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Simon Judge

  • 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 19 August 2025 until 25 August 2025. See the latest press tasting for tips on what to buy.

  • 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 until 31 September 2025 which I think is a typo on their site as this day doesn’t even exist!, and should be 31 August 2025. See the recent press tasting for my picks.

  • 25% Off Wine at Sainsbury’s

    25% Off Wine at Sainsbury’s

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    Sainsbury’s has 25% off wine for Nectar loyalty card holders, sparkling and Champagne, 6 bottles or more, £6 or more (£7 in Wales), from 18 August 2025 to 25 August 2025. See the recent Sainsbury’s press tasting for tips on what to buy.

  • La Belle Angèle Pinot Noir

    La Belle Angèle Pinot Noir

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    This 2023 vintage offers an easygoing yet lively expression of southern French winemaking. Named after a celebrated muse of the Belle Époque, known for inspiring French Impressionist painters with her beauty and spirit, the wine carries a sense of charm. With its origins in the Languedoc, drawing fruit from the sun-drenched plains near Béziers and Valras-Plage as well as the higher ground of the Minervois, it captures a warm, Mediterranean spirit. At first pour, a scent of red berries rises gently, hinting at cherries and perhaps a touch of raspberry. Unlike some Pinots that lean into earthiness or darker, forest…

  • Insights into the Champagne Market

    Insights into the Champagne Market

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    The American Association of Wine Economists recently shared an enlightening table of the main champagne houses by turnover. The 2024 champagne market was worth roughly €3.92 billion. Moët Hennessy alone commands nearly 46.66% of the market, with the top three producers together holding about 61.59%, and the top five controlling over 72.1%. The median turnover per house is €19.16 million, while the average is higher at €112 million, reflecting the outsized dominance of a few large players. At the smallest end, Leclerc Briant accounts for just 0.12% of total turnover. I created the following chart to better illustrate the outsized…

  • Definition Mosel Riesling Kabinett

    Definition Mosel Riesling Kabinett

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    Mosel Riesling Kabinett is part of Majestic’s own-label ‘Definition ‘ collection, designed to showcase what they see as the definitive expression of a particular grape, region or style. In this case, the German Kabinett classification represents the lightest, earliest harvested style in the Prädikatswein hierarchy, produced from grapes picked just beyond ripeness. This results in a wine where gentle sweetness should be met with a poised lift of acidity. This particular example comes from Dr Loosen, a producer whose wines rarely disappoint me. The 2023 vintage carries a modest 8% ABV. The short period resting on the lees lending an…

  • Castello di Albola Chianti Classico

    Castello di Albola Chianti Classico

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    Castello di Albola Chianti Classico is a red wine from a historic estate perched high in the hills of Radda in Chianti. The grapes are organically grown in the heart of Tuscany, with the estate’s lineage reaching back to the Middle Ages. Since 1979 it has been under the care of the Zonin family, who have lovingly restored it to its present splendour. The 2023 vintage is produced from a blend of the finest organic Sangiovese grapes sourced from eight of the estate’s vineyards. The wine rests for twelve months in Slavonian oak barrels, then matures for a further eighteen…

  • Top 30 Value Golds

    Top 30 Value Golds

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    The Decanter World Wine Awards’ Top 30 Value Golds for 2025 celebrates exceptional wines costing under £15, blind-tasted and judged by leading wine experts. These wines are awarded for delivering outstanding quality at their price point, standing out from over a hundred Gold medal Value category winners. Spain leads with eight wines on the list, followed by France with five, Portugal with four, and other notable entries from Argentina, Australia, Greece, China, Bulgaria, Moldova and more. The selection covers a wide range of styles, from sparkling Prosecco and Cava to robust reds and aromatic whites, showcasing the diversity of great-value…

  • Extra Special Marques del Norte Rioja

    Extra Special Marques del Norte Rioja

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    This is one of those wines you almost have to try, simply because it’s been given so may accolades this year. It took Gold at the 2025 Decanter World Wine Awards with an impressive 95 points, picked up Silver at the IWSC with 94 points and another Silver at the IWC scoring 92. Having enjoyed the Gran Reserva before, I was curious. It comes from El Coto, Rioja’s largest producer, who farm 730 hectares across eight sites spanning nearly all of the region’s sub-zones. Made from 100% Tempranillo, it’s a dry red at 14% ABV, bottled at source rather than…

  • No.1 Cederberg Syrah

    No.1 Cederberg Syrah

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    I had to include this one in my awards25 series because the 2022 vintage earned both an IWC Silver and an IWSC Silver. From the West Coast of South Africa, this Syrah comes from Cederberg, where the fifth generation of the Nieuwoudt family now oversees the estate. They are widely regarded as one of the top high-altitude producers from South Africa. At 14% ABV, this is a medium to full bodied red, made from 100% Syrah and aged in oak. There is a generous ripe cherry aroma with a touch of oak even when just opened. After half an hour,…

  • How Wildfire Smoke Affects Wines

    How Wildfire Smoke Affects Wines

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    A new study by resarchers at USA Oregon State University looked at why some red wines, especially Pinot noir, can taste ashy or smoky if the grapes were exposed to wildfire smoke before harvest. When grapes are exposed to smoke, they absorb certain chemicals that later end up in the wine. These chemicals include volatile phenols and thiophenols, which can make the wine taste smoky, burnt or leave an unpleasant ashy aftertaste. The researchers wanted to find out how much of these chemicals it takes for regular wine drinkers to actually notice the ashy flavour. They tested this using different…

