Tuscany & other Central Italy

A very typical Sangiovese nose, with lovely complexity. Dry herbs and sweet spices, balsamic notes, dry cherries and prunes, with a long finish.'
Isa Bal MS, head of judging.

'Cherry fruits with darker plummy depths, this has a spicy edge too, with hints of tobacco leaf and liquorice. Good weight and balance – an attractive wine.'
Andrew Catchpole, Harpers Wine & Spirit.

£55.00 Size: 75cl Alliance Wine

'Herbal upfront, with hints of menthol on the nose and palate. This has high acidity and grippy tannins – there’s good potential to age here.'
Andrew Catchpole, Harpers Wine & Spirit.

'A very well made wine, with great structure that balances tannins and acidity, as well as typical Sangiovese fruit. A long finish too. Top class.'
Isa Bal MS, head of judging.

£65.00 Size: 75cl Alliance Wine

'This is showing some tertiary development, with good acidity and tannins that are firm but fine. There’s nice underlying fruit here, and some elegance too.'
Andrew Catchpole, Harpers Wine & Spirit.

'Still very young, with oak dominating at this stage, but it will settle down – a wine that will reward being kept for longer.'
Isa Bal MS, head of judging.

£72.37 Size: 75cl Pol Roger

'Enjoyable, with sweet spices, cherry and plum on the fruity nose.'
Isa Bal MS, head of judging.

'An intense nose with red and darker fruits, some nice depth and breadth, and slightly-drying tannins, with a long finish.'
Andrew Catchpole, Harpers Wine & Spirit.

£32.67 Size: 75cl Pol Roger

'Intense and complex, with ripe red fruit like red plum, strawberry and dark cherry, as well as baking spices and wet forest floor. The palate is long lasting and complex, with a fruity, leathery character.'
María Federica Salvador, consultant sommelier.

£24.00 Size: 75cl Hallgarten & Novum Wines

'A deep, golden colour, with intense concentration of yellow apples and pears.'
Natalja Senina, Chewton Glen.

'Ripe stone fruit, with apricot marmalade alongside acacia and some subtle oak notes. Complex, with a long finish.'
María Federica Salvador, consultant sommelier.

£13.92 Size: 75cl Bibendum

'Nicely poised, with a little pear drop – great value for money.'
Joshua Castle, Noble Rot.

'Bright fresh, with good acidity, this is a strong wine for the price, well suited to a pub garden in the sunshine, with a plate of charcuterie.'
Stephanie Robertson, Restaurant Associates.

£8.98 Size: 75cl Bibendum

'Fresh, aromatic and vibrant, with a touch of sweet spice balanced by great minerality.'
Sabrina Manolio, consultant sommelier.

'Lively Mediterranean sea breeze aromas with a herbal tinge, and a light oiliness. A great sommelier-selection hand sell.'
Joshua Castle, Noble Rot.

£13.08 Size: 75cl Louis Latour Agencies

Showing good varietal character, this is bright, fresh and clean, with red fruit on the nose and palate. Quite an elegant style, with very attractive drinkability.'
Andrew Catchpole, Harpers Wine & Spirit.

'A typical nose of red fruit, baked soil and sweet spices, with a pleasant finish.'
Isa Bal MS, head of judging.

£20.23 Size: 75cl Louis Latour Agencies

'Red fruit with forest floor and black pepper spice. Long lasting, with high tannins and ripe fruit character.'
María Federica Salvador, consultant sommelier.

'With intense blackcurrant, this is showing development yet finesse, with oak present yet integrated, and sweet spice character.'
Vincenzo Arnese, Raffles London at The OWO.

£24.28 Size: 75cl Hallgarten & Novum Wines

'Intense stone fruit, with apricot and peach notes, a hint of oak and good creaminess, with a little nutmeg. Good complexity, and a good wine for food, that would pair well with rich and fleshy fish, such as seabass or monkfish.'
Vincenzo Arnese, Raffles London at The OWO

£24.14 Size: 75cl Zonin UK

'Dark cherry, red strawberry and fig, with herbal notes too, like rosemary and pepper. The tannins are mature, with some smoky oak notes.'
María Federica Salvador, consultant sommelier.

'Intense aromas of ripe blackberry and blueberry, with a touch of sweet cinnamon and vanilla.'
Natalja Senina, Chewton Glen.

£59.14 Size: 75cl Zonin UK

'Complex, with a fruity, spicy character. Notes of strawberry and red berry, as well as clove and black pepper spice.'
María Federica Salvador, consultant sommelier.

'A good balance between ripeness and vinous aromas, with notes of prune and sultana, good structure and tertiary aromas too.'
Vincenzo Arnese, Raffles London at The OWO.

