It wasn’t just for image and added value that the late Michael Cox, the charismatic director of Wines of Chile, did his utmost to get more Chilean wine onto the wine list. He organized a tasting of Chilean carmenère with curry to show what great bedfellows the two were. Continuing where he left off, Wines of Chile staged the Chile Sommelier Challenge in London this summer with the same aim. Wine press and sommeliers tasted around a dozen wines in each of five main styles: sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, pinot noir, syrah, red blends, plus red wines and white wines by the glass. To spice up this blind tasting, a couple of ringers from other countries were cunningly inserted.

I didn’t always agree with the winners, but I did in the case of the refreshingly tropical and zesty 2012 Ventolera Sauvignon Blanc, £13.95, Fintry Wines and guava and passion fruit-laden 2013 Leyda Single Vineyard Garuma Sauvignon Blanc, around £10.95, Great Western Wine, Swig. I also enjoyed what turned out to be a herbal, savoury and tangy 2013 Domaine Daulny Sancerre, £12.95, Haynes, Hanson & Clark. The winning chardonnay was the 2013 Chardonnay Viña Arboleda, but my top shaded it, the Cape’s opulently peachy, complex 2012 Thelema Mountain Vineyards, around £14.95, Great Western Wine, Wimbledon Wine Cellar.

Top pinot noir, my third, was the summer puddingy 2012 Cono Sur Single Vineyard Block No 21 Pinot Noir, San Antonio, around £11.99, Wine Rack, Mumbles Fine Wine, while my choice was the smokily strawberryish, juicy 2012 Montes Outer Limits Zapallar Vineyard Pinot Noir, £19.48 -19.95, Hic! Wines, Exel Wines and the succulent 2013 Viña Arboleda Pinot Noir, Aconcagua. In the syrah category, Emiliana’s 2010 Signos de Origen Syrah La Quebrada, was top, while mine was the 2011 Tamaya Syrah T Limited Release and my second the deliciously peppery-spicy kiwi, the 2012 Trinity Hill Hawkes Bay Syrah, £13.50 - £14.89, The Wine Society, Adnams.

My favourite red blend was the succulently moreish Maipo Colchagua / Maule blend 2011 Tutunjian Entre Valles, £21.99, Underwoods Wine Warehouse, Grape and Grain. In the case of white wine by the glass, I particularly liked the 2013 Signos de Origen White Blend La Vinilla', Viñedos Emiliana, around £12, D.Byrne, Whole Foods Market and 2012 Indomita Duette Chardonnay, Casablanca, while my top red by the glass was the blackberry-spicy rich 2011 Concha y Toro Terrunyo Block 27 Carmenere, Cachapoal, £20-£25, Roberson, Tesco Wine by the Case. Did I mention the food? Alas, it was conspicuous by its absence, so I hope that next time round we won’t have to fall back quite so much on imagination and experience. Wines without stockist info are not yet available I’m afraid to say. For the full results in all categories, please check out anthonyrosewine.com.

Something for The Weekend

Night In

2013 Trebuchet Chardonnay, Western Cape

The arty label catches the eye, while the expressively nutty aromatics, intensely peachy opulence and citrusy freshness from Journey’s End Winery shows more Burgundian-style complexity and concentration that you might expect at this price. £9.99, buy two = £6.66, Majestic.

Dinner Party

2013 Domaine Jones Grenache Gris, Côtes Catalanes.

After vandals destroyed Katie Jones’ 2012 white, the indomitable English vigeronne has stormed back with a moreish Maury whose spicily aromatic, opulent, stonefruit flavours finish mouthwateringly zingy and dry. £14.95 - £16.99, The Wine Society, Nethergate Wines, Inverarity121.

Splash Out

2010 Lalama, Dominio do Bibei, Ribeira Sacra

Made from the native Mencía grape with Garnacha, Mouraton and Brancellao, this is a delightful blend whose spicy scents mingle with a silky-textured mulberry fruitiness supported by a savoury freshness. £19.95 - £21.99, Berry Bros & Rudd, Handford.

