This week saw Majestic abandon its six bottle minimum purchase rule – even single bottles are OK now. This will give their excellent wine list even greater accessibility and – to celebrate – I have picked out a few stand-out wines that I think many Midweekers will enjoy.
Majestic’s new pricing structure does vary slightly according to the legal requirements in different parts of the UK but, here, I have quoted the best price currently available. Do check before you commit, however.
Click on any of the bottles shown for an enlarged image to help you pinpoint the wine on a crowded display.
A perfect shellfish companion
With careful winemaking, sauvignon blanc can work well as far south as Languedoc and here, ingeniously, it has been blended with local piquepoul grapes – just perfect for that area’s acclaimed oysters.
Enjoy, then, the fresh yet ripe delights of 2014 Symbiose Piquepoul Sauvignon Blanc ‘Cuvée Florence’ (£5.99) with its textured apple, melon and ripe pear flavours and the vibrant citrus acidity that binds them all together.
What trendy New Zealanders are drinking
Nowadays, sauvignon blanc is no longer the “go to” wine for New Zealanders; instead, smart drinkers in Auckland, for instance, have taken to pinot gris and seem to love the extra complexity it brings to the party.
Typical of the impressive savoury and acidic balance the variety can attain is 2014 Mud House Pinot Gris (£6.99) – from Nelson at the top of the South Island – with its captivating sharp lemon and green apple vivacity but spicy peach depth too.
Great wine from one of our own
Norrel Robertson MW is the Flying Scotsman of the wine world – a son of Forfar now making great wine in Spain, including this excellent version of the seriously under-estimated local godello grape.
Enjoy, then, the buttery, nutty 2013 The Cup and Rings Godello (£9.99) with its apple and mint flavours, neat edge of acidity and savoury but creamy texture.
Classy red from Rioja’s neighbour
Staying in Spain for a couple of reds, grenache (garnacha) is no longer top dog in Navarra (next door to Rioja) but, with a well positioned vineyard and some very mature vines, the variety can still work wonders.
Try, for instance, the rich and spicy 2013 El Chaparral Old Vines Garnacha (£7.99) that embellishes its dense cherry fruit with lively acidity and an attractive chocolate finish.
….. or something a little lighter
Mencia, however, is a much lighter grape and often produces impressively different wine, especially – as here – in the steep, slate dominated vineyards of Galicia.
The cherry, plum and blackcurrant dominated 2012 Vel’uveyra Mencia (£11.99) brings you red wine with depth but only gentle touches of tannin that mingle amicably with its menthol and acidity backdrop.
….. or from the southern hemisphere perhaps
Finally, then, to Chile’s Maipo Valley – where Bordeaux grape varieties prosper – to take pleasure from a great value merlot from one of the warm but elevated vineyards that do well there.
Savoury yet lively, 2014 Cousino Macul Don Matias Merlot (£6.66) has substantial, bright cherry and damson flavours and lively acidity but only limited tannin.
