Plenty of medals again for Chile, although the judges were most impressed stylistically with Australia and South Africa

More ambitious pricing but some decent wines too, with Australia, Argentina and South Africa leading the way

Solid, rather than great wines, and a return to dominance for South Africa

Plenty of decent bottles and very few dogs meant that our tasters were positive about New World Chardonnay, though genuine excitement was in short supply

Bold, spicy and all-American? Or over-alcoholic, overblown and over here? Louis Villard enlists the help of a team of sommeliers, and takes advice from San Franciscans, to get to the bottom of the Zinfandel enigma