Simon Judge

  • Sainsbury’s Spring Summer Press Tasting

    Sainsbury’s Spring Summer Press Tasting

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    Simon Judge

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    At the very end of a busy month of supermarket tastings, I went to Sainsbury’s Spring Summer Drinks Press Tasting in April 2025, held in London. Sainsbury’s has seen an 8% rise in ready-to-drink sales year on year. This includes cocktails, spritzes and wine in cans such as Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc and La Vielle…

  • Co-op Spring & Summer Tasting

    Co-op Spring & Summer Tasting

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    In late April 2025, I went to the Co-op press tasting in London. Co-op remains the most shopped-at retailer in the UK, with an average of 2.2 million shoppers visiting every day, resulting in around 800 million shopping visits per year. In 2024, they grew their market share in the convenience sector to 13.7%, supported…

  • London Wine Competition 2025 Winners

    London Wine Competition 2025 Winners

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    The 2025 International London Wine Competition, now in its eighth year, once again placed equal weight on quality, value for money and packaging, aiming to mirror the way consumers actually choose wine. More than seventy leading professionals, including Masters of Wine, Master Sommeliers and senior buyers, blind‑tasted every entry before reassessing price and presentation, so…

  • Calvet Sancerre

    Calvet Sancerre

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    This Calvet Sancerre 2024, 12.5%, is 100% Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire region of France. It is grown on a hillside overlooking the left bank of the Haute Loire. In the glass, it has a pale yellow colour with delicate green reflections. Even when served very cold, it releases a strong and enticing aroma of…

  • Parcel Series ‘No.77’ Chilean Red Blend

    Parcel Series ‘No.77’ Chilean Red Blend

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    Parcel Series wines come from top-class wineries that quietly sell a limited quantity to Majestic at a fraction of their usual price to clear some space in their cellars, making this a rare opportunity to buy. This particular wine comes from the Viña Vik vineyard, set in the foothills of the Andes mountains. The vineyard…

  • Waitrose Spring Press Tasting 2025

    Waitrose Spring Press Tasting 2025

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    I was invited to the Waitrose & Partners Spring Wine Tasting in London in April 2025, where 159 products were showcased across all drinks categories. The selection reflected a clear focus on both innovation and quality, with several key trends standing out. For Waitrose, Crémant is currently the fastest-growing category, with sales up 19% compared…

  • M&S Spring Press Tasting

    M&S Spring Press Tasting

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    In April 2025 I went to the M&S press tasting in London, where the retailer showcased a raft of new wines and several old favourites. Innovation in English wine was front-and-centre. M&S has released its first own-label Charmat-method sparkling, meaning the second fermentation is carried out in tank rather than in the bottle. Alongside this…

  • Mount Rozier Chenin Blanc Reserve

    Mount Rozier Chenin Blanc Reserve

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    Mount Rozier Chenin Blanc Reserve is a white wine from the foothills of the Hottentot Mountains, produced by the Mount Rozier winery in South Africa’s Western Cape wine region. The estate has a rich heritage, founded at the turn of the 19th century by Annie Rozier, a local flower merchant known for gathering wildflowers in…

  • Russians Lure European Diplomats with Wine Tasting Invite

    Russians Lure European Diplomats with Wine Tasting Invite

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    Simon Judge

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    In April 2025, researchers revealed Russia’s APT29 (Cozy Bear) resumed phishing attacks on European diplomats, using a wine tasting invitation. The emails mimic European Ministry of Foreign Affairs correspondence and re-target diplomats who don’t respond. Links lead to a malicious file, wine.zip, dropped under specific conditions. Inside, a PowerPoint executable (wine.exe) exploits DLL side-loading to…

  • Apelación Cabernet Franc

    Apelación Cabernet Franc

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    Simon Judge

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    Apelación Cabernet Franc by Zuccardi is an interesting expression of this variety, made by a winery more widely known for its Malbec. Made from 100% Cabernet Franc, the grapes are carefully sourced from select vineyards in Paraje Altamira and across the wider Uco Valley in Mendoza, Argentina, a region renowned for its high-altitude viticulture. The…

  • Learn About No Alcohol Wine

    Learn About No Alcohol Wine

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    Simon Judge

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    New research on Dealcoholized wine: Techniques, sensory impacts, stability, and perspectives of a growing industry“ is a detailed review examining the production, sensory implications, stability concerns and future prospects of dealcoholised wine. Growing interest in dealcoholised wine is largely driven by health-conscious consumers, social trends encouraging reduced alcohol intake, and legal considerations such as road…

  • Definition Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

    Definition Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

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    This 2018 vintage of Saint-Émilion Grand Cru comes from the right bank of the River Garonne, from the family-run Château du Roy. It is made from 35-year-old vines and sits at 13.5% ABV. While it’s Merlot-led, it also includes some Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. I almost didn’t review this bottle. On opening, it was…

  • Blueprint Pinot Noir

    Blueprint Pinot Noir

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    Simon Judge

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    Blueprint Pinot Noir from Waitrose is part of a range created to highlight excellent-value, classic wines from around the world. Each bottle is chosen not just for quality, but for how faithfully it represents its style and place of origin. The label design reflects the winemaker’s region, adding a touch of visual charm to the…

  • 25% Off Wine at Waitrose

    25% Off Wine at Waitrose

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    Waitrose has 25% off 6 bottles or more of wine and Champagne priced between £6 and £100 from 16 April to 22 April 2025 inclusive. See the recent 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 21 April 2025.

  • Les Dauphins Cotes du Rhone

    Les Dauphins Cotes du Rhone

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    Les Dauphins wines take their cue from the vibrant spirit of 1920s Paris, a time when jazz, art, fine food and wine flourished and when the Rhône Valley saw the formation of its first co-operatives. This cultural backdrop shapes the character of these wines, which are made by the Union des Vignerons des Côtes du…

  • Provence Rosé Tasting

    Provence Rosé Tasting

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    Simon Judge

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    In April 2025, I joined a virtual masterclass hosted by Ray O’Connor MW, ambassador for Vins de Provence. Aimed at trade and press, the session tackled the question: “Provence rosé: are they all the same?” and explored the breadth and diversity the region has to offer. Ray took us through the regions and sub-regions of…

  • Understanding Provence Rosé

    Understanding Provence Rosé

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    History Provence, located in the sun-drenched south of France, is globally renowned for producing some of the finest rosé wines. Its legacy in winemaking stretches back to 600 BC with the founding of Marseille and the planting of the region’s first vineyard. Over the centuries, wine production in Provence evolved under the influence of monasteries…

  • 25% Off Wine at Asda

    25% Off Wine at Asda

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    Simon Judge

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    Asda has 25% off wine, on £5.50 per bottle or more, 6 bottles or more, from 11 April 2025 until 5 May 2025. See the Autumn/Winter Press tasting for tips on what to buy.

  • w/o Organic Grillo Spumante

    w/o Organic Grillo Spumante

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    From Sicily comes a new project from winemaker Dino Taschetta: w/o – meaning a wine made without compromise. This sparkling wine is made from the indigenous Grillo grape believed to be a cross between Cataratto and Zibibbo (Muscat of Alexandria). Grillo is a versatile grape capable of producing both still and sparkling wines. In this…

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