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  • Moillard Crémant de Bourgogne Chardonnay

    Moillard Crémant de Bourgogne Chardonnay

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    Simon Judge

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    This 2021 vintage sparkling is wine made entirely from Chardonnay and produced in the traditional method by Moillard, one of Burgundy’s most historic and respected houses, established in the 18th century in Nuits-Saint-Georges. This vintage has spent twelve months on lees, going beyond the nine-month minimum required for Crémant, giving it extra depth and complexity. The wine has a pale golden yellow colour with a very energetic rush of bubbles at first pour, as shown in my photograph. Aromas are floral and nutty with hints of apple drifting through. On the tongue it is distinctly dry, with a bright acidic…

  • Château Méaume Matured Bordeaux Supérieur

    Château Méaume Matured Bordeaux Supérieur

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    Simon Judge

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    Exclusively available at Majestic, this special release of Château Méaume has been introduced to honour 45 years of partnership between the winery and the retailer. It’s a significant bottle for both, marking a relationship that began in 1980 when the British owners, Alan and Sue Johnson-Hill, attended the opening of Majestic’s very first store. Their son, Mark, now leads the winemaking, taking the reins for this 2019 vintage. Made predominantly from Merlot grown near the famous regions of Pomerol and Saint-Émilion, this Bordeaux Supérieur benefits from low-yield vines and has been matured in oak for no less than a year.…

  • €0.01 Bottle of Wine in French Supermarket

    €0.01 Bottle of Wine in French Supermarket

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    Simon Judge

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    In a Lidl supermarket in Sérignan in the Hérault region a 75 cl bottle of Côtes-de-Gascogne rosé was briefly on sale for €0.01, far below its normal price of about €2.99, sparking anger among local winegrowers. Lidl said the price was the result of an internal labelling error and removed the bottles once the issue was raised, but the label had presented the price as part of a “flash sale”. Farmers’ union representatives said the shockingly low figure undermines local producers already struggling with climate change and shifting drinking habits, and warned they would protest if similar pricing reappears in…

  • Champagne Bruno Paillard Cuvée 72

    Champagne Bruno Paillard Cuvée 72

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    Simon Judge

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    Last year I explored the superb Champagne Bruno Paillard Première Cuvée and now we turn to an evolution of that expression from the limited edition Champagne Bruno Paillard Late Disgorgement Collection, released to mark 40 years since the inception of their Perpetual Reserve. Where most Champagne houses store their reserve wines in isolation, at Maison Bruno Paillard they’ve long followed a different path. Each year, the newest vintage is blended into the existing reserves, creating a living and ever-evolving wine. This approach, inspired by the solera system used for wines like Sherry and Madeira, allows the reserve to build complexity…

  • Understanding Crémant

    Understanding Crémant

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    Simon Judge

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    Crémant stands as a French example of how outstanding sparkling wine can be made outside the Champagne region. The term refers to quality traditional-method sparkling wines that are protected by appellation and produced in specific regions under detailed rules. In France, the Crémant producers’ federation brings together eight AOPs (L’Appellation d’origine protégée): Alsace, Bordeaux, Bourgogne, Die, Jura, Limoux, Loire and Savoie. For Crémant, grapes must be harvested by hand, the amount of juice obtained from pressing must not exceed 100 litres per 150 kilos of grapes, and the wines must undergo at least nine months’ ageing before release, with commercial…

  • Sud de France Label Will be Banned

    Sud de France Label Will be Banned

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    Simon Judge

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    From the 2025 vintage onwards, the Sud de France label will be permanently banned from wine bottles, after a ruling by the Conseil d’État on 3 December 2025 confirmed that the term does not meet the criteria for a recognised geographical indication under EU rules. The label, launched in 2006 to promote wines from what is now the Occitanie region, including the former Languedoc-Roussillon territories, has long served as a unifying brand for a wide range of wines. According to the Conseil d’État, “Sud de France” fails to correspond to any legally defined locality, administrative area or officially recognised wine…

  • Marcillac ‘Lo Sang del Pais’

    Marcillac ‘Lo Sang del Pais’

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    Simon Judge

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    This red comes from Marcillac‑Vallon in Aveyron, South-West France, an area known for its deep red soils rich in iron that lend a distinct identity to the wines grown there. Domaine du Cros brings us this bottle with a name that translates loosely as “the blood of the land,” a reflection of the bond between vine, soil and region. Made entirely from Fer Servadou, a grape known locally as Mansois, this unoaked 2023 vintage comes in at 13% ABV and offers a refreshingly individual character. As is typical with many French reds, it’s best to let it sit a while…