SaAUVIGNON BLANC BY VOTE

Votes Winery name Wine Vintage Approx (equivalent) UK Retail price Importer

1st Ventolera Ventolera Sauvignon Blanc 2012 £17.00 Hallgarten Druitt & Novum Wines
Joint 2nd Montes Outer Limits Zapallar Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2013 £15.99 Liberty Wines
Joint 2nd Viña Casablanca Nimbus Sauvignon Blanc 2013 £15.99 Hayward Brothers
Joint 2nd Viña Leyda Leyda Single Vineyard Garuma Sauvignon Blanc 2013 £10.49 Enotria Winecellars
3rd Spy Valley Spy Valley Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2013 £10.95 Bibendum Wine
Joint 4th Miguel Torres Chile Cordillera Sauvignon Blanc 2013 £10.99 John E Fells & Sons Ltd
Joint 4th Viña Ventisquero Kalfu Sauvignon Blanc 2013 £14.99 Seeking UK Importer
Joint 5th Concha y Toro Terrunyo Los Boldos Vineyard Block 5 Sauvignon Blanc 2012 £14.99 Concha y Toro UK
Joint 5th Montes Classic Series Sauvignon Blanc 2013 £8.99 Liberty Wines
Joint 5th Viña Caliterra Tributo Sauvignon Blanc 2013 £9.99 Hatch Mansfield
Joint 6th Cederberg Cederberg Private Cellar Sauvignon Blanc 2011 £12.95 Bancroft
Joint 6th Errázuriz Aconcagua Costa 2013 £14.99 Hatch Mansfield
Joint 6th Domaine Daulny Domaine Daulny Sancerre 2013 £12.95 Alliance Wine

CHARDONNAY BY VOTE

Votes Winery name Wine Vintage Approx (equivalent) UK Retail price Importer

1st Viña Arboleda Chardonnay 2013 £15.99 New Generation Wines
2nd Apaltagua Reserva Chardonnay 2013 £8.99 Anthony Byrne Fine Wines
Joint 3rd Jean-Claude Boissot Jean-Claude Boisset Bourgogne 'Les Ursulines' Chardonnay 2010 £13.90 Liberty Wines
Joint 3rd Thelema Thelema Mountain Vineyards 2012 £13.50 Enotria
Joint 4th Viña Luis Felipe Edwards Santa Luz Chardonnay Reserva 2013 2013 £9.00 Wine Importers Edinburgh
Joint 4th Viña Tamaya Tamaya Quebrada Seca Chardonnay Winemaker's Gran Reserva 2012 £14.90 Seeking UK Importer
Joint 4th Viña Tamaya Tamaya Chardonnay T Limited Release 2011 £23.90 Seeking UK Importer
Joint 4th De Loach De Loach California Heritage Reserve Chardonnay 2012 £9.95 Liberty Wines
Joint 5th Echeverría Chardonnay Reserva 2012 £11.00 Hallgarten Druitt & Novum Wines
Joint 5th Errázuriz Wild Ferment Chardonnay 2012 £13.99 Hatch Mansfield
Joint 6th Cousiño Macul Antiguas Reservas Chardonnay 2012 £12.49 McKinley Vintners
Joint 6th Viñedos Emiliana S.A. Novas Gran Reserva Chardonnay 2013 £9.99 Boutinot Ltd.
7th Santa Rita Gran Reserva Chardonnay 2012 £12.00 Berkmann Wine Cellars

