France
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La Belle Angèle Sauvignon Blanc
La Belle Angèle Sauvignon Blanc comes with an elegant label featuring La Belle Angèle, the beautiful muse of the French Impressionists. It is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc from a number of areas, from the 2025 vintage, with a gentle 12% ABV. In the glass, it has a light gold colour. Served cold, it brings a gooseberry character in both aroma and flavour, fresh and lively. As it warms up, a greener nettle aroma starts to come through, while the flavour shifts towards citrus and a less sweet style of gooseberry. There is a pleasing mouthfeel too, helped along by…
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Les Jamelles Viognier
Les Jamelles Viognier is produced by Catherine and Laurent Delaunay. The brand was created in 1995 after the couple, both from Burgundian wine backgrounds, became fascinated by the Languedoc’s diversity of terroirs and grape varieties. The winery is based at Monze, in the Corbières area near Carcassonne. This is 100% Viognier, 12.5% alcohol, from the 2024 vintage. In the glass it has a bright yellow colour. Give it a little warmth before drinking, at least 20 minutes, as it really opens up once it is not too cold. There is an intense aroma of apricot and floral character, followed by…
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JP Chenet Colombard Sauvignon
JP Chenet Colombard Sauvignon comes from South-Western France, with a fairly gentle 11% alcohol, from the 2025 vintage. The 3l box is the equivalent of four bottles, in a fridge-friendly format. When it is properly cold, this is really citrusy, almost like a citrus wine, both in the aromatics and, even more so, in the taste. Give it a little time to warm up and it softens nicely, bringing in pear, a bit more sweetness, better length, and a slight tropical twist. It is medium sweet, and for me that means the first taste is great, bright, easy and very…
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Calvet Prestige Sauvignon Blanc Cuvée Fumée
Calvet Prestige Sauvignon Blanc Cuvée Fumée comes from Bordeaux, and Calvet is part of the large Les Grands Chais de France (LGCF) group. The Prestige name was chosen in honour of the very select “Diplôme du Prestige de France”, awarded to Maison Calvet in 1958. Cuvée Fumée is the key phrase here. “Fumée” means “smoked” or “smoky” in French, so “Cuvée Fumée” on a wine label generally translates as a “smoky blend”, although the back label describes it as fresh and oaky. The 2023 vintage comes in at 12% ABV and is made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc. In the glass…
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The Definitive Champagne Tasting
In April 2026, I went to The Definitive Champagne Tasting in London. Run by the Champagne Agents Association, a UK-based trade organisation representing Champagne importers and agents, the event brought together 70 Champagne houses and hundreds of Champagnes. That may sound like a lot, but there are in fact more than 2000 Champagne houses in France. Having attended last year, I wanted to approach things differently this time. I decided to concentrate on grower Champagnes, meaning producers who both grow their own grapes and make their own wine. I have explained this category in more detail in a separate article.…
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Les Grands Chais de France Tasting
In March 2026, I attended a tasting for the on-trade (hospitality) and independent retail sectors, hosted by Les Grands Chais de France at Vagabond Urban Winery in London. Les Grands Chais de France (GCF) is a major French wine and spirits company and one of Europe’s leading wine merchants. Its business spans branded wines, estate wines, sparkling wines and spirits. In the UK, it is perhaps best known in supermarkets for labels such as J.P. Chenet and Calvet, some of which I have previously reviewed. GCF’s focus is strongly international. Around 80% of its turnover comes from exports, with wines…
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Les Jamelles Syrah
Les Jamelles Syrah is a 2024 vintage from the Languedoc region in the South of France, made by winemaker Catherine Delaunay. It is 100% Syrah. The majority of the wine is made using a traditional South of France method known as “la cocotte”, or the casserole. At the end of alcoholic fermentation, the pomace, skins, seeds and solids are fully submerged. This gives a slow, gentle extraction of tannins and colour pigments, helping to create reds with deeper colour and a softer texture. A portion of the wine is also oak aged. It comes in at 13.5% abv. In the…
