“You only live once—so drink great wine,” once said. We’re sure when you pick up a wine from this list you’ll never regret it. These are the top-scoring wine brands at the 2021 London Wine Competition - one of the preeminent international wine competitions. The wines listed below were personally assessed by a group of masters of wine, sommeliers - from London top hotels and restaurants and buyers. These wine labels are not only of good quality, but they also provide excellent value for money and attractive packaging.

Here are the top 20 wines to snap up now. 

1. Levrier by Jo Irvine 2015 Anubis Cabernet Sauvignon

96 points

Lévrier Wines' 2015 Anubis Eden Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, which hails from Australia's Barossa Valley, was named Wine of the Year, Best Cabernet Sauvignon (Best Wine by Varietal), Best Wine by Quality, and Australia's Best Wine (Best in Show by Country) scoring 96 points at the 2021 London Wine Competition.

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This Cabernet Sauvignon wine is produced by Jo Irvine, crafted to enhance the rich, dark cherry and cassis fruit from a single vineyard in South Australia’s Barossa Valley, with 40% new French oak, resulting in plush and juicy flavours, and drew an elegant, soft, velvety tannin finish. 

Tasting Notes: Intense nose and palate expressing notes of chocolate, coffee, liquorice, oak spices, jammed fruit, with a touch of earth and cigar box. A well-balanced wine with ripe tannins and a long, savoury finish.

2. Habla Nº22

95 points

The Habla Nº22' produced by Bodegas HABLA was the top winner at the competition who secured the titles of ‘Best Wine By Value’, Best In Show By Country (Spain), Best In Show By Varietal (Tempranillo), and a gold medal with a score of 95 points. Also, acquiring the highest average score for its wines, Bodegas HABLA grabs the ‘Winery of the Year’ Award at the 2021 London Wine Competition.

HABLA No22 is marked by an imposing sweet note at the outset that infuses it with a distinct personality, supported by the silkiness it imparts. It is healthy, new, and long-lasting throughout the tour, leading to a persistent and appealing conclusion.

Tasting Notes: Deep ruby red colour with notes of black fruits, violet, vanilla, oak, and spices. A well-balanced wine with a pleasant nose, smooth tannins and a long finish.

3. Silverado Vineyards Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon

95 points

Nestled in the hills of the Stags Leap District's northwest corner, Silverado Vineyards Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon swept off the ‘Best Wine By Package’, Best In Show By Country (USA), and a gold medal with an impressive score of 95 points. Classic Napa Valley is described by our Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards in Stags Leap District and Coombsville. This time-honoured blend has a velvety feel and a balanced structure.

Tasting Notes: Powerful red wine with aromas of ripe cassis, blackcurrant, and dark cherry with hints of vanilla. Well-integrated tannins on the palate lend a rich, intense taste. Great aging potential. Pairs well with rich and heavy.

4. Mr Riggs 2014 The Chap

95 points

Another one for Shiraz lovers, Mr Riggs 2014 The Chap produced by Mr Riggs Wine Co earned the title of Best In Show by Varietal (Shiraz) and a gold medal with 95 points. The Chap is Ben Riggs' interpretation of classic blending traditions, made with great fruit from McLaren Vale and Coonawarra Vineyards. This wine is bespoke, well-cut, and a homage to past blending masters, as it is made to order for each vintage.

Tasting Notes: Complex nose of dark berries, tobacco, cassis, and fruits of the forest. Cassis and plums on the palate with hints of tobacco and eucalypt, leading to a long, spicy finish.

5. Champagne Philippe Glavier - Folie d'Cramant

95 points

Taking out the trophy for Best In Show By Country (France), Best In Show By Varietal (Chardonnay), this sparkling wine Champagne Philippe Glavier - Folie d'Cramant 2012 from Deux Six Wines also bagged a gold medal with 95 points. This wine has a lovely, long-lasting, and elegant effervescence due to its straw yellow colour. The nose of this exceptional champagne, sourced from the estate's best plots (Cramant), offers nuanced aromas of white flowers and fresh fruit, followed by vanilla and softly toasty notes, which remind us of how this wine was aged in oak barrels.

