Majestic Pick List

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4 June 2026

Welcome to my bi-annual summary, which is updated every June and December. Over the course of the recent Majestic Autumn and Spring press tastings, I have tasted over 200 wines. To help you easily navigate the wine aisles on your next visit, I have selected the best from these events.

The wines below are grouped by country, complete with their vintage, price, and a quick summary to help you find the perfect bottle. Prices are subject to change and not every wine will always be available in every store. However, Majestic can usually find bottles in other branches if needed.

Australia

Wave Crest Shiraz (2022) – £9.50: This complex and intriguing Shiraz offers bright violet nuances, earthiness, and savoury oak aromas.
Wynns Limited Release ‘The Gables’ Cabernet Sauvignon (2022) – £13.00: Deep black fruit defines this approachable wine, accompanied by soft tannins and notes of leather and oak.
Tenacity Cabernet Sauvignon (2024) – £14.50: A beautifully balanced, slightly lighter Cabernet Sauvignon offering fruity black cherry flavours with a fresh, woody finish.

Chile

Luis Felipe Edwards ‘Signature Series’ Viognier Reserva (2025) – £8.50: Zingy and refreshing, this Viognier bursts with prominent pear, peach, and apricot characteristics.

England

Three Choirs Stonebook (2023) – £12.00: A bold, crisp white featuring a distinctive floral aroma leading into vibrant grapefruit, lime, and mandarin flavours.
Parcel Series English Sparkling (NV) – £25.00: Intensely flavoured with brioche, lemon, and apple aromas, this sparkling offers remarkable depth and a touch of sweetness.
Roebuck Estates Rosé Reserve (2019) – £39.00: This extremely pale, crisp sparkling rosé delivers a citrus-driven taste with excellent leesy brioche complexity.

France

La Marée Bleue (2024) – £10.00: An aromatic, unoaked white blend bursting with melon, bright acidity, and a distinctive touch of salinity.
Maison Les Alexandrins Viognier (2024) – £12.50: Ripe apricot dominates the taste of this expressive Rhône white, accompanied by striking honeysuckle aromas.
Château de Pizay Régnié (2023) – £13.50: A vibrant Gamay Noir boasting bold blackcurrant flavours, ripe red fruit aromas, and very gentle tannins.
Château de Francs (2018) – £14.00: A light-feeling Bordeaux blend mixing vanilla, chocolate, and oak flavours with appealing floral freshness.
Castelnau de Suduiraut Sauternes (2023) – £14.00: Thick, sweet, and smooth, this luscious golden wine offers lovely notes of apricot, spice, and nutty nuances.
Moulin Rose de Malescasse (2020) – £17.00: This deeply coloured Haut-Médoc blend features pure blackberry aromas, plum flavours, and a beautifully round mouthfeel.
Château Méaume Matured Bordeaux Supérieur (2019) – £17.50: An approachable, matured Bordeaux with a core of dark fruit layered with beautifully integrated cedar and chocolate.
Château Peyrassol ‘XIIIE’ Organic Rosé (2025) – £22.00: Delicate and refreshing, this organic rosé elegantly combines bright red fruit notes with zesty citrus.
Montaudon Réserve Première Brut Champagne (NV) – £27.00: A crisp, citrusy Champagne delivering orchard fruit flavours layered with bread and biscuit complexity.
Côté AIX Magnum (2025) – £28.00: Very pale salmon in colour, this fruity, dry rosé magnum provides lovely aromas of strawberry and white flowers.
Canard-Duchêne Vintage Brut Champagne (2018) – £35.00: Crisp apple flavours are balanced by a delightful creaminess and brioche aromas in this elegant, golden Champagne.

Hungary

Tűzkő Kékfrankos (2022) – £14.00: A distinctive, flavoursome red offering fresh sour cherry, blackberry, and a gentle hint of paprika spice.

Italy

Antico Forte Negroamaro (2024) – £9.00: A strong yet refined deep red offering enticing dark fruit aromas, subtle sweetness, and soft tannins.
Polvanera Organic Primitivo (2024) – £11.00: This inky, organic Primitivo features ripe cherry flavours, dark fruit aromas, and a wonderfully lively aftertaste.

New Zealand

Rose & Rose Sauvignon Blanc (2024) – £10.00: Zesty, vibrant, and incredibly fresh, this outstanding white is packed with intense kiwi, guava, and stone fruit flavours.
Lindauer Special Reserve Brut Rosé (NV) – £14.00: A pale pink sparkling wine offering a creamy yet fresh taste lifted by red fruit and subtle earthy notes.
Te Kairanga Pinot Noir (2024) – £16.00: Earthy and savoury aromas meet fresh red fruit flavours and an oaky finish in this richly coloured Pinot Noir.
Rapaura Springs ‘ROHE’ Dillon’s Point Sauvignon Blanc (2025) – £18.50: A bold, premium white packed with crisp citrus, passionfruit, and punchy tropical fruit flavours.

Portugal

Calçada Duris Reserva (2021) – £14.00: Dark and intense, this Douro red feels wonderfully rounded and smooth with well-integrated medium tannins.

Romania

Incanta Pinot Noir (2024) – £8.50: A delicate, light-bodied, and exceptional-value red dominated by sweet-tasting raspberry fruit and zero tannins.

South Africa

Thelema Sutherland Cabernet Sauvignon (2024) – £15.00: Deep ruby in colour, this fresh and spicy red brings delightful dark fruit flavours with a slight herbal edge.

Spain

The Gathering Storm White (NV) – £7.00: Smooth, slightly sweet, and fantastic value, this white blend is packed with apricot, melon, and apple flavours.
Raimat Organic Albariño (2025) – £10.50: A zesty and bright organic wine bringing together lemon, peach, and a mouth-watering saline edge.
Definition Viña Majestica Rioja Reserva (2021) – £13.00: Concentrated black fruit, plum, and oak flavours combine with medium tannins for a premium Gran Reserva feel.
Marqués de Cáceres Rioja Reserva (2020) – £16.00: An expressive, balanced Rioja showcasing red fruit, oak spice, subtle caramel notes, and an extremely woody finish.

USA

Josh Cellars Hearth Cabernet Sauvignon (2021) – £16.00: An extremely bold and expressive Californian blend full of smoky, oaky, and full-on jammy flavours.

Pick Lists

Did You Know?

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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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