You have to love the way Fortnum & Mason get the world’s greatest wine producers to make their own-label wines. Here are two such examples, which we drunk yesterday afternoon while judging the Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards. They were superb. The judging was fun, too. Anthony Rose, Victoria Moore and I were the drink people, while Matthew Fort, Sheila Dillon and Valentine Warner were the food people. We had some great discussions, and the list of shortlisted entries will be out in a couple of weeks, with the results announced 13 May.

Fortnum & Mason Escherndorfer Lump Silvaner Spatlese Trocken 2012 Franken, Germany
Packaged in the distinctive Franconia Bocksbeutel, this is a remarkable dry Sylvaner, made by the fabulous Horst Sauer. It’s textured and dry with lovely pear, peach and spice notes, with a delicious fruitiness and some mineral notes. Lovely depth here, this is a really stylish wine. 93/100 (£21.50 Fortnum & Mason)

Fortnum & Mason Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 Australia
Made by Cullen, this is just beautifully balanced. It’s smooth and elegant with lovely definition to the pure blackcurrant fruit, with some structure under the fruit. Lovely weight: dense but elegant, and really pure. Will age beautifully. 94/100 (£24.50 Fortnum & Mason)