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Simon Judge

  • Abbotts & Delaunay ‘Les Fleurs Sauvages’ Chardonnay

    Abbotts & Delaunay ‘Les Fleurs Sauvages’ Chardonnay

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    Laurent Delaunay is a talented winemaker and fifth-generation Burgundy wine producer who moved to Languedoc-Roussillon. This wine is made by rising talent Jeanne Delaunay, the sixth generation of the family. Les Fruits Sauvages refers to the wild plants that grow along the edges of the vineyards. The grapes come from the foothills of the Cévennes, the Aude Valley, the Limoux region and the plains of the Hérault. This is the 2023 vintage, with an alcohol level of 13.5%. It is clearly popular on the Majestic website, where 100% of, many, reviewers said they would buy it again. It has a…

  • New Wine Infographics

    New Wine Infographics

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    This site contains many tips spread across reviews, tasting notes and articles. I have brought them together, added further guidance and presented them as a series of easy-to-follow infographics. There are currently six infographics in the series: Wine Buying TipsWine Ordering TipsWine Label TipsWine Drinking TipsWine Storage TipsWine Pairing Tips

  • 25% Off Wine at Asda

    25% Off Wine at Asda

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    Asda has 25% off wine, on £5.50 per bottle or more, 6 bottles or more, from 23 June 2026 until 29 June 2026. See the latest press tasting and pick list for tips on what to buy.

  • La Belle Angèle Pinot Noir

    La Belle Angèle Pinot Noir

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    La Belle Angèle is out with a new 2024 vintage of Pinot Noir that I have reviewed previously. As a reminder, it is named after a celebrated muse of the Belle Époque, known for inspiring French Impressionist painters with her beauty and spirit. Its roots are in the Languedoc, with fruit from the sun-drenched plains near Béziers and Valras-Plage, as well as the higher ground of the Minervois. As before, you get red berries aromas from the glass, with cherries coming through and perhaps a little raspberry too. On tasting, it is a fruit-forward rather than savoury or oaked Pinot,…

  • 25% Off Wine at Tesco

    25% Off Wine at Tesco

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    Tesco has save 25% off wine with Clubcard when you buy 6+ bottles that are £6 and over (£7 in Wales) from 15 July 2026 until 27 July 2026. See the Tesco Pick List for tips on what to buy.

  • Tim Atkin’s Portuguese Value Wines of the Year

    Tim Atkin’s Portuguese Value Wines of the Year

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    Beth Willard has written Tim Atkin MW’s first Special Report on Portugal, based on 15 days of travel and tastings across seven Portuguese wine regions. The report covers 672 wines from 91 producers, with 302 wines scoring 93 points or more, underlining the current strength and depth of Portuguese wine. It also recognises leading figures and projects, naming Luís Duarte as Legend of the Year, António Maçanita as Winemaker of the Year, Luís Pedro Cândido da Silva as Young Winemaker of the Year, Filipa Pato as Grower of the Year and Adega de Borba as Cooperative of the Year. The…

  • Asquith Gardens English Sparkling Wine

    Asquith Gardens English Sparkling Wine

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    I have to admit that I have a general mistrust of English sparkling wine, and indeed Champagne, when sold by UK supermarkets. When I return to buy one I previously enjoyed at a press tasting, it is rarely as good as I remember and can sometimes be very poor. This is not limited to one supermarket. I have experienced it across several, particularly, for some reason, around Christmas. I suspect it has something to do with these wines being non-vintage, which I will come back to later. I purchased this one from Asda after picking it out at the Asda…

  • Zurriago Argentinian Malbec

    Zurriago Argentinian Malbec

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    Malbec is to reds what Pinot Grigio is to whites. There are too many average mass-market examples around, along with a handful of real stars, and this is one of the stars. I first tried it at the 2026 Sainsbury’s Spring/Summer press tasting, picked it out there, and was determined to investigate it properly afterwards. It comes from Bodega Argento, with Juan Pablo Murgia as head winemaker. He is from Mendoza, but travelled to build his experience in California, Bordeaux and Uruguay. Juan has also been recognised as a pioneer in Mendoza. Bodega Argento’s vineyards and wineries are certified under…

  • 25% Off Wine at Morrisons

    25% Off Wine at Morrisons

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    Morrisons has 25% discount on 6 or more bottles of wine, More Card price, £6 or more from 13 July 2026 until 19 July 2026. See the Morrisons pick list for recommendations.

