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  • Silbador Carménère

    Silbador Carménère

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    Simon Judge

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    Silbador Carménère by Emiliana is produced in Chile with an approach rooted firmly in organic farming and ecological balance. Named after the Silbador, an insect-eating bird that roams their vineyards, this wine owes part of its existence to a natural cycle where birds, insects and animals work in harmony. Without the need for pesticides, Emiliana’s land flourishes. Hens, geese and alpacas roam freely between the vines, while flowers sown between the rows draw in beneficial insects that keep vine-damaging pests in check. The result is a living, breathing vineyard buzzing with biodiversity. Made entirely from Carménère grapes, this 2023 vintage…

  • No.1 Grüner Veltliner

    No.1 Grüner Veltliner

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    Simon Judge

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    I first discovered and took a liking to this wine during a Waitrose press tasting. Produced by Markus Huber at his family-run winery in the Traisental Valley, it is made entirely from Grüner Veltliner grapes grown on a single estate. The vines are planted on slopes that run beside a river and the wine spends four months maturing on its lees, adding depth and character. It’s suitable for both vegetarians and vegans. This is the 2024 vintage, with an alcohol content of 12%. In appearance, it has a pale lemon hue. Aromatically, there’s a fresh burst of citrus alongside ripe…

  • Georges Duboeuf Fleurie

    Georges Duboeuf Fleurie

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    Simon Judge

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    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…

  • Victorious

    Victorious

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    Simon Judge

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    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…

  • Ochoa Calendas Tempranillo

    Ochoa Calendas Tempranillo

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    Simon Judge

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    I came across this wine while dining at South Hill Park. The Spanish Tempranillo caught my eye on the menu and I was intrigued to see it wasn’t labelled as a Rioja. I wondered whether it might be from Ribera del Duero instead. While I waited for it to arrive, I did a quick Internet search and discovered it came from Navarra. The Ochoa family has been making wine since 1845. Today, the sixth generation is at the helm, with Javier Ochoa having passed the reins to his two daughters, Adriana and Beatriz. Their 145 acres of vineyards and olive…

  • The Society’s Portuguese Red

    The Society’s Portuguese Red

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    Simon Judge

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    The Society’s Portuguese Red, from Península de Setúbal in Portugal, south-east of Lisbon, is made by the family-owned Casa Ermelinda Freitas. This winery has been in operation since 1920 and remains under the guidance of successive generations of dynamic women. Their wines have impressed me previously, especially those made with the Touriga Nacional grape, but this bottle offers something different. Here, Castelão takes the lead, supported by a touch of Alicante Bouschet. Castelão, also known locally as Periquita or João de Santarém, is occasionally used in Port production, while Alicante Bouschet is often blended in to deepen the colour. This…

  • Palais St Vigni Côtes du Rhône

    Palais St Vigni Côtes du Rhône

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    Simon Judge

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    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…

  • Magec Piedra Fluida

    Magec Piedra Fluida

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    Simon Judge

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    This is a return to a wine I first encountered during The Wine Society’s Autumn Press Tasting. A blend of Tenerife’s red Listán Negro and white Listán Blanco, this 2023 release comes with a story shaped by adversity. The devastating fires that swept across the island in August 2023 were the worst seen in four decades. In response, the winery made the unusual decision to bottle only a small portion of their red harvest, selecting the best of what could be salvaged from each vineyard. What has emerged is a unique cuvée, drawing together fruit that would typically be reserved…

  • 1086 by Nyetimber

    1086 by Nyetimber

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    Simon Judge

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    This bottle arrived just in time for my Comparative Review of English Sparkling, though I held off opening it then. Its release was still pending and, with two other Nyetimber wines already included in that comparison, it seemed wise to wait. With the wine now officially launched, New Year celebrations provided the perfect moment to give it the attention it deserves. Named 1086 in tribute to the first recorded mention of the West Sussex estate in the Domesday Book, this is a wine reserved for only the finest of vintages. This 2014 vintage is made from the best selections of…

  • Undurraga Candelabro Itata Reserva Cinsault

    Undurraga Candelabro Itata Reserva Cinsault

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    Simon Judge

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    This was an affordable pick I first discovered at The Wine Society’s Autumn press tasting and felt drawn to revisit. It’s named after the Candelabro cactus, a striking plant found in the protected Natural Monument Quebrada de Cardones, in Chile. Viña Undurraga support this conservation area through this wine. The wine comes from the Itata Valley, deep in the south of Chile, a region known for its dry-farmed old bush vines. These are unirrigated plantings of 100% Cinsault, rooted since the 1950s and 60s in the rugged terrain of Itata. There’s no oak involved in its making, allowing the fruit…