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BBC Good Food – Crémant
BBC Good Food’s round-up presents Crémant as a strong middle ground between Prosecco and Champagne, made by the traditional method, generally drier and more layered than Prosecco, but usually much cheaper than Champagne. They mention that Crémant now covers sparkling wines from eight French regions, so styles vary quite a bit, from lean and citrusy to richer, more brioche-led bottles. The wines mentioned are: Kew Gardens Crémant de Loire Rosé Brut £18.99 Laithwaites. Hunter’s Miru Miru Marlborough Brut NV £19.99 Laithwaites. Roche Lacour Crémant de Limoux 2022 £15.99 Laithwaites. Arthur Metz Crémant d’Alsace Organic Brut £15 Ocado. Moillard-Thomas Crémant de…
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Abbotts & Delaunay ‘Les Fleurs Sauvages’ Viognier
Abbotts & Delaunay ‘Les Fleurs Sauvages’ Viognier comes from Pays d’Oc in southern France, specifically the Hérault and the Aude Valley in the south of the Minervois. It takes its name from the wild plants, fleurs sauvages, that grow along the edges of the vines. This is 100% Viognier from the 2023 vintage, with 13.5% abv and it spends a few months ageing on the lees. In the glass, it has a light lemon-gold colour. The aroma brings apricot, peach, honeysuckle and ginger. On the taste, there is a strong stone fruit character, with a slightly oily texture that comes…
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Spring Reds From the Loire
A new Guardian Newspaper article argues that spring is a great time for light, youthful red wines, especially from the Loire Valley. Richard Godwin suggests that, while alcohol warnings are real, some reds are a better choice than others, ideally young, low in tannin, not too sweet, around 12.5% ABV, and drunk with food. Godwin says the Loire is particularly good for these fresher reds. While the region is famous for whites, he highlights its spring-friendly reds made from Gamay, Pinot noir and Cabernet Franc grapes. He notes that Loire Gamay is lively and fruity, Loire Pinot Noir can be…
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Enclos de la Clarière
Enclos de la Clarière comes from the Castillon side of the Saint-Émilion border. “Enclos” in the name points to a distinct, enclosed single vineyard parcel, and this wine comes from one such site, just six metres from some of Saint-Émilion’s most expensive Grands Crus Classés. Tony Laithwaite’s long connection with Castillon led him to buy the estate from his mentor, Jean Cassin, with the aim of showing that Castillon’s limestone terroir could stand shoulder to shoulder with neighbouring Saint-Émilion. This is the 2022 vintage, made from 100% Merlot, with a year of ageing in a mix of new and seasoned…
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Collin Bourisset Fleurie
This wine comes from a house established in 1821, based in and around the southern Burgundy to Beaujolais crossroads near Crêches-sur-Saône and La Chapelle-de-Guinchay. “The Authentic” on the label leans into a traditional character and you can feel it’s meant to echo the house’s history rather than chase trends. It’s Gamay grape, 2023 vintage, 13%, with an IWC Silver and 92 points, plus a hefty 97/100 from Club Oenologique. In the glass it sits pale to medium ruby, bright and inviting. The aroma is strawberry and raspberry at first, then rose petals float in and give it that Fleurie charm.…
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Domaine du Clos Saint Martin Sancerre
This wine comes from the Loire Valley, produced by the Clément family near the hamlet of Amigny, just below the village of Sancerre. The Clément family have been winegrowers since 1560 and the estate is certified organic. This Sancerre is new and exclusive to Majestic, made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc, sitting at 12.5% abv, from the 2024 vintage. It also received a gold medal at Challenge Millésime Bio. A tip, let it warm for 30 minutes from cold to get a lot out of this wine. In the glass the colour is pale lemon. The aroma brings intense nectarine and…
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Calvet Chablis
From the northern reaches of Burgundy near Auxerre in France, this wine is produced by Calvet, a well-known French wine house with over two centuries of winemaking heritage, now part of the Les Grands Chais de France group. Made entirely from Chardonnay, the sole grape permitted under the Chablis AOC, this is a 2023 vintage that has spent 8 to 10 months ageing on its lees in stainless steel vats, with regular stirring to build texture and complexity. It sits at 12.5% ABV. In the glass, it has a pale lemon colour. It benefits from being given a lot of…