  • Ice in Wine: A Debate with a Better Solution

    Ice in Wine: A Debate with a Better Solution

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    One of the most divisive wine questions is, is it acceptable to put ice in wine? Wine traditionalists tend to say no. Their argument is that wine has been carefully produced to achieve a particular balance of flavour, aroma, acidity and alcohol. As ordinary ice melts, it adds water to the glass and gradually changes that balance. A crisp white wine may become thin, while the fruit and complexity of a rosé can fade. In their view, adding ice means undoing some of the winemaker’s work. Other drinkers are far less concerned about convention. They argue that wine should be…

  • The Gathering Storm

    The Gathering Storm

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    Simon Judge

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    The Gathering Storm was my top value wine from the Majestic Autumn Winter tasting and I wanted to take a deeper look. First, I previously, and wrongly, reported that it was non-vintage. It does have a vintage, and this is 2024. It is a 12% ABV blend of Verdejo, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. It is produced by the large Félix Solís Avantis group, well known for Viña Albali, Mucho Más, Castillo de Albai Reserva and The Guv’nor. The Gathering Storm takes its name from the idea that this wine challenges the norms. The front label has some incredible artwork. The…

  • Decanter World Wine Awards 2026

    Decanter World Wine Awards 2026

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    The Decanter World Wine Awards, or DWWA, are an annual international wine competition run by Decanter, the leading wine publication. Wines are tasted blind by expert judging panels and assessed in organised flights by country, region, colour, grape, style, vintage and price point, meaning each bottle is judged against comparable peers. I have been taking a closer look at the more affordable winners, specifically those listed as ‘value’, priced under £14.99. Domaine de la Clartière Terres de Paillé 2024 stands out as the only Platinum value wine. There are, however, 123 Gold value winners, including some even available from supermarkets.…

  • Australian Wine Industry Faces Deepening Crisis

    Australian Wine Industry Faces Deepening Crisis

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    7news reports that the Australian wine industry is facing what some industry figures describe as its worst crisis in decades, driven by a combination of falling global demand, oversupply, and the long-term effects of China’s 2020 tariffs on Australian wine. Although those tariffs have since been lifted, producers say the damage has already been done, with exports to China having collapsed from around $1.2 billion to less than $10 million almost overnight. Growers such as Darren De Bortoli have been forced to remove vines from vineyards in regions such as the Riverina, as wineries struggle to sell existing stock and…

  • Kleinood ‘De Herder’ Rhône Blend

    Kleinood ‘De Herder’ Rhône Blend

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    Simon Judge

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    This is new to Majestic, and it brings a Southern Rhône-style, a style that has been championed across South Africa’s Swartland and Western Cape regions. These are small-batch bottles from a boutique estate in the Blaauwklippen Valley, with a story rooted in old pastoral tradition. De Herder means “the shepherd”, and the wine takes its inspiration from this ancient practice. The blend is Syrah 67%, Mourvèdre 29% and Cinsaut 4%, though there’s a subtle point of difference here. It uses Rhône Syrah clones rather than the traditional South African and Argentinean Shiraz clones more commonly planted in the Cape. This…

  • Understanding Wine Vintage

    Understanding Wine Vintage

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    A wine’s vintage is the year in which the grapes were harvested. It is not the year the wine was bottled or released. This distinction matters because wine is an agricultural product before it is a drink. The weather, harvest conditions and decisions made in the vineyard during that particular year can all shape what ends up in the glass. Vintage does not automatically mean old, rare or superior. A 2020 wine is not necessarily better than a 2023 wine, and an older bottle is not always more desirable. In fact, most wine sold today is made to be drunk…

  • Why I Choose a Web Site Over Social Media

    Why I Choose a Web Site Over Social Media

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    Simon Judge

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    I prefer to manage a website as my main platform while most wine enthusiasts are concentrating on boosting their social media presence. I do use social media to share headlines, draw attention and message, but the bulk of my content stays firmly on my site. While gaining followers on social platforms is useful and even fun, it’s not my primary goal. You might think this approach is a bit old-school, but I see it as being more about thinking differently, controlling the narrative and planning for the unexpected. The truth is, social media posts can be quite fleeting. Posts are…

  • The Wine Tastings That Became a $3.9 Million Supreme Court Showdown

    The Wine Tastings That Became a $3.9 Million Supreme Court Showdown

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    A Northern California winery owner, Lindsay Hoopes of Hoopes Family Winery Partners, has asked the US Supreme Court to pause enforcement of a nearly $4 million judgment imposed by Napa County. The penalties include a $1.525 million fine and $2.25 million in legal fees after the county deemed the winery’s wine tastings a public nuisance. Hoopes argues the tastings were routine, properly licensed activities, and says the judgment is so large that it exceeds the winery’s value and her personal net worth, potentially forcing her to liquidate the property while she appeals.

  • Sainsbury’s CVNE Rioja Gran Reserva

    Sainsbury’s CVNE Rioja Gran Reserva

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    Sainsbury’s CVNE Rioja Gran Reserva was previously a favourite of mine and I have followed it over the years because it changes more than you might expect from vintage to vintage. I picked this 2018 vintage at the last Sainsbury’s Autumn press tasting and I wanted to try it again in a more relaxed setting. It is produced for Sainsbury’s by CVNE Winery, and it is distinct to the winery’s usual own-brand Rioja range, which is available at Sainsbury’s and other retailers. For this vintage the blend is 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo, although the ABV has dipped…

  • Moillard Brouilly Les Fées

    Moillard Brouilly Les Fées

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    Moillard Brouilly Les Fées comes from Château de l’Abbaye de Saint Laurent d’Arpayé in Brouilly, Beaujolais, the southernmost and largest of the Beaujolais crus, spread around Mont Brouilly. “Les Fées” translates as “the fairies”, although I couldn’t find exactly how that links to the wine. It is made from Gamay, comes in at 12.5% abv and this is the 2024 vintage. In the glass it is pale to medium ruby, light-catching and pretty. The aromas bring red cherry and raspberry, with a lovely savoury edge that keeps it from feeling too simple or sweet-fruited. The taste is all juicy red…

