Simon Judge
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The Best of Rioja 2025
In February 2025, I attended Tim Atkin MW’s Best of Rioja tasting in London. Like the inaugural event last year, this was a truly rare occasion, bringing together an incredible collection of wines in one room. In this year when Rioja celebrates the 100th anniversary of the creation of its Denominación de Origen, the event featured nearly 300 wines, showcasing the very best the region has to offer. Almost all of Rioja’s top bodegas were present, with the lineup consisting of the First and Second Growths from Tim’s annual Rioja Report, complemented by an equally important group of rising stars.…
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Domaine Tabordet Organic Pouilly Fumé
A new wine from Majestic, made using the Sauvignon Blanc grape. This wine comes from the Pouilly-Fumé appellation in the Loire Valley and is the 2023 vintage with an alcohol content of 12.5%. The wine has a light golden hue and requires quite a bit of warmth to fully reveal itself. It is a gentle and elegant wine, not overtly bold but rather subtle and inviting. The aromatics are a pleasant blend of honeydew lemon and a hint of tropical fruits. It features a grassy taste with mineral undertones and a salty, saline finish. Interestingly, it is not as flinty…
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Understanding Old Vines
Old vines have long captivated the imagination of wine enthusiasts and producers alike, often associated with wines of exceptional quality and character. But what exactly constitutes an ‘old vine’ and do these venerable plants truly produce superior wines? This aspect of viticulture is both intriguing and complex, requiring an understanding of the term itself and the impact of vine age on wine quality. What is an Old Vine? The term ‘old vine’, or ‘vieilles vignes’ in French, is commonly used on wine labels to indicate that the wine is produced from grapes grown on notably old vines. However, there is…
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Holy Communion Must Be Alcoholic
The Independent newspaper is reporting that The Church of England has reaffirmed its stance that only alcoholic wine made from fermented grape juice can be used during Holy Communion. This decision has sparked disappointment due to the perceived injustice towards individuals who cannot consume alcohol due to health reasons. This ruling has led to criticism from some members, including Reverend Canon Alice Kemp, who argues that this exclusion from fully participating in Holy Communion is unjust.
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Unrepresented Wines
My original intention was always to focus on UK-centric wines, those available here in the UK. I attend a wide range of tastings, including those hosted by retailers, importers and specific wine regions. The region-specific tastings often feature some wines that are ‘unrepresented,’ meaning they do not yet have a UK importer. Initially, I avoided these wines, preferring to stick to wines that were more readily accessible. However, over time, my curiosity has led me to explore this uncharted territory to see what I might be missing. It turned out that some of the better wines I have tasted have…
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Definition by Majestic Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
Majestic Wine has expanded its Definition range with a new wine made exclusively for them by the well-known Californian producer, Schug Winery. This Pinot Noir comes from Sonoma’s cool-climate region, an area greatly influenced by marine fog and the winds of the Petaluma Gap, lending a unique character to the wine. The winery’s founder, Walter Schug, brought his European winemaking skills to Sonoma. Born in Germany in 1935, Schug was raised on the grounds of the Staatsweingut Assmanshausen, one of Germany’s premier Pinot Noir estates. His career in America began in 1966 with Gallo, and by 1972, he was the…
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Oxidative Style
The oxidative style of wine is a deliberate winemaking approach that exposes the wine to controlled amounts of oxygen during production. This technique enhances secondary aromas, flavours, and textural complexity, distinguishing oxidative wines from their reductive counterparts. Wines made in this style often exhibit savoury and umami flavours, nutty aromas, a deeper colour compared to reductive wines and a rich mouthfeel with increased textural complexity. Winemakers use various methods to achieve an oxidative style, including barrel fermentation, bâtonnage (lees stirring), racking (transferring wine between barrels), and ageing in wooden barrels or under a layer of yeast known as flor. These…