£35.80 Size: 75cl Zonin UK

'Intense and very complex, with ripe stone fruit including apricot and yellow plum, as well as coconut and vanilla. Very expressive and long lasting.'
María Federica Salvador, consultant sommelier.

'Peach and white plum, with citrus too, and a note of iodine too, with a creamy texture.'
Vincenzo Arnese, Raffles London at The OWO.

£17.11 Size: 75cl Alliance Wine

'A nice expression of the style, with bigger tannins making this a good food wine, and one that could age a little longer.'
Stephanie Robertson, Restaurant Associates.

'Light red berry fruit, with some high acidity.'
Nicolo Cereghini, Hélène Darroze at The Connaught.

£12.27 Size: 75cl Bibendum

'Bright and crunchy, this delivers for the price.'
Joshua Castle, Noble Rot.

'Spice, meaty, dusty and earthy, a perfect pub wine by the glass.'
Stephanie Robertson, Restaurant Associates.

£8.98 Size: 75cl Bibendum

'A weighty, intense wine with some herbal notes and some tertiary development, and some length, with chunky tannins.'
Andrew Catchpole, Harpers Wine & Spirit.

'Well made, with some typicity, and a slight note of reduction on the palate.'
Isa Bal MS, head of judging.

£39.99 Size: 75cl Bibendum

Autumnal aromas suggest an oxidative style, with some subtle, grippy tannins.'
Joshua Castle, Noble Rot.

'A natural style, with apricot and almond notes, this is a real food wine that would work in fine dining restaurants, perhaps paired with a double-baked cheese soufflé.'
Stephanie Robertson, Restaurant Associates.

£35.06 Size: 75cl Alliance Wine

An interesting dusty, earthy, herbal note on the nose, with a meatiness too.'
Stephanie Robertson, Restaurant Associates.

'A pleasant palate with juicy, ripe red fruits, and a vibrant, rounded texture. Great by-the-glass option, and for pairing too.'
Sabrina Manolio, consultant sommelier.

£17.85 Size: 75cl Hallgarten & Novum Wines

'Red cherry and darker fruits, as well as some spice and a hint of balsamic, this has a fresh core and slightly grippy tannins.'
Andrew Catchpole, Harpers Wine & Spirit.

'A very modern rendition of Sangiovese that has everything going for it, and just needs more time.'
Isa Bal MS, head of judging.

£50.28 Size: 75cl Louis Latour Agencies

'With intense blackcurrant notes, this is ripe and rich, with a little spiciness and some black pepper aromas, leading to a ripe palate with integrated tannins, and notes of nutmeg and cedar from the oak, leading to a good finish.'
Vincenzo Arnese, Raffles London at The OWO.

£40.24 Size: 75cl Louis Latour Agencies

'Incredibly complex, with beautiful freshness and ripe, red fruits that evolve into dry prune with balsamic notes, leather and tobacco leaves, and a long, elegant finish. An outstanding wine.'
Sabrina Manolio, consultant sommelier.

'A food-pairing wine suited to gastropubs and restaurants.'
Nicolo Cereghini, Hélène Darroze at The Connaught.

£31.12 Size: 75cl Hallgarten & Novum Wines

A deep colour, almost purple, and sweet blackberry tart notes with high tannins. A food wine for sure.'
Stephanie Robertson, Restaurant Associates.

'Rich and complex, with spice and tertiary notes – a good by-the-glass option for restaurants.'
Nicolo Cereghini, Hélène Darroze at The Connaught.

£13.80 Size: 75cl Hallgarten & Novum Wines

'Ripe and developed fruits, with a gamey note and nice herbal character. Good structure and ripe tannins, with a moderate finish.'
Vincenzo Arnese, Raffles London at The OWO.

'Earthy notes of forest floor, with sour cherry, some spices, fennel and leather.'
Leonardo Barlondi, The Dorchester.

£19.38 Size: 75cl Jeroboams

'A leaner style that works really well, with a tight palate and noticeable high acidity, and tart red fruits, leading to a long finish.'
Isa Bal MS, head of judging.

'Red fruits and some spice, as well as herbal-menthol notes, with chewy tannins and a grippy finish.'
Andrew Catchpole, Harpers Wine & Spirit.

£36.84 Size: 75cl Pol Roger

'A savoury wine, with cherry, strawberry and pomegranate aromas, as well as a touch of herbaceousness, and an earthiness too.'
Natalja Senina, Chewton Glen.

'Notes of sour cherry, tomato and balsamic, with some violet too.'
Leonardo Barlondi, The Dorchester.

£25.76 Size: 75cl Alliance Wine