Italy: Sicily & Sardinia - White
2018 Gold 3 Silver 3 Bronze 5 Commended 7
2017 Gold 3 Silver 7 Bronze 7 Commended 4
Where do you stand on the big issues of the day? Brexit? Trump? Vermentino? On this evidence our tasters were more positive about the latter than the first two, but only just. We had plenty of them sent in, but not many made the cut, and despite some positive overall feedback in the early rounds, none did better than Bronze.
Other than that, it was open season – our tasters happy to reward Grillos, Catarrattos, Chardonnays and blends with gay abandon. Key to their success was the improved balance they were seeing in the wines. Where a few years ago, there was a misguided attempt to ‘create value’ by over-oaking varieties that didn’t need it and then slapping an optimistic price tag on, we saw much more sensitive winemaking here this year: wines of character, with breadth, texture and unforced freshness, mostly at good prices. They were wines that transported our judges from a chilly spring day in London to the sun-glinted shores of the Mediterranean.
FROM THE TASTING TEAMS
‘When people choose wines from the south they want freshness, predominantly – something that you can enjoy with fresh seafood, to remind you of the summer.’ Simone Fadda, Roka Aldwych
‘These were very aromatic: good for shellfish and light fish dishes.’ Cristian Sánchez, Hotel du Vin Cambridge
‘The Vermentinos were concentrated, with great quality to price ratio.’ Mattia Mazzi, Lutyens Bar & Restaurants
‘These should be great value for money, but they weren’t always.’ Timothy Connor, Core by Clare Smyth
‘A flight of two halves. After £11 the grape varieties started to show through, with freshness, minerality and more of a personality.’ Robert Mason, Cheese at Leadenhall