Spy Valley Gewurztraminer 2009

Being a huge fan of Spy Valley's Riesling, I thought I would try out their Gewurztraminer. I can't say Gewurz is my favourite wine - I find it can be hit and miss. Despite the cliché about it matching well with Asian food, in reality I've found it's not that easy to match because it's so characterful.

For example, this particular wine clashed with my food tonight (Ken Hom's chicken with black bean sauce). Something in the food gave the wine a bitter finish - perhaps it was the black beans themselves. Sipping it now on its own, I'm appreciating it much more.

It's quite heavy on the roses, especially on the palate. However it also has a good, crisp acidity and just the right amount of body - the balance is spot on, and the roses linger on the palate for ages.

A bit pricey at £12.49 from Majestic, but we all know that's not the real price. £9.99 when you buy 2 bottles.

Spy Valley

Gewurztraminer 2009

Marlborough, New Zealand

Majestic

£12.49 (£9.99 when you buy 2)

3.5/5

Antonin Rodet Givry 2008

While at my local Majestic recently I sampled a bunch of wines they had opened for tasting. The one that stood out the most was this red Burgundy from the Givry appellation in Burgundy's Cotes Chalonnaise. I was enticed by its pronounced sour cherry flavours and decided to buy a couple of bottles.

Drinking it now, it's a bit more complex than just sour cherries. The cherries have moved into the background, and it's displaying some mushroomy character. It's also very tangy and has an elegant grip from the tannins. I like it - it's a Burgundy and doesn't at all resemble some of this new world dreck that passes for Pinot Noir these days.

Antonin Rodet

Givry 2008

Givry AOC, Burgundy, France

Majestic

£11.99 (when you buy 2 bottles)

3/5

Peter Lehmann Eden Valley Riesling 2008

I wouldn't say this is my favourite Australian Riesling, but I think it expresses enough Riesling character and the price is reasonable enough to warrant some attention.

It's interesting to see what others thought of this wine. One customer on Majestic's website found it disappointing (although they gave it 3/5), and though it was expensive. On Peter Lehmann's website the average customer rating is 2/5, where 2 is 'OK' and 5 is 'excellent'.

I think I would just say this is a good 'everyday' Riesling when you can get it on offer. There is certainly nothing much wrong with it, except perhaps a slight lack of concentration. I've had far worse at this price point.

Peter Lehmann

Eden Valley Riesling 2008

Eden Valley, Australia

Majestic

£8.69 (£6.95 when you buy 2)

3/5

Pauletts Polish Hill River Riesling 2009

Tonight a Clare Valley Riesling was in order. I'm rarely disappointed by these, and this was no exception. My only regret is I haven't tried this wine after a few years in the cellar.

I prefer my Riesling with some bottle age, to enjoy those secondary characteristics, especially the petrol and honey characters. This wine was fresh, limey, bright, and acidic - good but it just seems it has more to offer.

I need to start putting some of these away instead of drinking them so young - aged examples aren't always easy to find.

Paulett Wines

Polish Hill River Riesling 2009

Clare Valley, Australia

Majestic

£10.99 (£8.79 when you buy 2)

3/5

San Pedro Castillo de Molina Sauvignon Blanc Reserva 2009

Watershed moment. Good, cheap Chilean Sauvignon Blanc. I'll spare you the cliché tasting notes - we all know what this tastes like. The point is, it costs less than £7 and it isn't grim. In fact, it's good.

Perhaps its origin is a clue. It's from the Elqui Valley, which is among the highest (and therefore coolest) of Chile's vineyards. I am a big fan of Syrah from this region, and it's basically the reason I took a chance on this wine.

So, I encourage you to give this a try while it's on offer. This is good competition for Marlborough, New Zealand wines.