  • Abbotts & Delaunay Languedoc Blanc

    Abbotts & Delaunay Languedoc Blanc

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    Simon Judge

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    This 2024 vintage is a new wine from Jeanne Delaunay, a talented young winemaker who brings together the elegance of her Burgundian roots with the expressive wines of the Languedoc. This white blend features 60% Grenache Blanc and 40% Vermentino, aged for a modest five months on fine lees. Orange blossom and citrus grapefruit come through on the aroma, leading into flavours of apricot and more citrus on the tongue. The texture is soft and rounded, enriched by the lees ageing, with a long mineral finish that carries a subtle edge of salinity. Impressively, it remains enjoyable and evolves even…

  • Les Crus Bourgeois

    Les Crus Bourgeois

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    Simon Judge

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    In November 2025 I was invited to Les Crus Bourgeois 2023 tasting in London, an event that brought together wines from the Médoc. Les Crus Bourgeois is a long-standing quality classification for estates not included in the famous Bordeaux 1855 ranking. First established in 1932, it highlights producers whose wines meet demanding standards, with blind tastings and estate inspections ensuring both quality and consistency. I have written a separate article that explores the system in greater depth, including the tiers and the châteaux involved. This tasting was the first UK trade showing of the 2025 Classification, unveiled the previous February.…

  • Moulin Rose de Malescasse

    Moulin Rose de Malescasse

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    Simon Judge

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    Moulin Rose de Malescasse was one of the highlights for me at the Majestic press tasting, so I was keen to revisit it in more detail. It comes from the Haut-Médoc area of Bordeaux and is produced by Château Malescasse. The estate holds an impressive status as one of only 14 Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel properties in the region, the highest level in the Cru Bourgeois classification system. For those curious, I’ve previously written more on the tiers and their significance in my article on Understanding Cru Bourgeois du Médoc. Moulin Rose is the estate’s second wine. A château’s second wine…

  • Understanding Cru Bourgeois du Médoc

    Understanding Cru Bourgeois du Médoc

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    Simon Judge

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    Building upon the my previous article on Understanding Bordeaux Wines, this piece looks into the world of Cru Bourgeois du Médoc, a classification that offers high-quality yet accessible wines from Bordeaux’s Left Bank. The term Cru Bourgeois has historical roots that trace back to the Middle Ages. During this period, the term “bourgeois” referred to the citizens, or bourgeoisie, who lived in the “burgh” (bourg) of Bordeaux. These citizens, often wealthy and influential, began acquiring some of the region’s most esteemed lands for viticulture. Over time, the designation of Cru Bourgeois became associated with these holdings as these landowners cultivated…

  • Abbotts & Delaunay ‘Les Fleurs Sauvages’ Malbec

    Abbotts & Delaunay ‘Les Fleurs Sauvages’ Malbec

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    Simon Judge

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    This wine comes from rising Languedoc winemaker Jeanne Delaunay, daughter of winemakers Laurent and Catherine Delaunay. She brings a contemporary outlook combined with a strong respect for nature and the Burgundian heritage that shapes her approach. The wine name reflects the care taken to protect the wild plants, les fleurs sauvages, that grow along the edges of the vines. At 13 per cent ABV, the 2022 vintage is drawn from 30 year old Malbec vines and rests in oak barrels for seven to nine months. When people think of this grape, Argentina often springs to mind, although France is the…

  • Les Dauphins Côtes du Rhône White

    Les Dauphins Côtes du Rhône White

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    Simon Judge

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    Les Dauphins is a range that draws inspiration from the vibrant energy of the 1920s, evoking an era when Paris pulsed with culture and creativity. This was also the time when co-operatives began to take root and the wines from the Dauphiné corner of the Rhône Valley found favour among the capital’s bistro-goers. The wine is made by the Unions des Vignerons des Côtes du Rhône, a collective with over six decades behind it. This 2024 vintage blends 50% Grenache Blanc, 40% Viognier and 10% Marsanne, sourced from vineyards around the village of Tulette in south-eastern France. While the area…