Tasting Notes: A fresh pour with notes of fresh vibrant citrus, lemon peel, lees, and limestone on the nose. Taut and fresh mousse on the palate, completed by notes of ginger.

6. 2019 Brothers in Arms Cabernet Sauvignon

95 points

A red wine from Langhorne Creek, Fleurieu, South Australia, 2019 Brothers in Arms Cabernet Sauvignon produced by Brothers in Arms Vineyards is a gold medalist scoring 95 points. This wine has an enticing rich, vivid crimson hue that comes primarily from their 1891 Cabernet Sauvignon planting. On the palate, ripe mulberries and mulberry leaf with mint suggest a true Langhorne Creek Cabernet Sauvignon classic.

Tasting Notes: This wine shows ripe blackberries, figs, cassis liqueur, underbrush and brown spices Concentrated delivery with flavours of plums, green peppers, and cinnamon. This wine would benefit from 4-7 years of further aging.

7. 1924 Prosecco

94 points

1924 Prosecco produced by Carpenè Malvolti S.p.a. is a special selection dedicated to the Founder Antonio Carpenè. This Prosecco earned the title of Best In Show By Country (Italy) and a gold medal with 94 points. With aromas of unripe fruit, white flowers and fresh vegetable scents, this wine expresses its decisive character with acidic and slightly bitter notes of almond. 

Tasting Notes: Packed with flavours of spring flowers, peach, apple, pear, and zest. Balanced on the mid-palate with great acidity and a long finish.

8. Clyde Park 2020 Single Block F College Pinot Noir

94 points

Made from 30-year-old MV6 vines on a north-facing block, Clyde Park 2020 Single Block F College Pinot Noir is a gold medalist wine, Best in Show by Varietal (Pinot noir) scoring 94 points.

Tasting Notes: Fresh nose with wild red fruits spectrum, strawberry, redcurrant and ripe red cherry. The wine has a jammy and sweet afternote. The palate is elegant with a long-standing freshness. Well made and enjoyable.

9. Twisted Cedar Zinfandel

94 points

Taking home the Best Wine by Varietal (Zinfandel) trophy, this Twisted Cedar Zinfandel produced by Twisted Cedar Wines also swept off with a gold medal scoring 94 points. Blackberry and spice on the nose, with mild tannins and a hint of vanilla on the palate, the wine has been certified as sustainable by The Lodi Rules for Sustainable Winegrowing.

Tasting Notes: The nose is full of the rich flavours of butterscotch and vanilla and has flavours of ripe fruit like peaches, lemon, and a well-integrated balance of spices like cinnamon and vanilla.

10. Quinta do Gradil 1492

94 points

Hailing from Portugal’s Parras Wines, Quinta do Gradil 1492 was crowned ‘Best in show by Country’ at this year’s competition, based on its quality, value, and packaging. With a 12.5 per cent alcohol content, this Spanish wine has well-balanced flavours on the palate and is freshly acidic. It also scooped a gold medal with 94 points. 

Tasting Notes: Aromas of dark fruit and berries, cooked blue fruit, floral notes and spices. Fleshy with a sweet tone and ripe fruit and spices on the palate. Weighty and rich with complex flavours. Benefit from 3-5 years aging.

11. Landmark Vineyards Chardonnay 2018

94 points

Yellow lemon in colour, Landmark Vineyards Chardonnay 2018 produced by Landmark Vineyards bagged a gold medal with 94 points. 

Tasting Notes: The nose is full of the rich flavours of butterscotch and vanilla and has flavours of ripe fruit like peaches, lemon, and a well-integrated balance of spices like cinnamon and vanilla.

12. CYRUS

94 points

Produced in 1995 by Hank Wetzel, Alexander Valley Vineyards’ CYRUS swept off a gold medal with 94 points. For creating this vintage, the winemaker Kevin Hall has chosen ten distinct estates Bordeaux grape lots, with three nuanced Cabernet Sauvignon lots anchoring the blend.

Tasting Notes:  Aromas of ripe black currant jam with black cherry and black plum with vanilla, toasted oak, chocolate coffee and sweet vanilla. Flavours of figs, cassis and coconut. This wine can age for 3-5 more years.

