Decanter World Wine Awards 2004 - Gold Winners

Azienda Agricola Ca 'd Carussin Respiro di Vigna 1999

Red

Sweet mahogony/walnut. Intriguing walnut and pips on nose – rich. Rich, opulent flavours. Decadent, brilliant.

Azienda Agricola Poggio al Lupo Maremma 2001

Red

Expressive, varietal (cassis) with oak. Sweet, creamy, firm, rich but balanced, a wealth of spice and coffee. Dark chocolate, fruit. 5–10 years.

Beni di Batasiolo Cerequio 1999

Red

Pale. Highly complex nose. Fresh spice, christmas fruit, will evolve into a great bottle. Elements of acid, tannins, fruit, aroma. A wine of stature.

UK price:£27.00 MnW

Bodegas Larchago Izarbe 1995

Red

Ruby/red. Delicate, perfumed mature – dried rose petals. Big, crisp structure, lots of tannin – fruit still to come. Drink now.

Bodegas Primicia Julián Madrid, Selección de Familia 1999

Red

Gorgeous, opulent, zingy fruit, spectacular length – wonderful balance. 2–10 years.

UK price:£10.15 Ply, Com, Rus

Bodegas Vinícola Real 200 Monges 1999

Red

Powerful, heady, rich fruit nose, Smoked paprika. Delicious creamy, elegant charge of fruit, balance. Great length. 2–3 years.

US price:$25.00 Domaine Select Wine Estates (212) 279 0799

Brokenwood Rayner Vineyard Shiraz, Vineyard Selection 2002

Red

Very spicy aromatic, liquoricy. Good intensity and concentrated spicy fruit. Very nice cola spice, quality with lovely taut/tight balance and fine tannins.

UK price:£24.95 Odd

Canava Argiros Vinsanto 1984

Red

Delicious layers of toffee but savoury too. Lovely weight and balance. One to linger over.

US price:$80.00 Vina Meditteranean LLC, MD

Cantina Sociale Valpantena Via Nova 2001

Red

Rich plums and pruney fruit. Complex caramel, raisined sweet chocolate liqueur. Firm tannins. 5 years.

Capel Vale Wines Shiraz 2002

Red

Good Colour; Ripe and peppery. Sweet and rich, quite good oaky but nice peppery fruit, good length.

UK price:£6.49 N/A UK

Cave de Laurens Clos Roques d'Aspes 2000

Red

Red-black-purple. Savoury, earthy, black olive, Garrigue-like scents. Complex and entrancing. Lush, mouth-filling, substantial, earthy plum fruit. Fine length and soft tannin mass. nOw

UK price:£6.99 M&S

Cave de Roquebrun Cuvée Roches Noires, Maceration 2002

Red

Deep ruby. Wonderful floral aromas (violet) with briar and pepper; Lush, creamy, surging palate with concentrated, long, earthy finish. 2+

Champagne Deutz Cuvée William Deutz 1996

White

Classy Champagne, classic structure, fruit and acidity.

UK price:£54.99 BWC

US price:$125.00 Maisons Marques & Domaines 001510 286 2000

Charles Heidsieck Mis En Cave en 2000, Brut Reserve NV

White

Vanilla-dusted fruit. Classy, mis-en-cave style. Comes out in the glass. Splendid.

UK price:£23.49 Max

US price:$35.00 Remy Amerique 001 212 399 4200

Charles Heidsieck Brut 1995

White

Lovely toasty aromas and great autolytic finnese.

US price:$65.00 Remy Amerique 001 212 399 4200

Charles Melton Wines Shiraz 2001

Red

Bright depth of plum fruit. Lovely sweet fruit, opulent, integrated with perfume. Lovely seductive, sweet, juicy and elegant.

UK price:£22.95 Lib

US price:$35.00 Commonwealth Wines & Spirits 001 508 2619300

Château Dereszla 6 Puttonyos 2000

White

Super sweet and straight and pure. Wonderful pure intensity with increasing bite and background. Drink now.

Château Les Moines Cru Bourgeois 2000

Red

Dark red, Dense, closed nose, but ripe fruit. Medium full, firm without being coarse, rich – complex. Harmonious.

Château Pipeau 2000

Red

Rich, warm, toasty, roasted nuts, smells delicious. Lovely sweet attack on palate, beautifully balanced. Heavy on the oak, but still young. Complete. 2–10 years.

