This year’s Decanter World Wine Awards, the world’s largest and most respected wine competition, saw wines from 57 countries judged by a historic panel of 248 international experts, including a record 22 Master Sommeliers and 72 Masters of Wine. From over 16,000 entries, 50 coveted Best in Show medals were awarded (just 0.3% of entries), along with 137 Platinum and 732 Gold medals, signalling a notable rise in overall wine quality. The longstanding Value Gold Top List also expanded, now featuring 30 wines under £15, up from 20 last year, a clear indication of both excellence and affordability gaining recognition.
Highlights include a series of national firsts and regional breakthroughs. Notably, an English sparkling magnum, Sugrue South Downs’ The Trouble With Dreams 2009, became the first such entry ever to win a Best in Show in its category. France continued to dominate overall medals but countries like Italy, Spain and Portugal saw increases, while Greece, New Zealand, Hungary and Austria emerged as “medal-efficient” producers, known for high quality relative to vineyard size. The event also marked historic advances in Asia, with China earning its first-ever two Best in Show awards for red wines from Ningxia and Shandong.
Looking through the results, these are the wines I found that are relatively accessible both in terms of price and physically, that were awarded Gold:
Argento Artesano Organic Fairtrade Malbec-Cabernet Franc
Babich Wines Sauvignon Blanc
Orion Wines Terre Di Faiano Organic Nero Di Troia
Trivento Golden Reserve Malbec
Taittinger Brut
Errazuriz Max Carmenere
Louis Jadot Combe Aux Jacques
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Taylors Pass Sauvignon Blanc
Waitrose No.1 Gigondas In Partnership with Gabriel Meffre
Rohe Sauvignon Blanc
Nicolas Feuillatte Blanc De Blancs Brut
Château Maris Les Amandiers
Errazuriz Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon
Villa Maria Private Bin Riesling
