Classic Zin from Seghesio, and a worthy recipient of the Gold. ‘Aromas of tobacco and dried herbs with blackcurrant and leafy tea notes,’ began Hakkasan Group’s Diana Rollan, who enjoyed its ‘well-integrated oak and high tannins on the palate, ripe and rounded character with good acidity and cherry notes on a savoury finish’. ‘Intense blackberry and spiciness, leading to a rich and smooth palate with good balance,’ thought Cépages Wine Bistro’s Geoffray Bénat, while team leader Martin Lam thought it had ‘well-integrated fruit and oak, as well as freshness and fruit ripeness – great with gamey stews’.

£17.50 Liberty Wines

‘Tobacco and sweet spices with black fruit on the nose, big and bold on a dry palate, fleshy with good structure and a sweet aftertaste of kirsch and violets,’ said Diana Rollan of Hakkasan Group, while team leader Angela Reddin was impressed with its ‘really nice balance, smoky and leathery nose with fruit bursting out on the palate, giving blackcurrant pastille and rich cherry notes’.

£11.52 Bibendum

Diana Rollan of Hakkasan Group found that this ‘invites you to keep drinking’, with its ‘plum, liquorice, tobacco and cedar wood aromas, savoury and ripe, rounded balance on the palate and good freshness’. ‘Lovely balance and poise for such a powerhouse,’ added team leader Angela Reddin.

£12.98 Bibendum

Team leader Angela Reddin enjoyed this wine’s ‘blueberry compote spice aromas and lovely intensity of rich fruit in the mouth’, and felt it had ‘just enough tannin and acidity to give structure and freshness’. ‘Characterful, fruity, nice and chocolatey with a minty bitterness, but well integrated, too,’ added J Corey Evans of St Swithins Wine Shippers.

£9.72 Berkmann Wine Cellars

£6.09 Boutinot

£12.51 Boutinot

£17.45 Bibendum