San Pedro

Castillo de Molina Sauvignon Blanc Reserva 2009

Elqui Valley, Chile

Majestic

£7.99 (£6.39 when you buy 2 or more)

3.5/5

CVNE Rioja Rosado 2008

This is the third different rosé wine I purchased from Majestic on the weekend, and the one that I suspected would be the best. Actually, as I was putting the bottles into my cart, a member of staff mentioned to a watching customer that this was probably the one he'd recommend as the best one there. Like I said in a previous post, they didn't have a very good selection for some reason.

Anyhow, I was right and this one hits the spot. It's a deep pink colour - these types I prefer to have with food (although it's totally fine without it) - dry and refreshing. It's a bit negative, but for me what makes a good rosé is what it isn't sometimes. It lacks what I think are three things that make bad rosé: a confectionery-like flavour (like candy floss), a bitter finish, and an overtly alcoholic flavour/finish. These flaws are pretty common in rosé (especially new world like Australian), and Spain is probably my first choice if I want to avoid these (and not pay crazy prices). You are left with the dry red-fruit flavours and just enough tang to make you reach for the food platter.

Forget Shiraz for BBQs, this is more like it.

CVNE
Rioja Rosado 2008
Rioja, Spain
Majestic
£7.99 (£5.99 when you buy 2 or more)
3.5/5

Southbank Estate Sauvignon Blanc Rosé 2009

If you read my rant yesterday about the available of good rosé, you would have noticed that I bought a few wines at my local Majestic. This interesting example was one of them.

I had picked out 6 wines at this point, four from Spain and two from France. Then I looked over at the tasting table and noticed they had a couple of rosés there. One of them was this Sauvignon Blanc rosé from Marlborough. I gave it a try and was impressed, so I promptly put back my two bottles of Torres Vina Sol rosé (I've actually never tried it) and replaced them with these.

It tastes very much like a Sauvignon Blanc, but it has a little Syrah mixed in which gives it a pink colour but also contributes a red-fruit flavour essential to rosé wine. It's a winning combination, and one I'll look out for in the future.

Southbank Estate

Sauvignon Blanc Rosé 2009

Marlborough, New Zealand

Majestic

£7.49 (£5.99 when you buy 2 or more)

3/5

Marquis de Pennautier Cabardès Rosé 2009

Is it just me, or has the rosé wine bubble burst? Every year we hear that consumption increases by X%, and that it is more popular than ever. If that is the case, then why does my local Sainsbury's currently have the worst selection of rosé ever? It's 95% complete plonk. Waitrose has on offer a grand total of 4 wines, and those include Gallo and Blossom Hill (the other two aren't any better either). All this when we are well into what looks like to be a hot summer?

Defiantly, I marched to Majestic at Clapham South. They usually have a good selection of rosé - everything from Provence to Spain to New Zealand. Unfortunately, they had a poor selection as well - at least less than they usually have, and not all of them had the 'buy 2 save £X' promotion. However it was better than the supermarkets had to offer, so I took advantage of their new walk-in policy that allows you to buy only 6 bottles.

Cabardès is a tiny appellation in the Languedoc, only about 500 hectares. Interestingly, it is the only appellation that is allowed to blend Mediterranean varieties like Grenache and Syrah with Bordeaux varieties such as Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. What this means for the wine I'm not sure, but it certainly makes it more flexible for the winemaker.

So how is the wine? After 3o minutes in the freezer to chill it down from room temperature (these days about 25C), I thought it tasted a bit rough. After another 20 minutes or so in its freezer sleeve it went down a lot smoother. I wouldn't say it's going to be a favourite around here - the slightly bitter finish, like a lot of rosé, makes it pretty average.

Chateau de Pennautier

Marquis de Pennautier Rosé 2009

AOC Cabardès

Languedoc, France

Majestic

£6.99 (£4.99 when you buy 2)

2.5/5

Fairleigh Estate Riesling 2009

I've been a fan of New Zealand Riesling ever since discovering Spy Valley, especially the 2007. I haven't been able to replicate that experience however, even with subsequent vintages of Spy Valley, or any other Kiwi Riesling.

This isn't really any exception. It's nice - citrus notes, good acidity and a bit of residual sugar, but it lacks the petrol notes that I so love. Still, it'll do.

