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Top 10 red wines for spring

06 April 2023 By Patrick Schmitt

Having listed the best white wines from our Spring Tasting, which sees 2023’s latest releases judged ‘blind’ by a panel of the trade’s top tasters, we now bring you the ultimate reds from the competition.

The 2023 competition was judged on 8 February in London

Read on to see the top red wines from The Spring Tasting, and click here to see all the medallists from the competition.

Meanwhile, click here if you want to see the top white wines from the tasting.

ROBERT MONDAVI PRIVATE SELECTION RUM BARREL-AGED MERLOT

Producer: Robert Mondavi Private Selection
Region: California
Country: United States
Vintage: 2021
Grape varieties: 99% Merlot, 1% other reds
ABV: 14.5%
Residual sugar: 4g/l
Approx. retail price: £13

A striking red with notes of charred oak, caramel and sweet spirit, along with a core of ripe fleshy red berry fruit, framed by plenty of woody-tasting, dry, chewy tannins.

VINA ARNAIZ CRIANZA RIOJA

Producer: Bodega y Vinedo Marques de Carrion
Region: DOCa Rioja
Country: Spain
Vintage: 2018
Grape varieties: 90% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano
ABV: 14%
Residual sugar: 2g/l
Closure: Cork
Approx. retail price: £9
Medal: Gold

A spicy, old-school, inexpensive Rioja with cherry-stone, cigar box, coconut and an appealing refreshing bright and dry finish.

UNSHACKLED CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Producer: Unshackled/Prisoner Wine Company
Region: California
Country: United States
Vintage: 2021
Grape varieties: 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petite Sirah, 5% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec
ABV: 14%
Residual sugar: 5.8g/l
Approx. retail price: £24

Blackcurrant and cherry mingle with chocolate and cedar, even a touch of spice and tobacco leaf, in this rich and tannic, fleshy and likeable red.

PATA NEGRA RESERVA RIOJA

Producer: Bodega y Vinedo Marques de Carrion
Region: DOCa Rioja
Country: Spain
Vintage: 2017
Grape varieties: 100% Tempranillo
ABV: 13.5%
Residual sugar: 2g/l
Approx. retail price: £9

A remarkably good-value Reserva Rioja with sweet cherry fruit, cedar and coconut characters, and a medium-weight mouthfeel, as well as a fresh finish, with lots of dry tannins.

ROBERT MONDAVI PRIVATE SELECTION CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Producer: Robert Mondavi Private Selection
Region: California,
Country: United States
Vintage: 2021
Grape varieties: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petite Sirah, 3% Tannat, 9% other reds
ABV: 13.5%
Residual sugar: 3g/l
Approx. retail price: £12

A benchmark affordable and easydrinking Californian Cabernet Sauvignon with ripe, fleshy red and dark fruits, dry, fine tannin, and a hint of tobacco leaf, along with lingering chocolate, caramel and toast characters on the finish.

PATA NEGRA RESERVA RIBERA DE DUERO

Producer: Bodega Vina Arnaiz
Region: DO Ribera de Duero
Country: Spain
Vintage: 2016
Grape varieties: 100% Tempranillo
ABV: 14%
Residual sugar: 4g/l
Approx. retail price: £10

An impressively inexpensive Ribera del Duero, with layers of cedar, coconut husk, ripe plums, dark cherry and peppery spice, along with plenty of mouth-coating tannins to dry the palate.

CHÂTEAU DE BARBE BLANCHE

Producer: Les Vignobles Famille AndreLurton
Region: Bordeaux (AOC Lussac Saint-Emilion)
Country: France
Vintage: 2018
Grape varieties: 75% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc
ABV: 14%
Residual sugar: 0.6g/l
Approx. retail price: £22

A lovely maturing Lussac Saint-Emilion that’s drinking beautifully now, with some fleshy red and dark berry fruit, a hint of stewed plums, cedar and dark chocolate, along with a warming finish, with plenty of dry tannins to make you salivate.

VIGNA MARRUCHETO BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO DOCG

Producer: Banfi
Region: Tuscany
Country: Italy
Vintage: 2018
Grape varieties: 100% Sangiovese
ABV: 15%
Residual sugar: 0.5g/l
Approx. retail price: £60

This Brunello uses three clones of Sangiovese planted in three plots in Banfi’s Marrucheto vineyard to yield a wine of depth, intensity, and complexity. There’s a rich dark berry core along with fresher notes of sour cherry on the finish, and flavours of stewed plum, balsamic, leather, and chocolate. And while there’s a warmth to the wine, it’s medium-weight and mouth-watering, with masses of fine, grippy tannin.

DIVINUS DE CHÂTEAU BONNET

Producer: Les Vignobles Famille AndreLurton
Region: Bordeaux
Country: France
Vintage: 2019
Grape varieties: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot
ABV: 13.5%
Residual sugar: 0.2g/l
Approx. retail price: £25

A Cabernet-dominant Bordeaux blend with lots of blackcurrant and baked cherry flavours, complemented by notes of balsamic and cigar box, then dense, fine-grained tannins. Ripe and fleshy, but dry and lively, this is a well-balanced red that’s delicious now, but with potential to age and develop further complexity and softness with time.

TOSALET CARIGNAN VINYES VELLES

Producer: Hammeken Cellars
Region: DOQ Priorat
Country: Spain
Vintage: 2017
Grape varieties: 100% Carignan
ABV: 15%
Residual sugar: 3g/l
Approx. retail price: £60

This maturing, warming, varietal Carignan from Priorat is packed with stewed cherry and baked blackberry fruit, prunes, roasted coffee beans, and smoked bacon. Structurally it’s fresh and lively, with plenty of firm, fine tannins to coat the mouth.

About the competition

With high-quality judges and a unique sampling process, The Spring Tasting Masters provides a chance for your wines to star. The 2023 competition was judged on 8 February at The Footman, Mayfair, London, employing experienced judges. The top wines were awarded Gold, Silver, or Bronze medals according to their result, and those expressions that stood out as being outstanding received the ultimate accolade – the title of Spring Tasting Master. This report features the medal winners only.

Please visit The Global Wine Masters website for more information, or, to enter future competitions – giving you the chance to feature online and in print – please call: +44 (0) 20 7803 2420 or email Sophie Raichura at: sophie@thedrinksbusiness.com

14 brilliant white wines for spring

All the medal-winning wines from the Spring Tasting