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Gonzalez Byass 21st Birthday Tasting
2025 marks 21 years since Gonzalez Byass established its UK office and to celebrate, the company hosted an extensive tasting in London, showcasing its diverse and expanding portfolio. The company now represents wines from ten different countries, including renowned producers such as Vilarnau Cava, Champagne Deutz, Domäne Wachau, Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, Jackson Estate, Wirra Wirra, Ashton Hills, Neil Ellis, Viñedos Veramonte, Finca Constancia, Viñas del Vero, Singular Estates Disznókő, and Beronia. Recent additions to the portfolio include Famiglia Castellani from Tuscany and Burgundy house Jean Bouchard. Gonzalez Byass wines are available through independent retailers (do a Google search for specific wines),…
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Aluado Alicante Bouschet
Aluado Alicante Bouschet is a wine that unusually uses the Alicante Bouschet grape, a variety I’ve found impressive in past Portuguese tastings. This grape is more commonly used in blends, making it quite rare to encounter a wine where it features predominantly or exclusively. This wine comes from Quinta de Porto Franco family estate, situated just north of Lisbon. The 2023 vintage has an alcohol content of 12.5%. The winemaker behind this intriguing bottle is José Neiva Correia, a figure, according to Laithwaites, celebrated by wine critic Tim Atkin as a pivotal influencer in Portugal’s wine revolution. José’s innovative approach…
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Lidl Winter Wine Tours 2025
In early February 2025, I attended Lidl’s press wine tasting event in London, where they showcased wines set to be available from either the end of February and the end of March as part of their Wine Tour series. Alongside these limited-time selections, there were also a few wines from their core range. Lidl’s Wine Tours run for around two months, offering customers a chance to explore and purchase these wines while stocks last. However, the most popular selections often sell out sooner. The aim is to keep Lidl’s wine offering fresh and encourage customers to return regularly to discover…
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Josh Cellars Reserve Bourbon Barrel Zinfandel
Previously, I really enjoyed Josh Chardonnay and Pinot Noir at a past Majestic press tasting, so I thought I’d try the Zinfandel and I’m glad I did. Aged in charred bourbon barrels for two months, this 2021 vintage has an ABV of 14.5%. At first, the aroma was a little subdued, but after just half an hour in the decanter, it opened up beautifully, revealing a great cherry aroma reminiscent of a muted Rioja. The taste is rich and spicy, packed with blackberry, vanilla and caramel, gradually developing into deep dark chocolate notes. With low to medium tannins, this wine…
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L’Occhiolino Rosato
This is, in essence, a Rosé Lambrusco, but if your know Lambrusco from the distant past, don’t be too quick to judge. Unlike the overly sweet versions of the past, this one is crisp, dry, and refreshingly modern. Lambrusco is making a well-deserved comeback, and for those in the know, it’s a grape well worth rediscovering. L’Occhiolino means ‘wink’. Made by Cantina di Carpi e Sorbara co-operative, an alliance of 1,200 dedicated producer partners, this rosato is comes from the rolling hills of Emilia-Romagna near Modena, Italy. A blend of 80% Lambrusco Sorbara and 20% Lambrusco Salamino, it is produced…
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Calvet Sancerre Rosé
This Rosé is from the Loire Valley, France, with an ABV of 12.5%, vintage 2023. It has a pale pink colour with an aroma of red fruits. The taste is dry but not overly so, with a strong strawberry taste. What makes it particularly great is the round and mellow mouthfeel. Many other French rosé wines are Grenache-based blends, which often lack the depth of flavour and roundness achieved by this Pinot Noir-based rosé. Rosé makes up only about 1% of Sancerre’s total output. Rosé wines are often, but not always, compromised in their creation, made to meet consumer expectations…
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Australian Wine Report
A new report provides insights into Australian wine exports for the year ending December 2024. A significant theme was the surge in exports to mainland China following the removal of import tariffs in March 2024, which drove a 34% increase in export value to AUD 2.55 billion and a 7% rise in volume to 649 million litres. Exports to China alone accounted for AUD 902 million in value and 83 million litres in volume. However, exports to other global markets, including the UK, declined. Focusing on the UK, Australian wine exports showed relative stability after previous disruptions caused by Brexit…
