Best value Vin de France selection: the results

We reveal the silver and gold medal winning wines from the Best Value Vin de France Selection following a judging session in Paris last month.

The full list of wines can be viewed over the following pages, and comprises 23 golds and 89 silvers from a total of 372 entries, although OIV regulations cap medals at 30% of entries.

Of the medal winners, 49 were white, 23 rosé and 40 red, with the top performing varieties following previous trends, with Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc doing well, along with Merlot.

However, there was also plenty of room for the quirky, with one sweet wine taking a Gold medal, as well as awards for a Negrette rosé and blends such as Chardonnay/Muscat and Viognier/Roussanne.

There were also signs that as producers become more at home with the broad canvas offered by Vin de France, styles such as Malbec and rosé look set to play an increasingly important role in the future development of this classification.

The competition, now in its sixth year, is organised by French trade organisation ANIVIN DE FRANCE, to pick out the best quality examples of the Vin de France classification, with the top performers awarded a Gold or Silver medal to display on their label.

Like last year, the judging was held in Paris in February. Among the UK-based judges in the annual competition were buyers Clive Donaldson from Morrisons, Marcia Waters MW from The Oxford Wine Company, Beth Willard from Laithwaites Wine and db editor-in-chief Patrick Schmitt.

The results in numbers:

• 28% increase in the number of entries to 372.
• 38% increase in the number of companies entering to 83, including major exporters.
• 112 medals awarded, including 23 gold and 89 silver (OIV regulations cap medals at 30% of entries).
• Of the medal winners, 49 were white, 23 rosé and 40 red.

Over the following pages is a list of gold and silver medal wines from this year’s competition …

Gold Medallists:

> Le Val White 2014 Sauvignon Blanc, Val d’Orbieu – Les Vignerons Mediterranean

> La Belle Saison, White, 2014, Sauvignon Blanc, Vindivin

> Shores, White, NV, Sauvignon Blanc, Les Domaines Auriol

> Original French Kiss, White, NV, Sauvignon Blanc, Rhodanienne Company

> Jumbo, White, NV, Sauvignon Blanc, Les Domaines Auriol

> Gau White 2014 Sauvignon Blanc – Pinot Gris, Vindivin

> Belles Vignes White 2014 Chardonnay – Viognier Les Grands Chais de France

> On Time, White, 2013 Viognier – Sauvignon Blanc, Rethore Davy

> Patisserie Du Vin White 2014 Chardonnay – Muscat, Badet Clement and Company

> 6th Sense White 2014 Blend Gerard Bertrand

> Shores Cuvée Maitre Olivier, White, 2014, Blend, Les Domaines Auriol SAS

> The Smoke White, Rosé, 2014, Blend, François Lurton

> The Shrine, Rosé, 2014 Syrah – Grenache, House Gabriel Meffre

> The Socket Red 2014 Merlot House Gabriel Meffre

> Jean Berteau Red 2014 Merlot, Rhodanienne Company

> French Connection Red 2014 Merlot, Bottle Green

> Gabriel, Red, 2014, Syrah – Grenache, House Gabriel Meffre

> Belles Vignes, Red, 2014, Grenache – Syrah – Marselan, Les Grands Chais de France

> Jumbo, Red, NV, Syrah – Merlot, Les Domaines Auriol

> Fleming, Red, NV, Blend, Rheinberg Kellerei

> Bistro Montmija, Red , NV, Blend, Les Domaines Auriol

> 6th Sense, Red, 2014, Blend, Gérard Bertrand

> Fat Bastard, Red, 2013, Blend, House Gabriel Meffre

Silver Medallists:

> Appetite France, White, 2014, Sauvignon Blanc, Val d’Orbieu – Les Vignerons de la Méditerranée

> So Shellfish, White, 2014, Sauvignon Blanc, Grandissime

> Montpierre White 2014 Sauvignon Blanc, Val d’Orbieu – Trills

> Le Hameau White 2014 Sauvignon Blanc, Grandissime

> Jean Berteau, White, 2014, Sauvignon Blanc, Rhodanienne Company

> Brise de France, White, 2014, Sauvignon Blanc, Val d’Orbieu

> Belles Vignes White 2014 Sauvignon Blanc, Les Grands Chais de France

> Reserve White 2014 Sauvignon Blanc, Lionel Osmin & Cie

> Original French Kiss, White, NV, Chardonnay, Rhodanienne Company

> Tussock Jumper White 2014 Chardonnay, Wineforces

> Doudet Naudin, White 2013 Chardonnay, Doudet Naudin

> JP Chenet Classic White 2014 Chardonnay, Les Grands Chais de France

> Taillan White 2014 Chardonnay, Rhodanienne Company

> Romantic White 2014 Chardonnay, Maison Louis Tramier

> Castel Family White 2014 Chardonnay, Castel

> Cart, White, 2014, Chardonnay, Rhodanienne Company

> Deep South, White, 2014, Chardonnay, Les Grands Chais de France

> La Belle Angele White 2014 Chardonnay, Badet Clement and Company

> Little Luke, White, 2014, Chenin Blanc, Luc Chevalier Distribution

> Harmony White 2013 Pinot Blanc, and Aline Simon Domaine Rémy

> J Père & Fils, White, NV, Pinot Gris, Ham Père & Fils

> This is No Sea To Drink, White, 2014, Sauvignon Blanc – Vermentino, LGI Languedoc Wines