Made by Wither Hills.

Fairleigh Estate

Riesling 2009

Marlborough, New Zealand

Majestic

£6.99 when you buy 2 (£8.99)

3/5

Fairleigh Estate Chardonnay 2008

I took advantage of Majestic's new policy of allowing a minimum 6 bottle in-store purchase the other day. They currently have a sale on New Zealand wines so I picked up a few whites.

This Chardonnay was one of them. In general New Zealand whites are a favourite of mine. I had no reason to think this one was any good, except it had good reviews from the punters on Majestic's website. It was also on for £5.99.

It's quite good actually. I wouldn't say it's my ideal Chardonnay - it doesn't have the smooth buttery oak that I like. It's more fruit driven, but instead of the watery pina colada that this price range normally serves up, this is rich and flavourful - a class above.

This is actually produced by Wither Hills.

Fairleigh Estate

Chardonnay 2008

Marlborough, New Zealand

Majestic

£5.99 when you buy 2 (£7.99)

3.5/5

Vina Pomal Rioja Gran Reserva 1998

I bought this wine last year at the beginning of the summer. I'm not a big Rioja drinker but it was a good price (£7.99 from £12.99) and has some good bottle age.

I opened one last summer, and it was a big mistake. It was far too warm (both the wine and the weather) to enjoy a bottle like this. It tasted like warm tomato juice. I decided to leave my remaining bottles in my wine rack for a more suitable occasion.

One such occasion came up on the weekend when a friend of ours made a lamb stew (using Donald Russell meat - very good). The wine was much better this time - complex juicy fruit nose with a light, strawberry fruit palate. Good finish. The last few sips of the bottle I thought detected a stewed-fruit character (reminiscent of the bottle I had in the summer), but perhaps the bottle had warmed up a bit too much. Not overly deep or complex, but it has some class, and is a bargain at this price.

Vina Pomal

Rioja Gran Reserva 1998

Rioja, Spain

Majestic

£7.99 (£12.99)

3.5/5

M. Chapoutier 'Belleruche' Cotes du Rhone 2007

I ordered a couple of bottle of this (among others) a couple of weeks ago from Majestic, and it looks like it's already sold out, or it's sold out enough to not be offered nationally.

2007 was a good vintage for the Rhone. Actually I can say from my own experience the South is good, haven't tried any Northern Rhone wines yet from 2007. Cotes du Rhone can be hit or miss with me, but this is a good producer and a good vintage.

The wine is good. Dark, almost burnt red fruit and some good tannin. High alcohol (14.5% - par for the course really) but good complexity and finish. For a generic appellation wine this is pretty good. Not my favourite of the Rhone reds I've been drinking recently but I'd buy it again, especially at this price (£5.99 on offer).

M. Chapoutier

'Belleruche' Cotes du Rhone 2007

Rhone, France

Majestic

£5.99 (£7.49)

3/5

Chateau de Pitray 2005

This is Chateau de Pitray's 'Grand Vin', and has been a mainstay at Majestic for some time. It's a reliable, fruity right-bank claret from the Cotes de Castillon appellation.

I made sure I got some of this when it appeared on offer (£1 off, I'm such a cheapskate), as Majestic are now on the much-heralded 2005 vintage.

I wish I bought more than 2 bottles, as I really like this wine. It has piercing cherry fruit and elegant tannic structure. Perhaps the finish could be a bit longer, but hey this is sub-£10 claret - I'm not complaining, and it's a classy wine.

Chateau de Pitray 2005

Cotes de Castillon AOC, Bordeaux, France

Majestic

£7.99 (£8.99)

3.5/5

Waimea Estate Pinot Gris 2008

I bought two bottles of this on a recent trip to Devon. One we drank down there, and the other I brought back to London with me. The one we drank there didn't make much of an impression on me - it didn't go well with the food we were having and I just wasn't in the mood for it.