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pH Level
pH is a measure of acidity on a scale from 0 to 14. The relationship between a wine’s taste profile and its acidity can sometimes be misleading due to factors such as sweetness, tannins, alcohol content and winemaking techniques, particularly in red wines. In some cases, I measure the pH level to help determine the true nature of a wine. Affordable pH meters, an example shown on the left that I use, are readily available on eBay and Amazon, often costing less than a glass of wine. A pH meter can provide insights, helping you understand and compare different wines…
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Berry Bros & Rudd Challenges
Recent news that Berry Bros & Rudd is announcing a consultation over job cuts came as a surprise to me, given that luxury markets are typically the most protected from wider market difficulties. The new duty rates only represent a small increase for high-value wines and premium customers tend to be far less sensitive to belt-tightening than mass-market consumers. The company itself has cited global market conditions, high inflation and rising national insurance contributions as factors behind its decision. Although one might assume Berry Bros & Rudd and/or customers could absorb these challenges, ‘global market conditions’ can mask multiple underlying…
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Australia and New Zealand Trade Tasting 2025
For the first time, Australia and New Zealand combined their annual trade tastings in London, an event that historically has been held separately, New Zealand’s since 1982 and Wine Australia’s since 1986. The decision to merge the two was likely influenced by lower attendance in 2023, though it’s worth noting that train strikes in 2023 may have contributed to those numbers. This year’s event featured more than 1,000 wines from 200 wineries, a vast selection that posed the difficult question: how do I approach a tasting with so many wines? In previous years, when Australia and New Zealand held their…
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Kew Gardens Mencía
Launched in 2023 as part of a collaboration between Laithwaites and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the ‘Kew Series by Laithwaites’ highlights lesser-known grape varieties while promoting the importance of plant diversity in viticulture worldwide. The latest addition to the series is a fresh and different red wine made from the newly-revived Mencía grape. This 2022 vintage comes from Bierzo, a region in northwest Spain renowned for its expertise in Mencía. The wine undergoes three months of barrel aging, adding depth and character to its profile. Visually, it features a natural aesthetic, with a naked cork (no capsule) and a…
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Hallgarten & Novum Annual Portfolio Tasting 2025
The Hallgarten & Novum Annual Portfolio Tasting was held in January 2025 at the iconic Old Billingsgate in London. The choice of a new, expansive venue symbolised the company’s fresh direction, described by Hallgarten as “Our Next Chapter”. This event marked a pivotal moment for one of the UK’s leading wine distributors, reflecting its growth and transformation. Founded in 1933, Hallgarten & Novum Wines has long been a cornerstone of the UK’s wine trade, specialising in premium wines for both the hospitality sector (on-trade) and retail outlets (off-trade). Notably, around 70% of its business is rooted in the premium on-trade…
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De Bortoli Botrytis Semillon
De Bortoli’s Botrytis Semillon Family Reserve is a great example of Australia’s ‘stickies’, a colloquial term for their sweet, dessert-style wines. Made exclusively from 100% Sémillon grapes, the wine is made under the influence of the Botrytis Cinerea fungus, also known as ‘noble rot’. This beneficial fungus, thriving under the right climatic conditions, concentrates the sugars and flavours in the grapes, resulting in an opulent and richly complex wine. The 2020 vintage, 9% ABV, offers a luxurious aromatic profile, dominated by notes of apricot and citrus. Its texture is exceptionally syrupy, delivering a luscious mouthfeel. The taste reveals a great…
Pick Lists
Majestic | The Wine Society | Tesco | Waitrose | Sainsbury’s | Morrisons | Co-op | Asda | Aldi | Lidl | £7 and Under | Over £20
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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