Wine Awards season is back with us. Fortunately, we’re pleased to say that this year again a number of our wines brought home some fantastic results. This highlights yet again the quality of our offering and brings much-deserved recognition for the hard work our winemakers and agency partners put in throughout the year! Here’s a selection of the stand-out results for 2022:

Decanter World Wine Awards:

Emiliana Salvaje Syrah 2021: “Refreshing and gastronomic, with some wild rough edges that suit the style. The nose is very fresh, with concentrated, dense ripe, but not overripe aromas of cassis and blueberry underlain by a well-defined violet flower perfume. The palate is very concentrated, slightly reductive, but very youthful and bright.” 95 Points, Gold & Value Award

Nanny Goat “Queensberry Vineyards” Pinot Noir 2020: “A bouquet with aromas of dark cherry, plums and wild thyme, forest flowers and dried herbs. Firm backbone of tannins and acidity on the palate.” 96 Points, Gold

Henners Brut NV: “A very appealing wine. Citrus peel, crystallised fruits, green apples, red apples, pears joined by blossom on orchard trees. The fruit flavours are ably supported by light biscuits, toast, brioche, nuts and almond tarts. The finish is long and satisfying.” 92 Points, Silver

Champagne Gremillet Sélection Brut NV: “Well made and classy champagne, with nicely integrated fruit notes. Plenty of citric, melon rounded out well in the blend.” 92 Points, Silver

Cascina Nuova Nizza 2019: “Very ripe and vibrant plum and black cherry aroma leads to a finely structured, concentrated dark cherry and mulberry palate.” 92 Points, Silver

Barão da Várzea do Douro, Reserva Tinto 2019: “Cooked blackberry and elegant oak spice aromas. The palate brings notes of ripe blackberry, blueberry, violet and clay-like tannins. Long, spicy finish.” Silver, 92 Points

Champagne Gremillet Blanc de Noirs NV: “Toasted brioche aromas with apple jelly. Elegant and fresh mouthfeel, with nice round core of baked apple, spice and redcurrant.” 91 Points, Silver

Coterie by Wildeberg Semillon Sauvignon Blanc, Coastal Region 2021: “Savoury and smoky with dried herbs, bay leaf, and fynbos melding with grapefruit, granadilla, and dry, structured, oak complexities.” 91 Points, Silver

Bottega Vinai Trentino Sauvignon Blanc 2021: “Fleshy, zesty and enticing lemon, citrus passion fruit and gooseberry nose; the palate has herbal and nettle inflections. A well-handled, excellent example at this price level.” 91 Points, Silver

Ruviano Verdicchio Classico 2021: “In the nose typical notes of white fruit, mineral and citrus touches. Delicate and fluid. Refreshing finish with great sapidity.” 90 Points, Silver

Cave de Tain Les Hauts du Fief 2018: (vintage can be shipped to order) “Very dark, black-fruited, hinting at autumnal hedgerow fruit, liquorice and tar. Ample, plush and textural. Tempered tannins provide a framework for the cushion of deep dark fruit.” 91 Points, Silver

Cave de Tain Les Arènes Sauvages 2018: (vintage can be shipped to order) “Deep, dark and richly focused. Very smooth on the palate, with lively acidity, ending long and smooth. Oaky, ripe, modern style of Cornas but well done.” 90 Points, Silver

Rimauresq ‘R’ Cru Classé Rosé, Côtes de Provence 2021: (vintage is on order) “Aromas of rosehip jasmine, herbs and raspberries. The palate has good fruit weight, texture and concentration, with hints of caramel. A wine with lovely poise and expression.” 90 Points, Silver

J. Laurens Crémant de Limoux ‘La Rose No.7’ NV  “Attractive apples and cherry fruit aromas, hints of savoury and berries. Delicate acidity over rich juicy apple palate, lingering finish.” 90 Points, Silver

The Wine Merchant ‘Top 100’:

Boutinot ‘La Côte Sauvage’, Cairanne AOC 2018 – also awarded Best Value Red Trophy

Domaine de la Combe Vigne de l’Astrée, Muscadet Monnières-Saint-Fiacre 2018

San Fiorenzo Bolgheri 2019

Cave de Turckheim Riesling Vieilles Vignes 2017

IWC Awards:

Villaia Verdicchio Classico, Tenute Pieralisi 2020: “Elegant, restrained fruity nose. Stone fruit flavours with waxy pear, herbs and minerals. Sublime and classy”. 95 Points, Gold