UK price:£25.50 AlW, GWr, RAN, T&S, WCv

US price:$20.50 Masciarelli Wine Co MA 01 781 335 6620

Dievole & Munoz Plenum, Tertius 1999

Red

Fine grained. Oaky. Blackberry and spice, firm acid, tannins, structure and wealth of juicy complex flavours, should come together to make a fine bottle. 5 years+.

UK price:£20.00 Cit

US price:$28.00 Citadel Trading Co 212 245 2844/Wine Brokers Inc 513 721 0999/Multicarte Inc 254 776 5348

El Coto de Rioja Coto de Imaz 1995

Red

Ruby/red. Subtle, perfumed, delicate. Delicious fruit, classic oak balance. Lovely soft maturity. Up to 3 years.

UK price:£14.99 CCl

Graham's 1980

Red

Deep attack beginning to brown at the edge. Fine, expressive, floral, spicy aromas. Ripe, fresh, well structured. Cherry fruit, fine, firm fruit.

UK price:£45.00 MCl, CCC, Thr, HDr, WtW

Groot Constantia Gouverneur's Merlot 2001

Red

Subtle oak, elegant fruit, understated. Promises well. Delicious elegant classy – smooth firm oak tannins. 2–5 years.

UK price:£15.49 BcW, Plo

Göttelmann Munsterer Rheinberg Riesling Auslese 2002

White

Bright yellow. Wonderfully honeyed citric botrytised nose. Opulent, peachy, incredibly intense and firm acidity. 1–25 years.

UK price:£16.50 WBn

US price:$30.00 Vineyard Road, Wllesley, Massachusets

Hatzidakis Winery 2003

White

Pale watery green. Classic Santonini nose. Mineral and volcanoes.Lovely mineral character with creamy middle. Good weight. Acidic, balanced finish. Good length. Very nice!1-4

UK price:£8.99 EcW, Han, WSo, Wmb, You

Jim Barry The Lodge Hill Shiraz 2002

Red

Powerrful berry fruit and medicinal aromoas, lots of mint, herbs and sage fruit character, very rich fruity (Tony Adams), lovely rich intensity, doesn’t set minty better.

UK price:£8.99 Saf, You, P&S, Ben, Hgt

US price:$16.00 Negociants UK 001 707 259 0993

Leasingham Bin 61 Shiraz 2001

Red

Big liquoricy nose. Nice rich and juicy intense blackberry fruit, spicy, ripe, succulent juicy bit fruit characters, good balance. Rich and intense.

UK price:£9.99 MCW

Lindhorst Wines Shiraz 2002

Red

Smoky, chocolate raisin aromas and flavours. Amarone, port, raisin. Blueberry, dark chocolate. leather, tobacco, very full bodied and intense. Plummy, very ripe fruit, multi-layered, very rich fruit and spice. Youthful, needs time. 2–5 years.

Moët & Chandon Recently Disgorged 1988

White

Wonderfully fresh, great complexity, exotic fruit, classic structure and excellent acidity.

UK price:£39.99 Sel

Olaszliszkai Borászati Kft Aszúeszencia 1972

White

Bright, elegant, clean, integrated caramel. Very sweet and unctuous, intense texture. Honey, liquid caramel, coffee liqueur. Very long and fine. Drink now.

UK price:£107.50 C4B

Penley Estate Special Select Shiraz 2000

Red

Brick red in colour. Very ripe and powerful. Great oak, powerful, long and balanced. A lovely wine.

US price:$42.00 Old Bridge Cellars 001 707 258 9552

Philippe Gonet Roy Soleil, Blanc de Blancs, Brut NV

White

Ripe exotic fruit. Has class. Impressive use of new oak.

UK price:£24.00 Pim

Pillitteri Estates Winery Icewine Gewurztraminer 2002

White

Light gold. Honeyed peachy nose. Intense with unctuous spicy lychee. Great intensity, fine acidity; great length. 8–10 years.

US price:$35.00

Piper-Heidsieck Brut 1995

White

Ruinart style, rich, full, profound fruit. Has gravitas.

US price:$50.00 Remy Amerique 001 212 399 4200

Rosemount Estate Diamond Label Shiraz 2002

Red

Bright garnet; Blackberry fruit aromas. Round intense berry flavours with lovely fruit/oak, tannin balance.

UK price:£7.49 Sai, Tes, Saf, Asd, Thr

Santa Sofia 1998

Red

Tight, minimum architectural style. Complex savoury fruit. Tight, chalky tannins, classy and powerful.