> Wine market produce, White, 2014, Sauvignon Blanc, LGI Languedoc Wines

> JP Chenet Classic White 2014 Colombard – Sauvignon Blanc, Les Grands Chais of France

> French Prickly White 2014 Colombard – Chardonnay, LGI Languedoc Wines

> The Socket White 2014 Chardonnay – Viognier, House Gabriel Meffre

> Gabriel White 2014 Chardonnay – Gros Manseng, House Gabriel Meffre

> Pyrène, White, 2014, Gros Manseng – Sauvignon Blanc, Lionel Osmin & Cie

> The Little Dragons, White, NV, Blend, Malavieille Domain

> Viognier, White, NV, Blend, Vignerons Ardéchois

> Pure White 2014, Blend, Bassac

> Cabalie, White, 2014, Blend, Vindivin

> Armonia, White, 2014, Blend, Bassac

> Temps Des Folies, White, 2014, Blend, LGI Languedoc Wines

> Chastagnac, White, NV, Blend, Val d’Orbieu – Trills

> The Flemish, White, NV, Blend, Rheinberg Kellerei

> JP Chenet Ice, White, 2014, Muscat, The Grands Chais de France

> Chorus, White, NV, Muscat Petits Grains, Frontignan Muscat

> Cuvée Jean Baptiste, Rose, NV, Cinsault, Kriter Brut de Brut

> The Brights, Rosé NV, Cinsault, Les Domaines Auriol

> The Troix Cross, Rosé, 2014 Merlot, The Three Crosses

> Tussock Jumper, Rosé, 2014, Black Grenache, Wineforces

> The Valley, Rose, 2014 , Black Grenache, Val d’Orbieu – Les Vignerons de la Méditerranée

> Cart, Rosé, 2014, Black Grenache, Rhodanienne Company

> Gérard Bertrand Reserve Special Organic Rose, 2014, Syrah, Gérard Bertrand

> Patriarche Père & Fils Rosé, 2014 , Syrah, Patriarch

> The Shrine, Rosé, 2014, Syrah, House Gabriel Meffre

> Montpierre, Rosé, 2014, Syrah, Val d’Orbieu – Trills

> La Belle Angele Rose, 2014, Syrah, Badet Clement and Company

> Old Popes Rosé NV, Grenache – Merlot, Castel

> Les Vignerons, Rosé, 2014 Grenache – Merlot, Les Grands Chais de France

> Brise De France, Rose, 2014 Grenache – Syrah, Val d’Orbieu

> Coteaux Flowers, Rose , NV, Muscat Hamburg, Les Vignerons du Quercy

> Caprice Matys, Rosé NV, Blend, Merlin Cross

> Little Ferriere, Rosé, 2014, Blend, Saget la Perriere

> 6th Sens, Rosé, 2014, Blend, Gérard Bertrand

> My Hawaii At Me, Rose, 2014, Blend, Thongue Les Coteaux

> Abbess, Rosé, 2014, Blend, Bougrier

> Montgravet, Rosé, 2014, Blend, LGI Languedoc Wines

> Lodez, Red, NV, Merlot, Jeanjean

> Brise de France, Red, 2014, Merlot, Val d’Orbieu

> Castel Family Red 2014 Merlot, Castel

> Plaisir de France, Red, 2014, Merlot, Val d’Orbieu – Les Vignerons de la Méditerranée

> Jumbo, Red, NV, Merlot, Les Domaines Auriol

> Doudet Naudin, Red, 2013, Pinot Black, Doudet Naudin

> Val Red 2014 Pinot Black, Val d’Orbieu – Les Vignerons de la Méditerranée

> Nobles Plants, Red, 2013 Pinot Black, Ropiteau Brothers

> Kiwi Cuvee Red 2014 Pinot Noi, Lacheteau

> Home Ernest Seguin, Red, 2014, Pinot Black, House Ernest Seguin

> Rare Vineyard, Red, 2014, Pinot Black, LGI Languedoc Wines

> 100 Series Red 2012 Pinot Black, Simonnet-Febvre

> Small Cow, Red, 2014, Pinot Black, Rhodanienne Company

> Family Castel Red 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Castel

> M Montagnac Red 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, The Montagnac vineyards

> Gérard Bertrand Bio Special Reserve Red 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Gérard Bertrand

> Audelle Red 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Guyenne Union

> Malesan Red 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Castel

> The Shrine, Red, 2014, Syrah, House Gabriel Meffre

> Montpierre Sainsbury’s, Red, 2014, Syrah, Val d’Orbieu – Trills

> French Connection, Red, 2013, Syrah, Bottle Green

> Alto Stratus Red 2012, Carignan, Abbotts & Delaunay

> Vineyard Bouilhac Bergerat Red NV, Merlot – Cabernet Sauvignon, Chateau Rouquette

> Old Popes, Red, NV, Merlot – Syrah, Castel

> Belles Vignes, Red, 2014, Carignan – Syrah, Les Grands Chais de France

> Old Popes, Red, NV Blend, Castel

> Terra Occitana, Red, 2014, Blend, Jacques Charlet

> Lafleur Gloria, Red, 2014, Blend, Overland Trade

> Leplan Gt-X, Red, 2012, Blend, Leplan-Vermeersch

> Lands Fortes, Red, 2012, Blend, Peter Riegel Weinimport