Congratulations to the winners of the Decanter World Wine Awards 2016, especially to those of our producers who were singled out for their excellence!
Tenuta Cavalier Pepe, La Loggia Del Cavaliere Riserva, Taurasi, Campania, Italy, 2009
Platinum: “Best Red Southern Italy over £15”
“95/100 A captivating nose with Mediterranean brush, incense and showing signs of development. Ripe and full of damson spice, chocolate, oak with vanilla, coffee and clove on the palate. A full and dense wine with very soft tannins. Elegant.”
Weingut Hans Wirsching, Iphöfer Julius-Echter-Berg Silvaner, Franken, Germany, 2014
Platinum: “Best German Dry White over £15”
“95/100 Altogether superior! A very pretty lemon and apple nose is followed by a powerful, spicy medium-bodied palate. This is totally engaging, with marked intensity, complexity and purity of fruit. Gets revs of flavour up and running and keeps the pedal down throughout. Outstanding Sylvaner with admirable structure and length.”
Château Branaire-Ducru, Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, France, 2013–Gold
“95/100 Beautifully aromatic and perfumed, with notes of violet and currant fruit, some lovely oak spice on the nose, the palate is concentrated and truly charming, layered and textured with superb length.”
Château de Léoube, Secret de Léoube, Côtes de Provence, Provence, France, 2015–Silver
“90/100 Haunting aromas of earth, straw, summer breezes and cream in the churn. Soft, gentle, rich and elegant. A lovely, elegant refined rose. The lees work is superb and it has a wonderful textured, understated poise.”
Château Léoube, Côtes de Provence, Provence, France, 2015–Silver
“90/100 Soft, creamy and classy aromas of subtle peach flowers and quince. Secondary on the palate. A vinous rose, light with aromatic quality and sappy- creamy vegetal notes. Subtle personality, complexity and a lingering finish.”
Château Tour de Gilet, Bordeaux Supérieur, Bordeaux, France, 2014–Silver
“90/100 Restrained nose of black fruit with a touch of spice. Layers of creamy concentrated fruit on the palate develop to a crescendo of plum, dark cherry, chocolate, spice and oak, superbly complex and satisfying.”
Château Yon-Figeac, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2013–Silver
“90/100 Fine aromas of currants and berries. Elegant and discreet with fine acidity. Well tuned tannins, announcing well presented red fruit and spice notes. Long,refined classic poise. Super wine.”
Domaine Cottebrune, Le Caϊrn, Faugères, Languedoc-Roussillon, France, 2014–Silver
“90/100 Honey and cream on the nose. Stylish on the palate with pear, herbal notes, stones and aromatic cut herbs. Seamless, generous and long.”
Domaine Masson-Blondelet, Villa Paulus, Pouilly-Fumé, Loire, France, 2015–Silver
“91/100 A subtle nose of crisp crunchy plum and capiscum has aromas of gunflint and citrus. The ripe palate of juicy fruits is well supported by the mineral core and freshness, leading to a great length.”
Guerrieri Rizzardi, Valpolicella Classico, Valpolicella Classico, Veneto, Italy, 2015–Silver
“90/100 Elegant inky fruit, loganberry, blueberry and plum with a touch of chocolate and smoke on the nose. Classy, suave and polished palate packed with confit cassis, black graphite and underpinned by finely grained tannins and a good acidity. Exquisite.”