Reviews
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Pontarelli Toscana Rosso
This wine, IGT classified, is a blend of 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and a dominant 70% Sangiovese produced exclusively for Marks & Spencer. It undergoes a mixed fermentation process, utilising a combination of concrete, stainless steel tanks and large oak casks. This method is designed to enhance the wine’s fruit characters. Critics seem to appreciate this wine, with Decanter awarding it an 89 and even listing it among Marks & Spencer’s top wine buys for the summer. On Vivino this 2020 vintage stands out with a 3.9 score, rating higher than any of its predecessors. Upon tasting, the wine…
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Ravenswood Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel
Ravenswood, once a revered producer closely linked with the renowned winemaker and owner, Joel Peterson, has seen a series of transitions. Initially acquired by Constellation for $149 million, it was later bundled with other brands and sold to the large wine conglomerate, Gallo, in 2021 for $1.7 billion. It’s essential to note that while the brand transitioned, the vineyard did not. This means that this wine’s lineage has changed and the great reviews prior to this are not reflective of the current product. The origin of the grapes is now somewhat ambiguous, but it’s highly unlikely they come from the…
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Diablo Crystal Sauvignon Blanc
When it comes to Chilean wines, Concha Y Toro is a mass producer that delivers wines that are both accessible and enjoyable. With a commendable score of 3.9 on Vivino and a ranking as the #2 top Chilean Sauvignon Blanc in the UK, expectations were high. As someone who enjoys the robust flavours of the sister wine, Diablo Black Cabernet Sauvignon, and the crispness of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, I was intrigued to see how this particular bottle would measure up. The initial nose promised a tropical adventure, with notes of passion fruit leading the way. However, upon tasting, the…
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Sainsbury’s Cava Brut
Sainsbury’s Cava Brut is a great find for those who are looking for a middle ground, taste-wise, between Prosecco and Champagne. Fermented in the bottle using the traditional method, this Cava features a blend of Macabeo, Xarel-lo and Parellada grapes. While the reviews on Sainsbury’s website are a mixed bag, I suspect that some of the less favourable comments may be down to serving temperature. A word of advice: don’t serve this Cava straight from the fridge because it doesn’t taste of much. Letting it warm up for about 20 minutes really brings out its citrus aromas and green apple…
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Greyfriars Non Vintage Cuvée
This English NV Sparkling Cuvée uses the three traditional Champagne varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. Drawing from the 2014, 2015 and 2016 vintages, this sparkling wine has been aged in bottle for two years on its lees. It’s no surprise that it won the 2023 WineGB Gold Medal. The Cuvée is soft and dry, revealing lemon, apple and mineral flavours. It’s a worthy alternative to NV Champagne. This is a great choice for those keen on supporting the English wine industry and the ‘buy local’ movement. Priced at £22 when purchased directly from the vineyard, it’s also available…
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Espartero Reserva Rioja
This 2017 Reserva, from Bodegas Riovinsa, previously won a bronze medal from the International Wine Challenge, where it was described as having notes of herbs, tea leaves and red cherries. It was also a Bronze Winner at the 2023 Decanter World Wine Awards. Since its establishment in 1926, the winery has been operated by three successive generations of the Murua family. This wine is made mainly from Tempranillo grapes and undergoes a three-year aging process, with at least 12 months spent in oak barrels and an additional six months in the bottle. I found this wine to be dry, medium…
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Passo del Cardinale Primitivo di Manduria
I recently had the pleasure of trying a Primitivo that has been given an award by Gambero Rosso magazine, a global authority on Italian food, wine and travel. With a rating of 4.1 on Vivino and an impressive 4.3 for its latest 2022 vintage, this wine piqued my interest. Upon tasting, I found it to be medium to full-bodied, maintaining a good balance with Black Forest-fruit flavours and a subtle note of vanilla. It’s not as intense as, for example, La Masseria Del Borgo, but rather more akin to a classic Primitivo. In my opinion, it’s more suitable to be…
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Montagne Saint Emilion
Montagne Saint Emilion, produced by Armand Chaperon, has garnered attention with its impressive awards, including the IWSC Bronze Medal, IWC Bronze Medal and Decanter World Wine Awards Bronze in 2023. With such high expectations, it’s easy to see why I was keen to give it a try. The wine was even compared to the much-admired Châteauneuf-du-Pape, a comparison that’s particularly enticing given its more budget-friendly price point. A review on Asda’s website suggested that the difference between the two is so subtle that it’s hard to distinguish. However, my experience with the 2020 vintage was far from what I anticipated.…
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Bosman Nero
In 2021, South Africa introduced Bosman Nero, its first Nero d’Avola, a collaboration with actor and filmmaker Thapelo Mokoena, who is a shareholder in the project. Created by winemaker Corlea Fourie, this wine is made from Nero d’Avola, a vine chosen for thriving in sun-rich, water-scarce African soil. With a commendable 3.9 score on Vivino and a place among the Top 19 South African Red wines in the United Kingdom, it’s a wine that liked by many. Decanter’s score of 89 adds to its reputation. My wife, always looking for something different, picked up this medium bodied Nero d’Avola produced…
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Morandé ‘One to One’ Gewürztraminer
Morandé was the first winery in the Chile Casablanca Valley and were the first to receive sustainable certification in Chile. Their One to One Gewürztraminer is different in that each bottle originates from a single vine, thus explaining the product’s name. The word ‘Gewürz’ means ‘spice’ in German, reflecting the wine’s unique flavour profile, which is aromatic and strongly flavoured as with notes of lychee, rose petal and ginger. Gewürztraminer’s pronounced character can be polarising, with some wine drinkers loving its distinctive aromatic intensity and others finding it too overpowering. Gewürztraminer wine pairs well with Chinese and Thai spicy dishes.…
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ASDA Extra Special Carménère
Carménère, originally cultivated in the Médoc region of Bordeaux, France, is part of the Cabernet family. It derives its name from the French term for crimson, “carmin”. Despite its French origins, it’s not frequently found in France today, with Chile boasting the world’s largest plantations of this grape variety. The 2020 vintage of ASDA Extra Special Carménère received a commendable score of 91 points out of 100 from the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC), who praised its rich concentration of fruit flavours, nuanced spice and oak accents and distinct savoury and smoky notes. This particular vintage also has a…
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ASDA Extra Special Soave Classico
This nutty, white wine is from Italy’s Veneto region. Soave is renowned for its delicate smoothness and freshness and it is made primarily with Garganega grapes forming a minimum of 70% of the blend. There are two Soave classifications – Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) and Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG). The DOC region, larger and flatter in terrain, is known for producing usually unoaked Soave, notable for its dry, zingy palate with hints of citrus and almond. The more prestigious DOCG classification usually has a lower yield which produces a higher quality wine. DOCG Soave exhibits increased…
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Dr L Riesling
Originating from the Mosel region of Germany, this fruity Riesling has a refreshingly crisp flavour despite its low alcohol content of 8.5%. The honey-like sweetness is balanced by the acidity that together provide a lengthy finish. This medium-to-sweet wine ranks amongst the top 25 German Rieslings in the UK on Vivino, with an impressive score of 3.9. The wine pairs excellently with spicy dishes. It’s bottled by the producer, as opposed to Asda. Originally priced at £7, it has decreased to £6.50 for some time now. Available at Asda, it becomes a real bargain when there’s a 25% off offer.
