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  • Lidl Amarone della Valpolicella Classico

    Lidl Amarone della Valpolicella Classico

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    Simon Judge

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    I came across this 2020 vintage Amarone at a Lidl press tasting, where I thought it was the best wine on show, clearly better than the previous 2019 vintage and easily the best supermarket Amarone I have come across so far. Since then, I had been keeping an eye out for it to appear in store, as it only seemed to be the earlier 2019 vintage that was actually on the shelves. I finally managed to find a bottle in a different store from the one I usually visit and it is every bit as excellent as I remembered. At…

  • Rose & Rose Sauvignon Blanc

    Rose & Rose Sauvignon Blanc

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    Simon Judge

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    I first came across this wine at a Majestic press tasting and thought it was one of the best bottles on show. I had to try it again to see what it was like outside a line-up of 120 wines, how it changed with temperature and whether it would still impress. It comes from Marlborough’s Wairau Valley. Back in 1978, the Rose family became the first to grow grapes in what is now known as the Golden Mile, after winning approval to plant in a region where it had previously not been permitted and where there had been strong opposition.…

  • ‘Tenacity Old Vine’ Cabernet Sauvignon

    ‘Tenacity Old Vine’ Cabernet Sauvignon

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    Simon Judge

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    Two Hands ‘Tenacity Old Vine’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from old vines in McLaren Vale and Barossa Valley, Australia. This is the 2024 vintage, produced by Two Hands, with the aim of making wines that feel softer and more approachable. The name Tenacity reflects the determination and perseverance of old vines that have become such an enduring part of the Australian landscape. A good tip here is to let it breathe for at least half an hour. In the glass, you get blackcurrant, bay leaf, cedar and leather aromas. On the taste, it leans into fruity black cherry. It is dry,…

  • Les Jamelles Syrah

    Les Jamelles Syrah

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    Simon Judge

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    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…

  • Piccini ‘Histrio’ Anfora Toscana Rosso

    Piccini ‘Histrio’ Anfora Toscana Rosso

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    Simon Judge

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    ‘Histrio’ Anfora Toscana Rosso, by Piccini, is a blend of Sangiovese and Malvasia Nera, given 12 weeks maturing in special clay amphorae, which is where the name comes from. As a bit of context, clay is slightly porous, so tiny amounts of oxygen work their way in over time. It behaves a little like oak in that sense, but without bringing any woody character along with it. What you get instead is softer tannins, a rounder feel in the mouth and less of that hard edge as the wine settles. This is the 2022 vintage, sitting at 13% ABV. The…

  • Abbotts & Delaunay ‘Les Fleurs Sauvages’ Viognier

    Abbotts & Delaunay ‘Les Fleurs Sauvages’ Viognier

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    Simon Judge

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    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…

  • Graffigna AR Malbec

    Graffigna AR Malbec

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    Simon Judge

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    AR Malbec comes from Argentina and from Graffigna, one of the country’s oldest and pioneering wineries, in fact the third-oldest winery in Argentina. The vineyards sit in both San Juan and Mendoza and this particular wine was developed exclusively for the UK market. It is the 2024 vintage, comes in at 12.5% ABV, and 20% of the wine was aged in contact with oak for three months. In the glass it has a slight purple colour. The aroma brings black plum, violets and a gentle touch of spice. On the taste, dark cherry and cocoa come through. It sits on…

  • Kleine Zalze Cap Classique Brut

    Kleine Zalze Cap Classique Brut

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    Simon Judge

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    This wine from Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa, is a traditional method sparkling wine. It’s made using Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes and sits at 12% ABV. In the glass it has a pale salmon colour with loads of lively, fine beads that keep on coming. Aroma wise it gives off fresh apple and citrus, with a gentle biscuit nuance. It’s dry on taste, apple and citrus upfront, then that richer depth kicks in with bright, high acidity keeping everything fresh. The finish is long, the sort that makes you want another sip before you’ve even put the glass down.…

  • Vinha do Fava Touriga Nacional

    Vinha do Fava Touriga Nacional

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    Simon Judge

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    Vinha do Fava Touriga Nacional comes from Casa Ermelinda Freitas, a producer going back to 1920. It is from Portugal’s Península de Setúbal and the estate has been run by three generations of women. Casa Ermelinda Freitas is also one of the biggest producers in Portugal. The estate bought this vineyard from Senhor Fava, one of their long-standing top growers, when he retired. The wine was then named Vinha do Fava in his honour. This wine has picked up 29 Gold medals across five vintages and was named Best Portuguese Wine by The Independent. It also carries a strong 4.1…

  • Enclos de la Clarière

    Enclos de la Clarière

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    Simon Judge

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    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…

  • Bleasdale The Wild Fig

    Bleasdale The Wild Fig

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    Simon Judge

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    Bleasdale The Wild Fig comes from what was the first winery in the relatively cool-climate Langhorne Creek, founded way back in 1850 and it is still owned by the Potts family. This is a Rhône-style GSM blend, Shiraz 67%, Grenache 26%, Mourvèdre 7%, spends six months ageing in large oak casks. It is 13.5% ABV and is from the 2022 vintage. It has picked up a slew of Australian wine awards. In the glass you get blueberry aroma alongside clove and pepper and a savoury nuance to it all, with the colour showing a slightly browning edge. It drinks dry…

