This month is likely to see pretty aggressive discounts by the major UK wine retailers – perhaps to make up volumes while a large proportion of regular customers have taken cheap flights elsewhere. Hold on for more news from the supermarkets but Majestic is currently offering 30% off all the Australian wines they stock so long as you buy at last two bottles of Australian among your minimum 12-bottle order. It has to be said that Majestic's Australian offering is rather lazily dominated by brands from a handful of big companies but the following are my strong personal recommendations:
Knappstein Hand Picked Riesling 2006 Clare Valley
Down from £6.99 to £4.89
Ridiculous price for this herbal, lime-scented bone dry serious wine made by Paul T Smith.
Thorn Clarke, Terra Barossa Pinot Gris 2005 Eden Valley
Down from £6.99 to £4.89
Excellent small producer, promising region, fashionable grape variety.
Yalumba Y Series Viognier 2006 South Australia
Down from £6.99 to £4.89
Even at full price this is a bargain from Australia’s kings of Viognier. Not the important difference between South Australia and South Eastern Australia.
Yering Frog Chardonnay 2005 Yarra Valley
Down from £6.99 to £4.89
See my recent article about winemaker Tom Carson etc at In praise of the Yarra Valley See also Yering Frog Shiraz Viognier 2005 Yarra Valley and Yering Frog Pinot Noir 2006 Yarra Valley at the same price.
Yering Station Chardonnay 2005 Yarra Valley
Down from £9.99 to £6.99
See my enthusiastic tasting note.
You might also like to try cherry picking from their fine Australian wine selection at www.majestic.co.uk/finewine. This promotion runs until 3 Sep, when all those holidaymakers will have returned.