Champagne Germar

Breton Millésime

CHAMPAGNE, FRANCE 2014

A standout performer in this year’s competition, this fabulous small Champagne producer is run by the Breton family, who have been working the vineyards of the Aube since the 1950s.

In 2005, they made the switch to récoltantmanipulant with the launch of their own brand – since when they have developed a reputation for producing Champagnes of exceptional quality from their 7.5ha patch of vineyards in four villages in the Côte des Bars.

Those vineyards are planted to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, although it’s the former which provides the backbone for the house style, including in this 100% Chardonnay Trophy-winning cuvée, which was bottled in April 2015 and has an extra-brut dosage of 6g/l.

“A complex but refined Champagne with great taste and flavour: green apples, brioche and chocolate,” the judges said.

“Great acidity, great length … just a delicious example of a vintage Champagne for a good price and one I would stock,” added one. “I absolutely loved it!”

Vindependents

RRP £54 ABV 12%

White Wine Trophy

CVNE Virgen del Galir Regueirón Godello

VALDEORRAS, GALICIA, SPAIN 2021

CVNE, a Spanish wine name that needs no introduction, is of course best known for being one of Rioja’s leading producers. But the company’s work in other regions of northern Spain is no less impressive, not least at the Virgen de Galir winery in Valdeorras, Galicia, home to this year’s best in show white wine.

The winery, which is based in the village of Éntoma in Orense in the Galir Valley, specialises in local great grape varieties Mencía and Godello, with the latter in this case sourced from the single plot that gives the wine its name.

Fermented with indigenous yeast in a mix of concrete and small oak barrels, it features “tremendous freshness on the nose, real bracing acidity and a bit of spice,” according to the judges.

“It’s clean and mineral and fruit-centred but with a complexity and length that did not disappoint. Incredibly expressive, stunning length, and beautiful volume.”

Hatch Mansfield RRP £31.50 ABV 13.5%

Carpineto

Brunello di Montalcino

BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO, TUSCANY, ITALY 2017

Carpineto is an impressive producer in so many ways. It farms all 500ha of its collection of vineyards spread across some of the finest sites in Tuscany sustainably. And all five of its wineries (in Chianti Classico, Alto Valdarno, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Brunello di Montalcino and Maremma) are now certified carbon neutral.

That level of care can be seen in the quality of its wines, not least the estate Brunello that the judges put forward as their Wine Merchant Top 100 Red Wine Trophy 2023.

“Deep garnet in colour right to the rim. A gorgeous nose of stewed strawberries, mulberry, hedgerow, baked cherry and hints of vanilla and leather. The palate shows a very well made, balanced wine. Initially it’s all ripe fruits, mature cherry and plum. As the flavours evolve you get darker mulberry, cherry clafoutis and a finish of lovely spice and well-balanced tannins.

Stunning and easily worth the money.”

Hallgarten & Novum Wines

RRP £52.50

ABV 14.5%

ROSÉ TROPHY

Feudi di San Gregorio

Irpinia Rosato Visione

IRPINIA, CAMPANIA, ITALY 2021

A producer that has become synonymous with the southern Italian wine renaissance of the past three decades, Feudi di San Gregorio has been making fine wines from – and reviving the reputation of — local indigenous varieties such as Fiano, Greco, Falanghina and Aglianico since the estate was founded in the 1980s.

For this rosé, the company has turned to Aglianico, a variety known for the powerful but fragrant red wines that have earned it the nickname of the Nebbiolo of the south. But, in the special microclimate of Irpinia, the variety proves it can make distinctive, elegant pink wines that are more than a match for Provence.

“A delightful and stylish rosé that offers classy soft red cherries and refreshing pink grapefruit with lots of zip and freshness,” the judges said.

“Lovely feel and drinkability; a genuine candidate for something that will appeal to Provence lovers but which is a bit different for a rosé range.”

Hallgarten & Novum Wines

RRP £22.25

ABV 12.5%