  • Villa Cafaggio Chianti Classico

    Villa Cafaggio Chianti Classico

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    Simon Judge

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    Villa Cafaggio Chianti Classico comes from an estate in Panzano in Chianti, with a documented history reaching all the way back to 1408. “Classico” matters here because it means the wine is from the original, historic Chianti zone, before the area was expanded much more widely. This is 100% Sangiovese, given 12 months of maturation in large Slavonian oak barrels, the 2023 vintage and it sits at 13.5% ABV. In the glass it’s slightly browning. The aroma is led by sour cherry and cloves, with a light touch of oak in the background. On tasting it feels very typical of…

  • Montidori Sangiovese

    Montidori Sangiovese

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    Simon Judge

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    This one comes from Emilia-Romagna in Italy. It’s made from Sangiovese, the grape behind Chianti, with a touch of appassimento, that dried-grape technique that brings extra mid-taste richness. It has a high 4.1 scrore on Vivino and this is the 2024 vintage. You get red fruit and caramel on the aroma straight away. Full bodied, with ripe fruit, then that caramel-tinged, gently spicy, long finish that hangs around in a very satisfying way. I happened to taste it alongside a Chianti Classico and it felt much rounder, but also less oaky than the Chianti, which made it really easy to…

  • Santa Lucia Chardonnay and Blue Agave Wine

    Santa Lucia Chardonnay and Blue Agave Wine

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    Simon Judge

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    This is a very different one, from Mexico. It’s a blend of Blue Weber Agave and Chardonnay, with the agave coming from Jalisco’s Highlands and the Chardonnay from Valle de Guadalupe. So what is agave? It’s a thick, fleshy, often spiky succulent plant, with leaves that radiate from a central stem. It’s the only plant used for producing authentic tequila. The “Weber” part of “Blue Weber Agave” is named after the botanist Frédéric Albert Constantin Weber, who is credited with deciding this was the best agave plant to use for tequila production. This wine a fairly dark colour in the…

  • Collin Bourisset Fleurie

    Collin Bourisset Fleurie

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    Simon Judge

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    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.…

  • Domaine du Clos Saint Martin Sancerre

    Domaine du Clos Saint Martin Sancerre

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    Simon Judge

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    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…

  • Three Bowls Assyrtiko

    Three Bowls Assyrtiko

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    Simon Judge

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    This is the third wine in the Three Bowls series from Greece. For the wider story behind this new range, take a look at the Three Bowls Xinomavro. It’s the 2025 vintage, sitting at 12.5% ABV, made from the Assyrtiko grape. In the glass the colour is extremely pale lemon, almost clear, so very striking. From very cold it comes across with real precision. The aroma brings citrus straight away, alongside a sea salt minerality and a subtle herbal edge that keeps things interesting. On the taste there is a powerful citrus and mineral core that drives everything forward. It…

  • Lucale Primitivo Appassimento

    Lucale Primitivo Appassimento

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    Simon Judge

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    This wine by Masseria Borgo dei Trulli comes from low yielding vineyards in the communes of Avetrana and Manduria, in the Province of Taranto in southern Puglia. It is 100% Primitivo. The label says Appassimento, which is usually the traditional Italian method where harvested grapes are dried for weeks or months, often on mats in ventilated rooms, to concentrate sugars, acids and flavour. However, this wine takes a different approach. In late August, when the grapes have reached perfect maturity, a special technique called il giro del picciolo, the twisting of the stem, is applied to around 50% of the…

  • Three Bowls Rosé

    Three Bowls Rosé

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    Simon Judge

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    This is the second of three reviews of the Three Bowls range of Greek wines. See the previous review of Three Bowls Xinomavro for the background on this new range. This one is 2024 vintage at 12.5%. It is 60% Xinomavro and 40% Assyrtiko, from vineyards in Naousa, Imathia, an interplay of these two landmark Greek varieties. In the glass it has a lovely pale gold colour. The aroma is expressive, with strong strawberry, tomato leaf and rose petal. On tasting, it is dry and savoury, red fruit to the fore, lively acidity and a very subtle tannic grip. Sweetness…

  • Salvio Ribera de Duero

    Salvio Ribera de Duero

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    Simon Judge

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    This wine is produced by Dominio de Elbio, a new Ribera del Duero project from well-known winemaker David Gonzalez, recognised for his work across Bodegas Chivite, Viña Salceda and Gran Feudo within the Perelada stable. He was included in the Master Winemaker Top 100 2025, and brings meticulous attention to detail in the winery, with a clear focus on precision viticulture. The vineyard is located in the renowned magic triangle of La Horra, Anguix and Roa in the Ribera del Duero region of Spain. The wine is predominantly Tinto Fino (Tempranillo), complemented by Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon and aged for…

Pick Lists


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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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