RED BLENDS BY VOTE

Votes Winery name Wine Vintage Approx (equivalent) UK Retail price Importer

Joint 1st Viña Valdivieso Eclat Vigno 2010 £20.00 Bibendum Wine
Joint 1st Cousiño Macul Finis Terrae 2010 £21.99 McKinley Vintners
2nd Tutunjian Tutunjian Entre Valles 2011 New to UK Barton, Brownsdon & Sadler
Joint 3rd Montes Montes Outer Limits CGM Apalta Vineyard 2010 £19.99 Liberty Wines
Joint 3rd Viña Valdivieso Caballo Loco 15 NV £24.00 Bibendum Wine
Joint 3rd Viñedos Emiliana S.A. Coyam 2011 £16.99 Boutinot Ltd.
Joint 3rd Hartenberg Hartenburg Estate Cabernet Shiraz 2010 £12.95 Bancroft Wines
Joint 4th Viña Caliterra Edicion Limitada A 2010 £17.99 Hatch Mansfield
Joint 4th Viña Siegel Siegel Unique Selection 2011 £15.99 Addison Wines
Joint 4th Viña Tamaya Tamaya Melbec/Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah Reserva 2012 £9.90 Seeking UK Agent
Joint 4th Viña Valdivieso Caballo Loco Grand Cru Apalta 2011 £19.00 Bibendum Wine
Joint 4th Ch Saint Roch Chimeres Chateau Saint Roch Chimeres 2010 £11.95 Vinoteca/Highbury Vintners
Joint 4th Thelema Thelema Mountain Vineyards 2011 £10.20 Enotria
5th Lapostolle Lapostolle Canto de Apalta 2012 £14.50 Berkmann Wine Cellars

PINOT NOIR BY VOTE

Votes Winery name Wine Vintage Approx (equivalent) UK Retail price Importer

1st Cono Sur Single Vineyard Block No 21 Pinot Noir 2012 £11.99 Concha y Toro UK
Joint 2nd Leyda Leyda Single Vineyard Las Brisas Pinot Noir 2012 £10.49 Enotria Winecellars
Joint 2nd Viñedos Emiliana S.A. Novas Gran Reserva Pinot Noir 2011 £9.99 Boutinot
Joint 2nd Lockwood Vineyard Pinot Noir 2011 £19.49 Hallgarten
Joint 3rd Montes Montes Outer Limits Zapallar Vineyard Pinot Noir 2012 £19.99 Liberty Wines
Joint 3rd Viña Arboleda Pinot Noir 2013 £19.99 New Generation Wines
Joint 4th Viña Casablanca Nimbus Pinot Noir 2011 £15.99 Hayward Brothers
Joint 4th Innocent Bystander Innocent Bystander Pinot Noir 2011 £13.40 Liberty Wines
Joint 5th Viña Luis Felipe Edwards Santa Luz Pinot Noir Reserva 2013 2013 £9.00 Wine Importers Edinburgh
Joint 5th Viña Valdivieso Single Valley Lot Pinot Noir 2012 £10.00 Bibendum
Joint 5th Bodega Luigi Bodega Luigi Bosca Pinot Noir 2011 2011 £13.50 Bancroft Wines
Joint 6th Errázuriz Aconcagua Costa Wild Ferment 2011 £15.99 Hatch Mansfield
Joint 6th Miguel Torres Chile Santa Digna Pinot Noir 2012 £10.99 John E Fells & Sons Ltd

SYRAH BY VOTE

Votes Winery name Wine Vintage Approx (equivalent) UK Retail price Importer

1st Viñedos Emiliana S.A. Signos de Origen Syrah La Quebrada 2010 £14.99 Boutinot Ltd.
2nd Montes Montes Folly Syrah Apalta Vineyard 2011 £34.99 Liberty Wines
3rd Viña Tamaya Tamaya Syrah T Limited Release 2011 £23.90 Seeking UK Agent
4th Trinity Hill Trinity Hill Hawkes Bay Syrah 2012 £12.50 Liberty Wines
Joint 5th Viña Casablanca Nimbus Syrah 2011 £15.99 Hayward Brothers
Joint 5th Viña Luis Felipe Edwards Marea Syrah 2012 £15.00 Matthew Clark
Joint 6th Errázuriz Aconcagua Costa 2012 £15.99 Hatch Mansfield
Joint 6th Odfjell Armador Syrah 2009 £9.99 Alliance Wine
Joint 6th Viña Siegel Siegel Special Reserve Syrah 2012 £9.99 Addison Wines
Joint 6th Château du Campuget La Sommeliere de Campuget Syrah 2011 £18.99 Hallgarten
Joint 7th Apaltagua Reserva Syrah 2013 £8.99 Anthony Byrne Fine Wines
Joint 7th Viña Santa Helena Seleccion Del Directorio Gran Reserva Shiraz 2012 £8.55 International Wine Shippers Ltd
Joint 7th Mitolo Mitolo Jester Shiraz 2011 £13.50 Liberty Wines