12 Oct 2012
Tasting articles

Majestic in autumn

Tasting articles
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Herewith 65 wines from the current range at Majestic in the UK. It's not a flawless offering, but does a pretty good job of combining mainstream varieties and regions with some esoterica. There's certainly an option for every palate – with the exception of natural wine fundamentalists, perhaps!

The notes are presented by style, colour and descending score.

SPARKLING

Nyetimber, Rosé Brut 2007 England

Pretty discreet. Apple and perhaps a hint of cherry, but their 2003 Blanc de Blancs is way better – and cheaper. (RH) 12%
Drink
2012
–
2016
£39.99 (until 29/10) Majestic
15.5

Nyetimber, Blanc de Blancs Brut 2003 England

Impressively developed. Loads of crunchy green apple fruit – really brilliant. Benefits from the extra heat of the year, no doubt. At least as good as anything else at this price. (RH) 12%
Drink
2009
–
2015
£34.99 (until 29/10) Majestic
17.5

Bouvet Ladubay NV Saumur

Bit of honey on the nose, but very neutral on the palate. White fruit. Soft fizz, but not much else going for it. (RH)

11.5%
Drink
2012
£8.49 (until 29/10) Majestic
15

WHITE

Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer 2011 Alsace

Fantastic – if you want archetypal, balanced, sensitively made Gewürz, look no further. Explodes with aromatics. (RH) 14%
Drink
2012
–
2013
£14.99 (buy 2 save £6 = £11.99 until 29/10) Majestic
17

Viñalba Chardonnay 2012 Mendoza

Unoaked. Yellow fruit, full body – alcohol seems a bit noticeable to me. (RH) 13.5%
Drink
2012
–
2013
£10.99 (buy 2 save £4 = £8.99 until 29/10) Majestic
15.5

Rustenberg Roussanne 2011 Stellenbosch

Broad, waxy, interesting palate with peach, pear and a sort of peppery seasoning. Proper wine. Full and interesting and worthy. (RH) 14%
Drink
2012
–
2016
£17.49 (buy 2 save 20% = £13.99 until 29/10) Majestic
16.5

Springfield, Wild Yeast Chardonnay 2009 Robertson

Creamy and a little bit oxidised. Lots of chewy extract, and a hint of honey too. Nice right now, but needs dispatching quickly. (RH) 14%
Drink
2010
–
2012
£13.74 (buy 2 save 20% = £9.99 until 29/10) Majestic
16

Parcel Series Riesling 2006 Eden Valley

Going gold, and showing a smoky and slaty character plus loads of lime and floral character. Bit of honey seeping through. Very respctable for the price, and has lovely maturity. GV (RH) 12.5%
Drink
2008
–
2014
£9.99 (buy 2 save £6 = £6.99 until 29/10) Majestic
16.5

Blind River Sauvignon Blanc 2011 Marlborough

Well defined fruit. Compact, intense. Clearly premium – for its extra intensity rather than extra complexity. (RH) 13%
Drink
2012
–
2013
£12.49 (buy 2 save £5 = £9.99 until 29/10) Majestic
16

Giesen Sauvignon Blanc 2011 Marlborough

Grassy, green, lots of gooseberries. Fair enough for the (lower) price, though it’s andante at best. (RH) 12.5%
Drink
2012
–
2014
£9.99 (buy 2 save £8 = £5.99 until 29/10) Majestic
15

Sogrape, Quinta de Azevedo 2011 Vinho Verde

Stone fruit, quite a bit of spritz, finishes quite abruptly and has a sort of soapy tone to the flavour. (RH) 11%
Drink
2012
£6.49 (buy 2 save £3 = £4.99 until 29/10) Majestic
14.5

Montiero 2011 Gavi

Ooh, very fragrant and bright, actually. Lime, flowers, soft and drinkable. Not the steeliest example, but not neutral and flat either. GV for Gavi at the lower price. (RH) 12%
Drink
2012
–
2013
£8.99 (buy 2 save £4 = £6.99 until 29/10) Majestic
16

Dom Séguinot-Bordet 2011 Petit Chablis

Not much to write about here, I’m afraid. A shadow of a Chablis. (RH) 12.5%
Drink
2012
–
2013
£11.99 (buy 2 save £4 = £9.99 until 29/10) Majestic
15

Dom de l'Aigle Gérard Bertrand Chardonnay 2010 Limoux

Sensitively oaked, and evokes modern Australia – rather than vice versa! Rather neutral fruit, as is Chardonnay’s wont. Some flinty character on the finish. (RH)

14%
Drink
2012
–
2014
£12.99 (buy 2 save £4 = £10.99 until 29/10) Majestic
16

Ch de Tracy 2010 Pouilly-Fumé

Sweaty, lemon drops, minerals. Knocks the socks off the Pinard Sancerre. Loads of length, loads of interest. Crisp acidity. (RH) 13.5%
Drink
2012
–
2016
£19.99 (buy 2 save £4 = £17.99 until 29/10) Majestic
17

Vincent Pinard, Clémence 2011 Sancerre

Smoky, light and fragrant style. Not sure I like it much for £20. Seems a tad understated for that price. (RH) 13%
Drink
2012
–
2014
£19.99 (buy 2 save £10 = £14.99 until 29/10) Majestic
16

ROSÉ

Ch de Sours, Rosé 2011 Bordeaux

Yuck. There are some sulphur compounds on the nose that are pretty gross here. Palate seems better, though it’s very dull. Faulty bottle? (RH) 14%
Drink
2012
£9.99 (buy 2 save £6 = £6.99 until 29/10) Majestic
14