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Masciarelli Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
With a medium body, this wine has flavours of ripe cherries, accompanied by sweet spices and an enticing whisper of smoke. Under Italian wine regulations, a Montepulciano d’Abruzzo wine must contain at least 85% Montepulciano with Sangiovese permitted to make up to 15% of the remaining blend. The wine is required to be aged for at least 5 months before being released. This wine has been recommended by the Daily Mail and the 2020 vintage has its highest ever rating of 3.9 on Vivino. Mass market Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is often disappointing but this the exception. My wife and I discovered…
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Yealands Reserve Sauvignon Blanc
The Yealands reserve collection showcases the premium fruit from Yealand’s ‘Seaview’ site in the Awatere Valley. It offers a more pronounced passionfruit and citrus flavour profile compared to the standard Yealands Sauvignon Blanc. I found this to be a great wine, one that I plan to purchase again, though my preference still leans towards the less intense standard Yealands Sauvignon Blanc. While some reviews on Waitrose mention a sharp, mineral taste with an acidic aftertaste, I didn’t experience this myself. Maybe a bad batch? This wine is bottled in New Zealand, unlike the standard Yealands Sauvignon Blanc that is bulk…
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Sainsbury’s Brut Non Vintage Champagne
This champagne, crafted by Louis Kremer Champagne House, uses 20% reserve wines in its blend. “Salty, nutty notes are joined by intense green apple fruit on the nose. A green cooking apple character on the palate sits alongside roasted nuts and a lively acid backbone. It has a wonderful vibrancy that makes this a useful aperitif option.”90 out of 100, Decanter Comprising the classic mix of Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir grapes, it tastes of fresh peach and has a distinct buttery taste, though not to the extent of, for instance, NV Bollinger or NV Lanson. The long finish…
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Palacio Di Vivero Rueda
ASDA Extra Special Rueda, a wine crafted from Verdejo grapes sourced from Spain’s Rueda region, is a hidden gem due to its relative obscurity. This dry, sharp and citrusy wine offers great value for money and a pleasing depth of flavour. Its qualities have been recognised in the IWSC 2022 with a bronze award, and in the IWC and Decanter World Wine Awards in 2023 with silver and bronze medals respectively. “Punchy lemon and lime zest. Multi-dimensional, herbal and saline note. Good mouthfeel. Fresh, lifted and long.” IWC “What incredible value! Fresh, mineral, saline and waxy with some smoky reduction,…
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Alamos Malbec, Uco Valley
This Malbec gained worldwide recognition as the most awarded of its kind in 2018 and 2019. Furthermore, the 2021 vintage won an International Wine Challenge (IWC) award in 2022. According to Vivino, the 2022 vintage outperformed all previous years, scoring an impressive 3.9. I discovered this at a Majestic a very long time ago when they still used to do tasting events and this actually got me started on Malbec. I have tried lots of Malbecs since from Majestic and other suppliers but I have yet to get anywhere as good this. I sometimes even question if I don’t particularly…
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Diablo Black Cabernet Sauvignon
Originating from Maule, Chile and made by wine maker Héctor Urzúa Pistas, this wine offers a blend of black wood, tobacco and a hint of vanilla. It’s a rich, dark, silky smooth and pleasurable drink that fulfils the marketing descriptions. It’s produced by Concha Y Toro, the well-known mass producer of wine. However, don’t let this fact sway your judgement. Diablo Black represents their premium offering, justifying its slightly increased cost. This wine consistently receives high ratings securing a 4.0 out of 5 on Vivino, The 2018 vintage was ranked amongst the top 4% of all wines globally according to…
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Yealands Sauvignon Blanc
Yealands Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand is advertised as having a bright character, with a notes of stone fruit and guava, underlined by tropical flavours and a long, clean mineral finish. This wine is created using grapes from the Awatere and Wairau Valley vineyards. Over a period of eighteen days, the fruit is harvested, destemmed, gently pressed at the winery and then the juice is allowed to cold settle for 72 hours. The clarified juice undergoes a long cool fermentation in stainless steel tanks, helping to capture and enhance the fruitiness. Different yeasts are used to ferment each of…
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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