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Calvet Fleurie
This 2023 vintage is made from 100% Gamay, with an alcohol level of 13.5 percent. The wine has been aged on fine lees for 10 months in stainless steel. The colour is a pale purple. The aroma is full and expressive, with intense strawberry and raspberry, alongside rose petals. On tasting, it is silky and perfumed with red fruit and a delicate texture, followed by an impressive mid taste lift of fruity sweetness. In terms of sweetness, it is actually dry, as I will explain later, with light but clearly discernible tannins. One thing I should mention is that, unlike…
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200% Tariff Threat on French Wines
Reuters is reporting that Donald Trump has threatened to impose 200% tariffs on French wines and champagne, framing it as leverage to push Emmanuel Macron to join a new US-led “Board of Peace” initiative. A source close to Macron said the French president plans to decline the invitation, and Trump publicly dismissed Macron’s stance while suggesting the tariff threat could change his mind. On trade, Reuters notes that EU wines and spirits entering the US currently face a 15% tariff and that the United States is the biggest market for French wine and spirits, with 2024 shipments valued at about…
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Georges Duboeuf Fleurie
Georges Duboeuf Fleurie comes from one of France’s most well-known wine merchants. Founded by Georges Duboeuf (1933–2020), often dubbed the “King” or “Pope of Beaujolais” for his global promotion of Beaujolais wines, particularly the Beaujolais Nouveau, the business remains in the family, now under the direction of his son Franck. This Fleurie is made entirely from Gamay and sits at 13.5% ABV. Sometimes promoted as the Georges Duboeuf ‘Flower Label’ Fleurie, this 2023 vintage brings a fresh design shift, now featuring an abundance of flowers on the label instead of a single flower. It previously received a strong 91-point score…
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Victorious
This is an interesting new release from Domaine des Malandes, best known for its fine Chablis, though this wine takes a different direction. It’s made using a new grape variety and is produced with a strong focus on sustainability. The fruit comes from a single vineyard in Moulin-à-Vent, Beaujolais, owned by grower Richard Rottiers. The wine is made by his sister, Amandine Marchive, at the Malandes winery in Chablis. It’s produced entirely from Voltis, a hybrid grape originally introduced in Champagne. Voltis is well suited to warm, damp conditions and is valued for its disease resistance, which reduces the need…
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Palais St Vigni Côtes du Rhône
I first encountered this wine at the Tesco Autumn Winter Press Tasting, where it immediately stood out for being full of flavour and impressively priced. At the time I mentioned that it was supplied by Maison Johanès Boubée in France, which on further digging turns out to be part of Carrefour. They manage the logistics and exporting of this wine, which is actually bottled in France by Caves Saint-Ronain. This 2023 vintage is a blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre. This time, it began with a lovely red cherry aroma. However, it didn’t seem to offer much…
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Poulsard Fruitiere Vinicole D’Arbois
Given to me at the end of The Wine Society press tasting tucked inside a goody bag this wine came in a can that suggested something far simpler perhaps a run-of-the-mill Merlot-style red. It was a surprise to find something far more engaging inside. This wine comes from Jura in eastern France produced by Fruitière Vinicole d’Arbois one of the country’s oldest co-operatives based in Arbois. It’s made entirely from Poulsard, also known locally as Ploussard, a red grape variety native to the region and grown almost nowhere else. Poulsard is known for its delicate skin and low pigment producing…
Pick Lists
Majestic | The Wine Society | Tesco | Waitrose | Sainsbury’s | Morrisons | Co-op | Asda | Aldi | Lidl | £7 and Under | Over £20
Did You Know?
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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