13. L'oppidum

94 points

France’s L'oppidum 2015 by Domaine Bourillon-dorleans has picked up a gold medal scoring 94 points at this year’s London Wine Competition.

Tasting Notes: Packed with apricot, apple skin, candied lemon peel on the palate with hints of roasted almonds and vanilla. A lovely sweet & sour backbone with a fresh and long finish.

14. Habla Del Silencio

94 points

With aromas of chocolate and liquorice mixed with an intense note of cherry liquor, this Habla Del Silencio 2019 created by Bodegas Habla (Bodegas Bh S.l.) won a gold medal with 94 points. This award-winning Shiraz wine has an exceptional seasoning that allows even the most discerning palates to indulge in a little pleasure every day.

Tasting Notes: Deep ruby-red coloured with aromas of berries and red fruits with black pepper. A spicy mid-palate with sweet notes of mint, vanilla and chocolate. A complex wine with a long finish and great ageing potential.

15. Habla Nº20

94 points

A delicious, ripe, intense Syrah with velvety tannins, Habla Nº20 produced by Bodegas Habla bagged a gold medal with a total score of 94 points. This award-winning wine is a precise and harmonious wine with a persistent finish that opens a window of sensations for the nose and palate.

Tasting Notes: Great flower concentration makes the wine interesting which will develop further aromas with ageing. Earthy minerality brings the lift of freshness and a long finish. A modern wine with a great mix of flavours.

16. Levrier by Jo Irvine 2017 Peritas Zinfandel

94 points

The winning streak continues for Levrier by Jo Irvine as their one more wine - Levrier by Jo Irvine 2017 Peritas Zinfandel has secured the gold medal with 93 points.

Tasting Notes: A dark and dense wine with notes of red and black fruit, pepper, plums, oregano. Ripe on the mid palate with herbal and savory notes. Balanced acidity with a touch of heat.

17. Hahndorf Hill Gru Gruner Veltliner

94 points

Another gold-medalist rising from Australia, Hahndorf Hill Gru Gruner Veltliner by Hahndorf Hill Winery is an enticing perfumed nose with citrus, nectarine, spice and flint that earned 93 points, based on its quality, value, and packaging.

Tasting Notes: Fresh and vibrant nose with notes of wet rocks, saline and some spice undertones. Juicy and fresh with green apples and conference pear notes with kiwi and honeydew melon to finish. Quite complex with a long finish.

18. Nest Egg Shiraz

94 points

Produced only in exceptional vintages, with each bottle individually numbered, this Nest Egg Shiraz is Bird in Hand’s limited release that earned a gold medal with 93 points. With brambly blackberries, cracked pepper, nuanced floral violets, and black olive, the Nest Egg Shiraz 2015 vintage is strong yet distinctly cool. 

Tasting Notes: The wine has pronounced aromas of blackberries, black pepper, black olives and violet nuances Robust with ripe tannins and a mouth-watering finish. A vibrant tasting wine that is suitable for aging.

19. Shaw Wines Cabernet Shiraz 2018

94 points

With aromas of mulberry and blackberries, this Shaw Wines Cabernet Shiraz 2018 by Shaw Wines from Australia swept away a gold medal with 93 points.  

Tasting Notes: This wine is driven by both fruit and spices with ripe blackcurrant, violet and plum. The palate is very smooth with high freshness highlighted by eucalyptus and a ripe fruit note. Pair with richer foods!

20. 2018 Brothers in Arms No 6 Cabernet Sauvignon

94 points

Wild fennel and a delicate touch of red fruits, this 2018 Brothers in Arms No 6 Cabernet Sauvignon created by Brothers in Arms Vineyards secured a gold medal with 93 points. This 2018 Brothers in Arms No 6 is a well-structured Cabernet Sauvignon with red currants and elegant tannins built to a lingering finish.

Tasting Notes: Aromas of dense blueberries, cassis, green pepper spices.Juicy with a dense and ripe delivery. Combined with black currant, smoked meat and spices. A complex wine with potential for further aging.