  • Shifting Tastes in a Changing Global Market

    Shifting Tastes in a Changing Global Market

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    The IWSR Global Trends Report 2025 highlights a number of developments that reflect a complex and evolving wine marketplace, shaped by economic, social and technological forces. Premiumisation remains a feature of the wine category, but it is no longer uniform. Economic pressures and changing values mean consumers are increasingly selective, opting for premium wines in specific situations rather than as a consistent behaviour. This shift is particularly relevant in more stable or growing regions such as parts of South America and Asia, while Europe sees more restrained growth. Consumers are drinking less overall, but when they do indulge, they are…

  • Baronesa de Vilar Rosé Port

    Baronesa de Vilar Rosé Port

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    Made by Alvaro van Zeller, a 15th-generation winemaker from one of the Douro Valley’s most renowned families, whose lineage dates back to 1715 and once included ownership of the iconic Quinta do Noval, this rosé port reflects both heritage and innovation. Rosé port itself is a relatively recent addition to the Douro, only introduced in 2008. Rosé Port, also known as Pink Port, is made from traditional red Douro grape varieties but is produced in a style similar to rosé wines, involving only brief skin contact to achieve its pink colour. Like all Ports, fermentation is stopped early by adding…

  • Thoughts on Vivino

    Thoughts on Vivino

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    If you haven’t yet discovered Vivino, it’s well worth a look. Vivino is an app and web site that allows users to rate and describe wines on a scale from 1 to 5, and then aggregates these individual reviews to provide an average rating for each wine. I’ve personally found the average ratings on Vivino to be surprisingly accurate and often a helpful guide when selecting a bottle. Curious to see whether this was just my impression, I decided to look into whether research supports my experience. Vivino relies on the concept of the wisdom of the crowd, the idea…

  • Nero Oro Riserva

    Nero Oro Riserva

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    This Sicilian red might catch your eye if you’re drawn to Nero d’Avola, but it’s very different from the usual expressions of that grape. It’s a blend of Nero d’Avola and Syrah from the 2021 vintage, with 14% ABV and a long 18 months spent in oak barrels. The result is a distinctive, deeply flavoured wine, shaped by the hands of acclaimed winemaker Stefano Chioccioli, whose past work has earned perfect scores from both the Gambero Rosso wine guide and Robert Parker. Now starting to show a bit of age in the glass with a touch of browning, the wine…

  • Villa Maria Marlborough Wairau Valley Reserve Sauvignon Blanc

    Villa Maria Marlborough Wairau Valley Reserve Sauvignon Blanc

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    I tried this one as part of my awards25 series after the 2024 vintage achieved an IWC Gold with 95 points. Made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc, the 2024 growing season saw low rainfall and cooler weather which led to a reduced crop yield and consequently more concentrated flavours balanced by fresh acidity. Specific yeast strains were selected to bring out the aroma and three months on lees have given it an added textural dimension. There’s a classic tropical aroma upfront, but with something deeper, perhaps ripe pineapple. The flavour opens with passionfruit and kiwi, supported by a citrus undertone. The…

  • Extra Special Dão

    Extra Special Dão

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    Reviewed here as part of my awards25 series, this 2021 vintage picked up a Silver medal at the IWSC with 92 points. Produced and bottled by Falua Sociedade de Vinhos, it comes from Dão in northern Portugal and is made from 60% Mencía and 40% Touriga Nacional. At 13.5% ABV, it opens with a delicate fragrance of violets that sets the tone for a red that favours nuance over weight. The taste brings a blend of candied red fruits and ripe black cherries, expressive but not overdone. There’s a hint of oak at the end of the taste, gently rounding…

  • Extra Special Albariño Rias Baixas

    Extra Special Albariño Rias Baixas

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    This 2024 vintage of Extra Special Albariño from Rías Baixas, produced by Bodegas Pazo Cilleiro in Galicia, stands out not just for its gleaming trio of 2025 medals, bronze from IWC, silver from IWSC, and bronze from Decanter, but for offering a genuine taste of its Atlantic homeland. Made entirely from Albariño and bottled at source, so it adheres strictly to the Denominación de Origen Protegida regulations, setting it apart from other bulk-bottled bottles often found on supermarket shelves. Immediately inviting with an aroma of peach and pear on first pour, it shifts quickly into sharper territory once tasted. Lemon…

  • US 15% Tariff Looms Over EU Wine and Spirits

    US 15% Tariff Looms Over EU Wine and Spirits

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    The Financial Times is reporting (paywall) that the United States is set to impose a 15% tariff on European Union wine and spirits from Friday 1st August 2025, despite lobbying by France and Italy to exempt these products. The European Commission confirmed that while some goods, like aircraft and cork, have secured exemptions, wine and spirits are not currently included. EU trade spokesperson Olof Gill noted that discussions are ongoing, but wine and spirits are expected to be subject to the full tariff rate unless a late change is made. The timing is critical, as US trading partners are racing…

  • Heaphy Hill Riesling

    Heaphy Hill Riesling

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    This is a distinctive white from Nelson, in the north-west of New Zealand’s South Island, a region known as Nelson Tasman. Made from 100% Riesling, this wine comes from one of New Zealand’s oldest vineyards, which is unirrigated and small in scale. The wine spent eight months resting on fine lees before bottling, adding depth and character. The 2023 vintage sits at 12.5% ABV. It has already drawn significant attention, earning a Gold Medal and 95 points at the 2024 International Wine Challenge. It was also a finalist in the People’s Choice 2025 Climate Friendly White category and scooped three…

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Majestic | The Wine Society | Tesco | Waitrose | Sainsbury’s | Morrisons | Co-op | Asda | Aldi | Lidl | £7 and Under | Over £20

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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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