RED

Kanonkop, Paul Sauer 2009 Stellenbosch

Still youthful, lots of vibrant black fruit upfront. All exuberance. Very likeable – but doesn't seem to have the interest and depth at the price, which has gone up quite a bit recently. (RH) 14%
Drink
2012
–
2016
£30 (buy 2 save 20% = £23.99 until 29/10) Majestic
16 +

Thelema Mountain Vineyards Shiraz 2008 Stellenbosch

The quality of the fruit is so evident here – clearly and reassuringly superior to cheaper Shirazes. Lovely meat and bacon on the nose, fragrantly spicy. Long finish enhanced by integrated oak. (RH) 14.5%
Drink
2012
–
2018
£22 (buy 2 save 20% = £17.59 until 29/10) Majestic
17

Rustenberg, RM Nicholson 2009 Stellenbosch

Smoky (but not rubbery) and firm on the nose, lots of bold black fruit. Dense. Needs time. Loads of potential. (RH) 14.5%
Drink
2012
–
2020
£11.24 (buy 2 save 20% = £8.99 until 29/10) Majestic
16.5

Kangarilla Road Shiraz 2010 McLaren Vale

American oak makes a big impression here, but the juicy, ripe black fruit holds up to it. A big, hearty, bruiser of a wine – but not as showy and complete as the 2009 and 2008 were. (RH) 14%
Drink
2012
–
2016
£14.99 (buy 2 save £6 = £11.99 until 29/10) Majestic
15.5

Quinta da Bacalhôa 2010 Setúbal

Very lovely on the nose, really spicy and open with a claret style of woodspice. Long and full without being weighty. (RH) 14.5%
Drink
2012
–
2018
£13.49 (buy 2 save £3 = £11.99 until 29/10) Majestic
16.5

Matarromera, Crianza 2009 Ribera del Duero

Taut and firm, dense black fruit. Very powerful, almost cordial-esque. Spiced and a bit meaty. (RH) 14.5%
Drink
2012
–
2018
£25 (buy 2 save 20% = £20 until 29/10) Majestic
17

Emperatriz, Reserva 2007 Rioja

Lots of creamy oak, bramble fruit. Very charming. Long and modern and absolutely drenched in vanilla. (RH) 14%
Drink
2012
–
2015
£16.24 (buy 2 save 20% = £12.99 until 29/10) Majestic
16.5

Martín Códax, Pizarras de Otero 2011 Bierzo

There’s a reductive, pongy artifice to this that I don’t much like. Perhaps just too young? (RH)

14%
Drink
2012
–
2013
£8.74 (buy 2 save 20% = £6.99 until 29/10) Majestic
15 +

Il Poggione 2006 Brunello di Montalcino

Lovely fragrant, lifted nose and plenty of firm, dark fruit. Very typical – the acidity, power and tannin is all in place – but there are better Chiantis at this price. (RH) 14.5%
Drink
2012
–
2016
£26 Majestic
16.5

Masi, Campofiorin 2009 IGT Veronese

Plenty of spicy, sappy oak. Tight, modern, furry. Bitter notes alongisde the black cherry fruit. (RH) 13%
Drink
2012
–
2018
£12.49 (buy 2 save £5 = £9.99 until 29/10) Majestic
15

Ch Moulin Riche 2007 St-Julien

Smoky, sophisticated, flinty nose – real complexity and class here. A drinker rather than a keeper, but very satisfying and classic. Grows on the length. (RH) 12.5%
Drink
2012
–
2017
£25 Majestic
17

Ch Labégorce 2002 Margaux

Fabulous earthy, developed, fragrant nose. Good amount of grip, in a resolved, rounded way. This has the Margaux flair. (RH) 12.5%
Drink
2008
–
2015
£8.99 (375ml) Majestic
16.5

Ch Tayac, Larauza 2007 Margaux

Classic pencil fragrance and fully ripe black fruit – no greenness – firm, grainy tannins. More St-Julien than Margaux, maybe? (RH)
Drink
2011
–
2017
£19.99 (buy 2 save £10 = £14.99 until 29/10) Majestic
16

Ch Teyssier 2007 Puisseguin-St-Émilion

Very good blackcurrant fruit, has the lightness of 2007 but that’s no bad thing. Served slightly cool at lunchtime, it would make you very happy. A tiny bit green, perhaps, but that’s forgiveable at this price. (RH) 12.5%
Drink
2010
–
2015
£9.99 (buy 2 save £4 = £7.99 until 29/10) Majestic
15.5

Saintsbury Pinot Noir 2008 Carneros

Really earthy, savoury stuff here. Emphasises the non-fruit spectrum in a very convincing way. Toned, dark and with lovely lingering spice. (RH) 13.5%
Drink
2011
–
2018
£19.99 (buy 2 save £10 = £14.99 until 29/10) Majestic
17

Louis Latour 2009 Côte de Beaune-Villages

Nice stalky and strawberry fruit here. Tangy acidity, fine lines and crisp fresh finish. As good as you could hope for red burgundy at the price. (RH) 13%
Drink
2012
–
2016
£14.99 (buy 2 save £4 = £12.99 until 29/10) Majestic
16

Louis Latour Gamay 2011 Bourgogne

Conventional, safe, lovely bold acidity. Fresh, bright, correct, but not especially good value. There are better cru Beaujolais available at this level. (RH) 13%
Drink
2012
–
2013
£9.99 (buy 2 save £2 = £8.99 until 29/10) Majestic
15.5