I attended the “California Dreaming” consumer wine tasting event at Majestic in August 2024, hosted by the knowledgeable Andrew from Majestic Woking. Nine of us sampled a selection of wines that highlighted the diverse range of grape varieties available from California, going beyond the typical expectations.
We started with a Champagne welcome drink, as Majestic didn’t have any Californian sparkling wine, a rarity in the UK. The chosen opener was Maurice Delabaye Cuvée Prestige Brut (12.5% ABV), which provided a refreshing start on the warm August day. With bright lemon and apple notes, it was a great palate cleanser, priced at £22.99.
The California Wines
The first Californian wine of the evening was the Zocker Grüner Veltliner 2019 (13.5% ABV) from Edna Valley. “Zocker,” meaning “gambler” in German, was an appropriate name for this wine, which entertained with its strong melon aroma, vibrant apricot flavours and subtle hints of ginger and spice. £15.99 for a mix-six.
Next, we tasted the Cambria ‘Katherine’s Vineyard’ Chardonnay 2021 from the Santa Maria Valley (14.5% ABV). This wine, produced by the renowned Jackson family, offered a balanced expression of white peach, lemon zest and green apple, with just a touch of oak. It struck a middle ground between an unoaked and a typical oaky Chardonnay, making it versatile to pair well with, for example, chicken dishes. Priced at £24.99 for mix six.
We then moved to the Bread & Butter Reserve Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2021 (14% ABV). This wine had much less oak influence compared to the previous Chardonnay, with a light oak and melon aroma and a fresher, more acidic profile. The slightly creamy texture, combined with slight tropical fruit notes, made this wine well-balanced and enjoyable and is available at £22.99 for mix six.
The Duckhorn ‘Decoy’ Merlot 2021 (14.5% ABV) followed, a blend that included Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. While aromatic and plummy, with a dry, red fruit flavour, the wine was balanced but we thought perhaps a bit underwhelming given its price of £26.99 for mix six.
The evening’s highlight for me was undoubtedly the Au Bon Climat ‘Lala Panzi’ Pinot Noir 2021 (13.5% ABV) from a vineyard in Russian River. This wine, from organically farmed vines, stood out for its pretty, light colour and full-on, yet somehow delicate, cherry aroma and flavour, mixed with with a hint of thyme. A fellow taster Ed aptly described it as reminiscent of a Chianti/Sangiovese but without the tannins. It was a layered, well-structured wine with great length, and despite the £39.99 price for mix six, it was worth every penny.
We then sampled the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars ‘Artemis’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 (15% ABV). With a nose of blackcurrant and cedar, and rich, jammy flavours with slight tannins and pepper, it was a well-rounded wine but slightly too sweet for my taste. Priced at £64.99 for mix six, it would appeal to those who enjoy sweeter reds.
To end the tasting, we tried the Andrew Quady ‘Essensia’ Orange Muscat 2021 (12.99% ABV, half bottle), made from rare Orange Muscat grapes. This IWC award-winning dessert wine offered apricot and orange notes, making it a perfect match for orange or chocolate-based desserts.
The clear star of the evening was the Au Bon Climat ‘Lala Panzi’ Pinot Noir, a wine that shows the potential of going off the beaten track in search of something special. Overall, the tasting was an eye-opening experience, showing that the best of California isn’t always what’s typical of the region.
