Louis Latour Agencies

SWA Results 2020

19 May 2020

The 2020 Sommelier Wine Awards results have just been released and we were pleased to discover that 14 of the wines from our porfolio were recognised this year. Thank you to the organisers and judges who took part earlier this year before lockdown.

The top Gold award went to Banfi's La Pettegola Vermentino grown in Banfi's vineyards on the Tuscan coast with Silver's awarded to Henry Fessy Beaujolais-Villages, Banfi La Lus Albarosa, Banfi Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Poggio all'Oro and Gosset Grande Reserve.

Full Results:

Gold

Banfi, La Pettegola 2019, Tuscany, Italy

'Ideal for a hot summer's day, this is elegant and fresh, with good lemon character.' Nuno Pereira, Theo Randall at the InterContinental Hotel. 'This has crunchy citrus and stone fruit, as well as red apple and floral notes, with good concentration and good acidity.' Savvas Symeonidis, Goodman Restaurant Mayfair. 'Juicy, with lifted aromas and good ripeness, as well as keen acidity and good complexity.' Charlie Young, team leader.

Silver

Henry Fessy, Beaujolais-Villages 2018, Beaujolais, France

'Lovely ripe fruit with good structure, leading to a rich palate with a good clean finish.' Daniel Eriksen, Anglian Country Inns. 'Light and delicate, with subtle red fruits.' Dave Cushley, Prestonfield House. 'Raspberry and strawberry, with some red and black cherry too, and a kirsch note.' Romain de Courcy, The Ritz Paris.

Banfi, La Lus 2017, Piedmont, Italy

'Smoky and malolactic, with dark ripe berries, some herbal notes, juniper aromatics, notes of black pepper and concentration with high acidity.' Carolina W Seibel, Comptoir Cafe and Wine. 'A generous wine with tomato leaves and a lot of cherries on the nose, with lovely, traditional tannins and a sweet finish.' Mattia Mazzi, Cornerstone.

Banfi, Poggio all'Oro 2013, Tuscany, Italy

'This has a soft nose and growing complexity, showing hints of evolution, with lots of cooked fruit and spices - a smoky wine with tannins in support.' Antóin UáRuairc, UK Midland Sommelier. 'A serious wine full of flavour, with jammy black and red berries and plums, as well as dried flowers, spice and pepper.' Lucie Hammerschmiedova, Portland Restaurant.

Gosset, Grande Réserve NV, Champagne, France

'Very much a food wine, and very mineral-driven, with cleansing acidity and fine bubbles.' Andres Ituarte, team leader. 'Nutty and rich, with some lightly toasted oak and stone fruit notes, with some warm lemon on the nose, leading to a fuller, rounded body with more stone fruit and sweet vanilla.' Carolina W Seibel, Comptoir Cafe and Wine

Bronze

Banfi, Poggio alle Mura 2015, Tuscany, Italy

'Fresh acidity, with some jammy red fruit, sweet spice, and a chocolate note - an intense wine.' Lucie Hammerschmiedova, Portland Restaurant. 'Ripe and fruity, yet classy and fresh. This is supple, with an elegant structure. A wine to enjoy with a rib of beef or game.' Laurent Richet MS, team leader.

Banfi, Summus 2016, Tuscany, Italy

'A concentrated wine with blackcurrant, liquorice and dark chocolate notes.' Elena Serban, Heritage Restaurant. 'An attractive, opulent and juicy black fruit profile, with fennel and aniseed towards the finish.' Harry Crowther, Grape Times UK. 'Fresh, ripe red fruits married with hints of underlying vanilla and cinnamon, with some slatey minerality too.' Sam Winterbottom, The Albert Square Chop House.

McHenry Hohnen, Calgardup Brook Vineyard, Chardonnay 2017, Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia

'There's very nice minerality to this round, creamy and opulent wine, accompanied by toasted notes, vanilla and lime peel, as well as some stone fruit and tropical notes.' Elisa Soggia, Trivet. 'An elegant, fresh wine with some crisp acidity and notes of green plums, with a slight smokiness.' Vivienne Franks, Aspects of Wine.

Commended                                                                                                          

Henry Fessy, Château des Reyssiers, Régnié 2018, Beaujolais, France

Simonnet-Febvre, Chablis Premier Cru Fourchaume 2018, Burgundy, France

Louis Latour, Domaine de Valmoissine, Bellevue, Pinot Noir 2017, Provence, France

McHenry Hohnen, Laterite Hills, Chardonnay 2017, Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia

McHenry Hohnen, Hazel's Vineyard, Grenache/Syrah/Mataro 2018, Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia

Simonnet Febvre, Crémant de Bourgogne, Brut Blanc NV, Burgundy, France