Super Nanny Pinot Noir, Central Otago 2020: “Lovely hedgerow berries on the nose. Silky texture, juicy berry fruit, velvety moreish finish.” 93 Points, Silver

Teliani Valley Winery 97 Kakhuri No8 [Amber Wine] 2020: “Bright gold colour. A heady nose of alphonso mangoes and dried herbs, tinged with tangerine zest. Chalky grip on a long perfumed finish.” 93 Points , Silver

Château Mercian Fuefuki Koshu Gris de Gris 2020: “Onion Skin colour, dark stone fruit notes of damson and plum with a with a lovely notes of saline running through the wine.” 92 Points, Silver

Catalina Sounds Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough 2021: “Smoked herbs, lemon, mandarin, more savoury flavours, alluring herbal notes and some creamy broadness to palate.” 90 Points, Silver

Emiliana Animalia [Orange Wine] [Organic] 2021: “Copper tinged with russet apple aromas; gently gripping tannins with ripe apple and apricot fruit.” 90 Points, Silver

Altemasi Trento Millesimato Brut 2018: Fresh, brisk and tangy. balancing lemon zest with richer pineapple flavours, creamy, concentrated and complex. 90 Points, Silver

IWSC Awards: 

Cave de Tain Saint-Joseph ‘Esprit de Granit’ 2019: Exquisitely cultured with a sumptuous array of generous black fruit and warming spice on the palate. Enjoys a long velvety finish that accentuates a masterful vein of lingering subtle oak. A beautifully complex and truly elegant wine. 96 Points, Gold

Champagne Gremillet Brut Vintage 2015: “Precision and subtlety combine in aromas of white peach and lemon. Palate additions of hazelnut, pastry and butter. Mousse is lively and brings a chalky complexity to a pleasingly consistent finish”. 91 Points, Silver

Tenuta Aquilaia Vermentino 2021:  “A lively nose with fresh fennel and thyme herby characters with caramelised apple notes, leafy fruit textures on the palate and fresh acidity and complex spice giving weight”. 91 Points, Silver

Villaia Verdicchio Classico, Tenute Pieralisi 2020: “An intense stone fruit core with supporting notes of candied lemon, mineral and brioche. The palate is creamy with balanced acidity, yet with a refreshingly savoury finish”. 90 Points, Silver

Ginbey Gin NV: “Classic juniper, pine aromas and citrus notes on the nose, combining on the palate with slightly salty smoke and heat flavours giving complexity and ending in a long finish” 90 Points, Silver

Domaine de la Motte Chablis Vieilles Vignes 2020: “A lively nose with fresh fennel and thyme herby characters with caramelised apple notes, leafy fruit textures on the palate and fresh acidity and complex spice giving weight”. 90 Points, Silver

Domaine de la Motte Chablis 1er Cru Vauligneau 2020: “Apple and pear spiced aromas, hint of buttered toast, with a balanced palate of fresh spiced pear and mineral oyster shell with a rich and weighty creaminess to the finish”.

Sileni Estates ‘The Lodge’ Grand Reserve Chardonnay, Hawke’s Bay 2019: “Plenty of fruit and a rich texture, with notes of warm spice, toast, ripe stone-fruit, baked apple and vanilla balanced by medium acidity”. 90 Points, Silver

Wines from Spain Awards:

These were all included in the list of 100 winning wines this year, plus 2 ‘Champion’ awards for Fernando de Castilla:

Fernando de Castilla Antique Oloroso: Best Dry Fortified

Fernando de Castilla Classic Pedro Ximénez: Best Sweet Fortified

Fernando de Castilla Antique Amontillado

Mas Macià Cava Brut NV

La Báscula Atlantic Way Albariño 2021

Ca N’Estruc Idoia Blanc 2019

Pasión De Bobal Rosado [Organic] 2021

Castell del Remei Gotim Bru 2018

Catalán Eagle Red Garnacha Cariñena Syrah, Catalunya [Organic] 2020

Gómez Cruzado Honorable Rioja 2016

Wines of Germany ‘Winning Wines’:

Bischöfliche Kaseler Riesling Kabinett Trocken 2020

Kloster Eberbach ‘Crescentia’ Höllenberg Spätburgunder Dry 2018

Horst Sauer Escherndorfer Lump Silvaner S. trocken 2020

Horst Sauer Escherndorfer Lump Riesling S. trocken 2020 

Independent English Wine Awards:

Henners Brut Silver

Henners Brut Rosé Silver