry with a delicate finish', while The Sign of the Don's Carlos Ferreira was impressed with its 'spicy almond and dried fruit aromas, fresh toast and a beautiful expression of mixed floral and red fruit flavours with a very long finish', and team leader Tom Forrest appreciated the 'brioche and pastry notes, the nice savoury yeast and fruit notes'.

£140.63 Hatch Mansfield, Matthew Clark

Balance and a broad, red fruit palette of flavours set Moët's rosé apart. Plenty of fruit here for Meg Ryan of Fox Fine Wines & Spirits: 'Ripe peach, raspberry, grapefruit, strawberry. Fruit-forward style with good balance and moderate acidity.'
'Crisp, refreshing and zingy,' added team leader Andrea Briccarello, of this posed sparkler, with its lemon-, apple- and red-fruit-infused finish.

£33.50 Moët Hennessy

Oeil de Perdrix in colour, the poise and talent shone through, scooping Heidsieck Gold.

'Some savoury yeast notes on the nose, leads to a soft, strawberry palate, with light, savoury Marmite notes, and a beautiful fresh finish,' said team leader Tom Forrest. A fuller style, as Carlos Ferreira of The Sign of the Don described: 'Very good nose with spicy almond and oak. Crispy acidity and toasty oak on the palate, spicy from the oak ageing, with a great, lengthy orange peel after-palate.'

£36.32 Liberty Wines

'Great value, well-balanced with refreshing acidity and long finish,' was Piero Pruneri of Aramark at JP Morgan's summary of why this scored Gold.

'A lovely nose, with ripe fruit on the palate – like strawberries on toast,' was how James Hocking of The Vineyard Group put it.

'Citrus and berry-driven nose, well put together with a lovely balance of acidity and dosage,' began Mike Best of WSET, concluding: 'Fresh and classy, and will only get better.'

£27.82 Liberty Wines

'Charming', 'easy to drink', 'good balance and good value' – no wonder this secured Gold! 'This is a riper style with red fruit, a touch of extraction and autolytic notes. Bright, crisp and clean on the palate,' said WSET's Mike Best, while team leader Jade Koch added: 'Lovely fruit character and juicy, bright breeziness through the mid-palate,' and Andre Luis Martins of The Cavalry and Guards Club picked out 'wild strawberries and light white flowers' on the nose, with 'fresh strawberry and pear fruit on the palate, with its gentle mousse and light white pepper notes'.

£18.96 Harrow & Hope

With its balance, orange zest freshness and good value, this was a popular Gold winner.

'Classic marmalade, confit orange aromas, floral and honeyed with lots of sweetness on the palate and good balance,' said Laure Patry of Social Wine & Tapas.

'Lasting flavour of more than just sugar, and rather complex on the palate,' added Devon Pryor of Blandford Comptoir. £10.98/37.5cl

£10.98 Size: 37.5cl Matthew Clark

The beginning of the Eiswein Gold hat-trick sees Vidal elevated to the podium.

'Peachy apricot, waxy, concentrated aromas, sweet and luscious on the palate, ripe and rounded, but delicate and balanced with refreshing acidity,' said Diana Rollan of Hakkasan London.

'Decadent, ripe, lovely balance,' added JKS Restaurants' Sunaina Sethi, with an impressed Sandia Chang of Bubbledogs saying: 'Grilled pineapple skins with thyme, mango and puckering acidity on the palate. Great with grilled peaches and mascarpone.'
Mmm! £25.98/37.5cl

£25.98 Size: 37.5cl Enotria&Coe

'Thrilling purity of fruit!' began team leader Anne Krebiehl MW, illustrating how Peller scored its second ice wine Gold, while Robert Mason of Cheese at Leadenhall put it equally simply: 'Baked apples with typicity. Gorgeous.'
Team leader Angela Reddin was more verbose: 'Honeycomb and marmalade. Apricot jam in the mouth. Creamy length. A definite food match for panna cotta.'
£29.53/37.5cl

£29.53 Size: 37.5cl Enotria&Coe

'Delicious coffee bean notes with a luscious and fresh mid-palate,' said team leader Annette Scarfe MW, with Andrea Domenicucci of Whatley Manor succinctly summarising how this took Gold: 'Beautiful sweet style, extraordinary finish.'
Elly Owen of Fifteen Cornwall went further: 'Raisiny and pruny, with burnt caramel notes on the nose, continuing to the palate, balanced by good fruit.'
£26.83/37.5cl

£26.83 Size: 37.5cl Matthew Clark

Richness, honey, freshness – Istvàn Szepsy weaves his magic with this Gold winner.

'Marmalade, honey, curd, with a deep orange colour, there's enough fruit cutting through to keep things fresh. Very good,' said Bar 44's Owen Morgan. Laure Patry of Social Wine & Tapas found mandarin character on the nose with a palate 'very sweet, low on acidity but good freshness mid-palate', while Vinoteca's Zigmars Grinbergs felt it was 'very exotic and complex, with tertiary nutty flavours'.

'Perfect with hard cheese,' was team leader Annette Scarfe MW's tip. And we suspect a manner of other dishes. £67.16/50cl

£67.16 Size: 50cl Top Selection Ltd

A delicate delight offering seriously good value, this entranced all who had the chance to taste, making it a very worthy Critics Choice Trophy winner.

'Light and sweet, with red apple and moderate acids, simple and a touch floral,' said Andrés Ituarte of Avenue Restaurant, adding: 'Very delicate with lychee juice, tropical notes and a slight spritz.'
Owen Morgan of Bar 44 picked up petroleum hints on the slight tropical nose, with 'enough acidity to refresh and freshen'. £7.45/75cl

£9.50 Size: 75cl Sommelier's Choice

Hakkasan London's Diana Rollan was taken with this Gold winner's complexity: 'Luscious, ripe, balanced and elegant, showing mushroomy, concentrated, peachy, dried apricot and marmalade fruit.'
'Well made, decadent, peachy and complex,' agreed JKS Restaurants' Sunaina Sethi.

