Trophy winners
Best Sparkling Wine
Best Fortified Wine
Champagne Lelarge-Pugeot Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut
Barros Colheita Port DOURO PORTUGAL 2005
CHAMPAGNE FRANCE NV
T
here’s a lot of winemaking experience at Champagne Lelarge-Pugeot. This boutique organic grower, which is based in the premier cru village of Vrigny in the north east of the Montagne de Reims, began making wine in 1789, and Champagne in 1930. But with wines of the quality of this all-Chardonnay winner of the The Wine Merchant Top 100 Best Sparkling Wine Trophy 2018 – one of two entrants from the house in this year’s final selection – this fine producer is making better wines than ever. “There is a lovely biscuit nose, with ripe fruit (peach and stone fruit),” the judges said. “Good acidity, vibrant mousse, and also some lovely mushroom character. “This is really complex for a non-vintage Champagne, there’s lots going on, with the balance of fruit and ageing all there. It’s also very good value. Impressive, and very much worth adding to any good independent’s Champagne selection.”
Hallgarten RRP £36.49
8
ABV 12.5%
The Wine Merchant Top 100
M
uch loved by the judges, The Wine Merchant Top 100 Best Fortified Trophy-winner rendered one of the more voluble members of the panel “speechless for the first time in 15 years”. Once he’d got his voice back, the judge was able to describe quite what it was that impressed him – and his fellow judges – so much. “It is seriously magnificent,” he said. “Toffee apple leads to caramel and nuts and all combine to create a party in the mouth. What’s more, the amazing aftertaste is the gift that keeps on giving.” It’s the work of Colheita (wood-aged Port from a single vintage) specialist Barros, which has been in the business for more than a century, but has been part of the premium Sogevinus group since 2006. The house philosophy is to leave the Port in barrel and bottle to order, leading to consistently mellow, complex, mature wines. From the 2005 vintage, this Colheita is a four-way blend of Tinta Amarela, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Roriz and Touriga Francesa. Hallgarten RRP £29
ABV 20%