  • What is in the Mouth Shapes What is in the Glass

    What is in the Mouth Shapes What is in the Glass

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    Simon Judge

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    Sometimes, when I taste food, and wine, the first taste is so much better than those that follow. It is not simply that the wine changes in the glass, though it sometimes does. It is also that the palate changes. The first sip arrives on a relatively fresh canvas. Every sip after that is judged in the context of what has just happened in the mouth. Hydration clearly has its benefits, but I have also been told by wine experts that water should not necessarily be drunk between every sip of wine. Water can temporarily alter the conditions in the…

Pick Lists


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TipS – Infographics


Buying | Menu Ordering | Labels | Drinking | Storing | Pairing

Did You Know?

Nearly a third (32%) of UK consumers say they have already used AI for alcoholic drinks advice. More

Among socially active wine buyers, 37% have bought a wine recommended online. More

In 2026, 72% of consumers now think wine knowledge is essential to appreciation, up 20 percentage points on 2025. More

Rías Baixas wines reached more than 107 countries in 2025 and exports represented 31 per cent of the denomination’s total sales. More

Light Strike Can Cause Wine Degradation in Just One Day. More

People actively adjust their wine choices depending on who might see them. More

In the UK, 73% of Alcohol is Bought From Retail Rather Than Hospitality. More

UK wine production reached 124,377 hectolitres that year, meaning the UK accounted for roughly 0.05 per cent of world output. More

For Crémant, grapes must be harvested by hand and the wines must undergo at least nine months’ ageing before release. More

In 2024, the UK was the second-largest export market for Champagne globally, after the United States. More

Local UK bottling of wine represents about 40% of imported wine. More

Around 1% of people, typically severe asthmatics, have a sulphite sensitivity. More

A large 80% of Australian wine arrives in the UK in bulk. More

Only about 0.02% of Australia’s landmass is dedicated to vineyards. More

In 2024, New Zealand produced only 1% of the World’s wine. More

In 2024, the US imported 37% of World production of Pinot Grigio and the UK was is in second place at 27%. More

In 2024, the UK was South Africa’s largest export market, with 40% of total exports. More

In 2024, the United Kingdom imported 22.3 million bottles of Champagne, a decline of 12.7% compared to the previous year. More

Larger Champagne producers source grapes from as many as 80 different vineyards throughout Champagne. More

Champagne houses and growers collectively produce around 300 million bottles annually. More

In 2025, the Champagne region was home to about 2,124 Champagne houses and approximately 19,000 growers. More

Provence is one of the leaders in the conversion to organic viticulture, with 61% of vineyards certified. More

8% of the South Africa’s grape production is Fairtrade-certified. More

Up to 80% of wine aroma compounds come from grape skins. More

Glycerol is the third-largest component of most dry wines after water and alcohol which is why they so often feel ‘smooth’ or ‘silky’ in the mouth. More

Humans are more than 400 times more sensitive to bitter than sweet. More

Humans can detect the earthy molecule geosmin at about 100 parts per trillion and camels are so sensitive to it they can locate damp ground from roughly 50 miles away. More

During the phylloxera crisis of the nineteenth century, 90% of Europe’s vineyards were destroyed. More

In 2025, for La Vieille Ferme, also known as “The Chicken Wine”, sales surged by 49.4% to £110.8 million. More

In 2025, in the UK, Yellow Tail held the top position with sales, marking a 9.8% increase over the previous year. More

In 2024, the UK was the second-largest wine importer in volume and value. More

In 2024, the UK was the fifth-largest wine-consuming country globally. More

In 2025, global wine consumption continued its downward trend, estimated at 214.2 million hectolitres, the lowest since 1961. More

In 2025, online alcohol sales had a 20% increase in value over five years. More

In 2025, the number of UK vineyards rose to 1,104 and wineries to 238, with land under vine expanding to 4,841 hectares, a 510% increase since 2005. More

Moët Hennessy alone commands nearly 46.66% of the Champagne market, with the top three producers together holding about 61%, and the top five controlling over 72%. More

In 2024, the Champagne market was worth roughly €3.92 billion. More

In the marketing year 2023/24, white wine accounted for roughly 55% of Spain’s output, whereas red and rosé together made up about 45%. More

In the UK, 92% of wine is consumed within 48hrs of purchase. More

The majority of wines, 95%, use commercial rather than wild yeast. More

Between 0.5 and 10 litres of water, per litre of wine, are needed for cleaning during winemaking. More

Machine harvesting can achieve up to 100 tons of fruit per day vs 1 ton for a human. More

In Germany, 2025 was the smallest wine vintage since 2010. More

The majority of vineyards, 90% in 2019, are farmed with heavy chemical interventions. Only 6% are organic. More

90% of low and coastal areas in south Europe and California will no longer be able to produce good wine by the end of the century. More

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