'It's unctuously intense, with oodles of tropical fruit. Crystallised heaven,' said team leader Angela Reddin, while Bubbledog's Sandia Chang noted that the palate had a 'steely minerality and strangely juicy, fruity nature'. Impressive. £39.95/37.5cl

£39.95 Size: 37.5cl Liberty Wines

Complexity and length took L'Ermita to the top.

'Pleasant herbal notes an hints of the garrigue alongside small red berries, ripe but firm tannins, backed by spicy notes of cloves and pepper on a juicy palate,' said Laurent Chaniac of Cinnamon Club.

'Rich, concentrated, dried red fruits with secondary and tertiary notes of leather, cured meats and sweet cedar spices,' added FJB Collection's Charles Van Wyk, while Avenue Restaurant's Andrés Ituarte added: 'Stony character mixes with jammy dark fruits and a touch of tar.'
£22.19/50cl

£22.19 Size: 50cl Hallgarten & Novum Wines

Complexity allied with beautiful fruit and oak gave Doluca its red Gold.

'Very expressive palate showing sour spices and gamey notes,' began Vittorio Gentile of Theo Randall at the InterContinental, while Piotr Tomaszewski of JKS Restaurants noted 'red cabbage, a touch of reduction but in a good way, as it's very elegant on the palate, with cherry and plum fruit and some leafy notes'.

£25.85 Doluca

Depth at a good price gave Büyülübağ Gold.

'Fleshy and appealing, with smoke and tarry red fruits, bright acids and chewy tannins,' said team leader Natasha Hughes MW, while Nausicaa Rotoloni of Roka Mayfair found a 'nice blend of fruit and earthy characters, showing ripe black fruit on the palate with hints of liquorice spice and leather, balanced by good acidity'.

£9.92 Turkish Fine Wines

Sevilen return to the Gold podium with this floral, juicy number.

'There's pretty red fruit and good balance,' said Hakkasan London's Rebecca Coates, suggesting it should be served chilled.

'Delicate plum, sweet spices with fresh aromas, dry on the palate with more plum and spice, green leaf tobacco notes,' said Andre Luis Martins of The Cavalry and Guards Club.

£15.67 Try Wines

Doluca's second Gold is both aromatic and versatile – and a Critics' Choice Trophy winner.

'The zingy, tangy fruit holds well in the mouth. An attractive wine I'd be happy to drink on its own or with fish or salads,' said Richard Brooks of Caroline Catering.

'Pleasant pear, peach and floral notes, quite juicy and fresh on the palate, with lovely fruit and great elegance. Long and pleasing on the finish, too,' said Matthieu Longuère MS of Le Cordon Bleu.

£8.13 Tees

'Crystal bright and fresh, this is a very attractive off-dry style,' said Richard Brooks of Caroline Catering, illustrating why Kavaklidere won Turkey's first white Gold, and continuing: 'Really appealing and easy drinking – and great value.'
'Aroma notes of lime peel and underripe mango, with good balance and length on the palate,' said Harry Crowther of M Restaurants. Match with salads and seafood.

£4.08 Tees

Expressive aromatics and more good value gave Kavaklidere its second white Gold and a By The Glass Trophy, too.

'Rose and lychee on the nose and palate, with good acidity. A good wine,' began team leader Martin Lam, with 67 Pall Mall's Enikő Heidenwolf agreeing: 'Love it on the nose, so light and fresh, with lemon fruit on the finish,' and The Sign of the Don's Arnaud Fiol saying: 'This is elegant with exotic and spicy flavours.'

£6.48 Kavaklidere Saraplari

'Lovely, not too heavy, it's still got the typical character, but it's easy to enjoy,' said Zigmars Grinbergs of Vinoteca of this violet-scented Gold Lister and By The Glass Trophy holder.

'Dark, vibrant fruits and lightly oaked, soft and juicy on the palate with a decent finish,' began Harry Crowther of M Restaurants, with team leader Tom Forrest also finding 'ripe, sweet berry fruits and a juicy finish'.

£5.06 Kingsland

Great balance, ripe tannins and a generous fleshiness gave Heirloom one of its two Shiraz Golds.

'Rich, dark and complex red with notes of chocolate, blueberry and blackberry,' began Timothy Connor of Bread Street Kitchen, with team leader Laura Rhys MS noting 'sweet spicy oak, big alcohol but integrated'.

'With its minty/eucalyptus notes, it's a real expression of Australia,' said Guillaume Kaczmar of L'Ortolan.

£11.50 Liberty Wines

'Fresh, clean, delicate and elegant,' said a happy Sunaina Sethi of JKS Restaurants of this Gold winner, adding: 'Nice length – and great value.'
Frédéric Jean-Yves Billet of Luton Hoo Hotel Golf & Spa found 'nice fruit, lemon peel and peach blossom notes on a long finish'.

'Stone fruit, easy-drinking, soft and fresh,' agreed The Ledbury's Mya Brown.

£6.85 Boutinot

Beguiling florals alongside a textured richness and good value took Château de Campuget to the Gold podium. Giacomo Dragoni of Galvin La Chapelle found a 'balance of mature and aromatic notes on the nose', while team leader Simon Woods highlighted 'mineral, custard apple notes, ginger spice with Parma Violets and rose petal perfume, and great length. Tasty', while

£9.74 Hallgarten & Novum Wines