  • Laurent Delaunay Les Grappillages Chablis

    Laurent Delaunay Les Grappillages Chablis

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    Simon Judge

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    Laurent Delaunay, a well-known Burgundian winemaker, brings a touch of contemporary charm to tradition with this Les Grappillages Chablis. This wine blends classic regional winemaking with modern elegance, the label adorned in a chic Toile de Jouy print more often seen in the world of high fashion than on supermarket shelves. Made entirely from Chardonnay, the grapes are grown in the cool and undulating terrain of the Yonne Valley. These vineyards rest on ancient Kimmeridgian limestone, the same prized soil that has long defined the character of Chablis. The name Les Grappillages is a reference to an old custom, the…

  • Calvet Fitou Le Grand Roi

    Calvet Fitou Le Grand Roi

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    Simon Judge

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    This 2022 vintage comes from the sun-soaked region of Languedoc in the South of France, produced under the Fitou appellation, which requires at least 40% Carignan in any blend. This wine brings together Black Grenache, Carignan and Syrah in a style that’s both expressive and easy to enjoy. The bottle stands out with an eye-catching label designed in collaboration with Marc Felten, a French painter known for his bold use of colour. It’s a fitting introduction to what’s inside, suggesting vibrancy and personality. Although the label describes it as ‘powerful and generous’, this doesn’t translate into the heavy structure you…

  • Chasm de Cabrespine Minervois

    Chasm de Cabrespine Minervois

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    Simon Judge

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    This is a southern French red with an unusual story behind its ageing. Stored for six years in one of Languedoc’s most striking natural wonders, the vast Cabrespine Chasm near Carcassonne, this wine spent part of its time resting in clay amphorae set in the upper cave, then the rest submerged in an underground river some 200 metres below the surface. Reaching this hidden chamber involves descending 80 metres of ladders, squeezing through tight passages, and finally paddling a canoe through the darkness, a journey as adventurous as the wine itself. The extremes of this setting bring real benefits: total…

  • Pierre Jaurant Sud de France Rosé

    Pierre Jaurant Sud de France Rosé

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    Simon Judge

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    This rosé comes from the Pays d’Oc region, a broad sweep of vineyards along the southern coast of France. Assuming it remains consistent with previous vintages, it’s made entirely from Grenache and sits at 12.5% ABV. Talking of vintages, unusually, no vintage is mentioned on the bottle. Rather than being bulk bottled, this wine is bottled in France. Previously recognised as Aldi UK’s ‘Nation’s Favourite’ wine in October 2024, it has clearly won favour with many. In the glass, it’s a delicate rose gold. The aroma leans generously into citrus and red fruit, giving a lively and appealing first impression.…

  • Champagne Foil Debate Ends as Tradition Yields to Choice

    Champagne Foil Debate Ends as Tradition Yields to Choice

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    Simon Judge

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    The Drinks Business is reporting that the Comité Champagne has dropped its opposition to an EU ruling that makes neck foils on Champagne bottles optional, concluding after new research that removing them neither harms sales nor damages the region’s image. The decision follows years of debate across the sparkling-wine world. English producers have argued that scrapping foils trims production costs by 10p–50p a bottle, while some Champagne houses worried that losing this luxury cue might dent demand. Environmental arguments also featured, with estimates that foils account for about 0.6% of Champagne’s production-related greenhouse-gas emissions. Others stressed hygiene and security. A…

  • Screaming Devil Côtes de Provence Rosé

    Screaming Devil Côtes de Provence Rosé

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    Simon Judge

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    I’ve previously written about this wine, picking it out at Asda press tastings. The new 2024 vintage had a lot to live up to, so I was eager to see whether it matched the standard set by earlier years. For anyone unfamiliar, Screaming Devil is a tongue-in-cheek spin on Whispering Angel, a name that quickly caught attention, helped along by a sleek bottle design and a price tag that made it an instant favourite among fans of more premium rosé. At 12.5%, this ‘dupe’ is made from a blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah grapes. It’s produced and bottled at…

  • Bordeaux Royalty Chooses Vin de France

    Bordeaux Royalty Chooses Vin de France

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    Château Lafleur has fired the starting gun on one of the most consequential shifts in modern Bordeaux. In a letter dated Sunday 24 August 2025, the Guinaudeau family confirmed that, from the 2025 harvest, all six of the estate’s wines will drop the appellations of Pomerol and Bordeaux and be labelled Vin de France. For a domaine whose micro-parcels in Pomerol are among the most coveted in the world, the step is as audacious as it is symbolic. The letter frames the decision as the logical extension of Lafleur’s long-held philosophy of working “off the beaten path”. It argues that…

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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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