Spice Route Flagship Syrah 2001

Red

Fragrant, perfumed, violet aroma. Crushed wild flowers and violets. Tannic, bitter chocolate – needs time to open out. Complex, intense, very long. 5–10 years.

UK price:£19.99 EnW

US price:$35.00 Vineyard Brands 001 205 980 8802

SPR Vinhos Sao Pedro Das Aguias 2000

Red

Good dark colour. Bags of fruit and liquorice on the nose. Ripe, power on the palate, very resistant yet elegant.

Stanton and Killeen Classic Muscat, 12 Years Average Age NV

White

Dark golden brown. Very concentrated Muscat, fine spirit and rancio. Concentrated, amazing depth.

UK price:£17.40 P&S, Gre, You

Taylor's Quinta de Vargellas 1996

Red

Crimson/purple rim. Initially closed, opening to reveal dark chocolate and plums. Big, dense, intense, with blackcurrant fruit on good length.

UK price:£22.99 Odd, Maj, Saf, Sai

Tenute Silvio Nardi Vigneto Manachiara 1999

Red

Youthful, ripe, with an earthy, mineral note. Ripe black fruit; solid, dense style. Needs plenty of time.

UK price:£39.00 C&C

US price:$65.00 Kobrand Corporation

Thorn-Clarke William Randell Shiraz 2000

Red

Blood red. Ripe fruit. Powerful, dense, long, sweet finish.

UK price:£15.99 LPr

Union de Producteurs de Saint-Emilion Aurelius 2000

Red

Rich, sweet, toasty, roasted. Impressive, high acidity, big mouthful. Plenty beneath too. Very young at the moment. 2–10 years.

Villa Terlina Monsicuro 2000

Red

Violets, roses, intense fruit. Good rounded wine, soft fruity, very nicely balanced, chewy, slightly spicy. Drink now.

Viña Carmen Reserve Merlot 2002

Red

opaque.Eucalyptus hints, soft red fruit and some spice - pleasant and fragrant.Fleshy, frim tannin and good frist, nice and long and expressive

UK price:£9.95 Odd, WSo, StG

Viña Cono Sur Visión Riesling 2002

White

Screucap.Subtle lime blossom on nose. Ripe and clear. Also clean and vibrant appealing. Good level of concentrarion clean, intense, refreshing flavours, lime and miwfrai well made. Delicious..2-5

UK price:£7.99 Saf, Thr, Mak

Viña La Rosa La Capitana Merlot, Barrel Reserve 2003

Red

Very inky. Opulent, complex, luscious aroma. Silky tannins, ripe, well integrated – coconut chocolate/liquorice finish. Will age well

US price:$12.00 USSWS

Weingut Hans Wirsching Iphofer Julius-Echter-Berg Rieslaner Beerenauslese 2002

White

Sweet limey citrus nose, hints of honey and hint of botrytis. Lovely clean, fresh, pure fruit, soft, peachy flavours, lovely trace of acidity, lovely weight, with intensity. Delicious long finish. 5–10

UK price:£48.00 WBn

Woodstock The Stocks, Shiraz 2002

Red

Purple tints. Big, meaty, chunky, earthy, chocolatey, meaty nose. Earthy, rich fruit. Sweet olive. Lovely acidity. Up to 5 years.

UK price:£30.00 Vrt

US price:$40.00 USSWS

Yalumba The Octavius Old Vine Shiraz 2000

Red

Bright. Complex oak and fruit. Rich and full. Very good, very traditional.

UK price:£34.99 Maj, Lay, BBR, F&R, Gdh, Har

US price:$90.00 Negociants UK 001 707 259 0993

Yalumba Viognier 2003

White

Bright yellow; Very good floral; Dried apricot. Quite rich, not oily, balanced savoury.

UK price:£9.99 Wai, Saf, P&S, JSM, VdV, Wmb

US price:$17.00 Negociants UK 001 707 259 0993

Yalumba Pewsey Vale Vineyard, Riesling 2003

White

Fresh zesty youthful nose. good intense fruit, young Riesling character, should develop well, very nice balance between richness and zest.Now

UK price:£7.99 Odd, Sai, F&M, P&R

US price:$16.00 Negociants UK 001 707 259 0993

Yalumba Bush Vine Grenache 2002

Red

Deep rich, colour. Complex, ripe and fine oak. Strong chocolaty character. Well structured. Excellent value. 2-5

UK price:£7.99 Fra, Nid, P&R, Brs, Hen, Upt, VdV

US price:$17.00 Negociants UK 001 707 259 0993