  • Valle del Bio Bio Chilean Pinot Noir

    Valle del Bio Bio Chilean Pinot Noir

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    Simon Judge

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    This is a new vintage of one of my highlights of 2025. I first came across the 2023 release at the Sainsbury’s Spring Summer Press Tasting and later explored it in more depth at home. It also featured in my Pinot Noir retrospection. The 2024 vintage, now with an updated front label, received recognition at both the IWC and IWSC 2025 competitions, so I was keen to try it. As with the earlier vintage, the wine is made by Diego Covarrubias of Viña Indómita, a respected figure in Chilean winemaking and regularly praised by critic James Suckling. At first, I…

  • Black Chalk Classic

    Black Chalk Classic

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    Simon Judge

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    We celebrated with a bottle of Black Chalk Classic on Christmas Day ’25 and it brought a real spark to the occasion. From the Test Valley in Hampshire, Black Chalk is run by Jacob Leadley, an award-winning winemaker, along with his family. Their approach is focused and artisan, producing traditional method sparkling wines in small batches. The grapes come exclusively from a handful of chalk downland vineyards in Hampshire. There’s a clear intention not to mimic Champagne. Instead, they aim to produce something with its own character and intrigue. The 2022 vintage comes in at 12% ABV and is a…

  • Journey’s End Sir Lowry Cabernet Sauvignon

    Journey’s End Sir Lowry Cabernet Sauvignon

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    Simon Judge

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    This wine is a thoughtful gift that arrived courtesy of a generous house guest, so thank you Hugh! It comes from South Africa, more precisely from the foothills of the Hottentot Mountains. Its name pays tribute to Sir Lowry’s Pass, a well-known landmark close to the winery in the Western Cape, itself named after Sir Galbraith Lowry Cole, a British colonial figure who served as Governor of the Cape from 1828. Made entirely from Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2023 vintage has spent 18 months in French oak. At 13.5% ABV, it pours with a slightly browning colour. The aromas is of…

  • Poulsard Fruitiere Vinicole D’Arbois

    Poulsard Fruitiere Vinicole D’Arbois

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    Simon Judge

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    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…

  • Iskar Rară Neagră

    Iskar Rară Neagră

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    Simon Judge

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    This is a return to a wine that was my favourite during the Autumn/Winter Aldi press tasting. From Asconi Winery in Moldova, a family-run venture established in 1994, their focus has always been on producing the best possible wines by embracing the latest, specifically Italian, technology. The 2021 vintage comes in at 13.5% abv and is made from 85% Rară Neagră, 10% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. It delivers exactly as it did at the tasting. A strong aroma brings rich dark fruit with a lovely thread of smokiness running through it. The taste leans into an initially sweet-tinged profile,…

  • 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.…

  • Surani Costarossa Primitivo di Manduria

    Surani Costarossa Primitivo di Manduria

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    Simon Judge

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    The 2023 vintage from Agricola Surani is made from Primitivo grapes and aged in oak for a year. It has earned a strong reputation, with 96% of 622 reviewers at Majestic saying they’d buy it again and a solid 4.0 rating on Vivino. The aroma is generous with black cherry, fig and spice, hinting at richness, but the wine reveals something brighter once poured. Its colour is a lively red cherry, a touch lighter than expected for this type of wine and a wine sitting at 14% ABV. Flavour-wise, it leans into lush cherry fruit, supported by a medium to…

  • La Masseria Del Borgo Primitivo di Manduria

    La Masseria Del Borgo Primitivo di Manduria

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    Simon Judge

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    This wine has been a long-time favourite of mine, though my feelings about it have moved up and down over the years as the wine changed over the vintages. It comes from Puglia in southern Italy. The Primitivo grape shows different characteristics depending on where it is grown, and there are clear distinctions between the key Primitivo DOC areas of Manduria, Gioia del Colle and Salento. Among these, Manduria stands out as the top DOC for Primitivo, known for producing wines that are usually bold, generous in structure and often higher in alcohol. This particular wine enjoys a strong 4.2…

  • 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…

Pick Lists


Majestic | The Wine Society | Tesco | Waitrose | Sainsbury’s | Morrisons | Co-op | Asda | Aldi | Lidl | £7 and Under | Over £20

Did You Know?

Nearly a third (32%) of UK consumers say they have already used AI for alcoholic drinks advice. More

Among socially active wine buyers, 37% have bought a wine recommended online. More

In 2026, 72% of consumers now think wine knowledge is essential to appreciation, up 20 percentage points on 2025. More

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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