I opened the second bottle last week, and I only had a small glass of it, which I enjoyed much more this time around. My cousin drank the rest of it (and obviously enjoyed it). I wasn't going to bother blogging about it - sometimes you just can't be bothered or just don't have anything to say.

I just noticed however that this wine won a gold medal at the 2009 Decanter World Wine Awards, which is worth noting. Apologies for not having much more to say about it - like I said I wasn't planning to blog this. My score reflects the overall enjoyment factor of everyone at the table, rather than any individual scrutiny I would usually put it under.

UPDATE: Just had a bottle of the 2009, and it is a really nice wine. Deserves the 4/5 score. Not cheap but worth the money. Good stuff.

Waimea Estate
Pinot Gris 2008
Nelson, New Zealand
Majestic
£8.99 (£10.99)
4/5

Les Petits Buis Givry 2006

I have to admit that Burgundy reds are somewhat of a gaping hole in my wine experience... please don't shoot me. Perhaps its that I just got too hooked on Bordeaux wines and neglected this region. Anyway, I approached this wine with an open and unbiased mind.

Givry is located in the Cote Chalonnaise region of Burgundy and predominantly uses Pinot Noir. Certainly the appearance of this wine was classic pinot... a light plum red colour. Its nose is extremely fragrant and enticing, with vanilla and cherry tones and hints of spice. The taste by contrast, was not as fruity as I expected. I would put it much more at the 'herby' end of things, although sour cherries factored in later on. So all in all, a very pleasant wine but perhaps not quite what I expected. I have to say that after decanting and a few hours it opened up and the cherries became more pronounced. Earlier on it was just a bit too sour for me though... Still, a good bottle and not bad for the price.

Cave De Buxy
Les Petits Buis Givry 2006

Givry AOC, Burgundy, France
Majestic (Vinopolis)
£9.99
3.5/5

Alain Grignon Viognier 2008

Background context info here.

After trying Viognier only a handful of times of the last couple of years, I've decided that it's a "take it or leave it" type of wine for me. I can appreciate it, but it probably won't be my first choice on the wine list.

This one makes a good summer afternoon sipping wine though. It certainly doesn't lack character - strong aromas of peach and apricot and a palate to match, along with a smooth, creamy texture.

This bottle has been open for a couple of days now, and the wine is starting to take on a bitter flavour, which is not doing it any favours. However that is my own fault for not finishing it up sooner!

Alain Grignon

Viognier 2008

Languedoc, VdP d'Oc, France

Majestic

£6.99

3/5

Alain Grignon Cabernet Franc 2008

Oz Clarke has been tweeting about Alain Grignon recently. He likes him. I like Oz Clarke, so I usually try the wines he recommends.

Alain Grignon does a Viognier and a Cabernet Franc that are both available at Majestic. I bought both to try this weekend.

The Viognier is pretty good (post coming soon). The Cabernet Franc isn't. "Cheap wine taste" is pretty much all I can say about it. Actually no, it has a bit of tannin as well.

If anyone knows what I mean by "cheap wine taste", and can describe it in words for me, I'd be very grateful. I'm not trying to exaggerate here, but the last sip I just took made me do that shudder thing when you taste something you really don't like.

Alain Grignon

Cabernet Franc 2008

Languedoc, VdP d'Oc, France

Majestic

£6.49 (£6.99)

1.5/5

Preignes Cabernet Franc/Mourvedre 2007

This was purchased at the same time and for the same reason as this was, the only difference being this wine had a Decanter World Wine Awards sliver medal sticker on it instead of a gold.

Hints of dried chilli pepper on the nose and palate, along with some restrained black fruit (whatever that is). It has a bit of grip to it and a nice, gravelly finish. Definitely a wine of character. I like this producer, and I've only tried two of their wines so far!

For whatever reason these two wines don't show up on Majestic's web site - they must not be available all over the country. If you see them in your local branch, I suggest you try it.

Preignes

Cabernet Franc/Mourvedre 2007

Languedoc, VdP d'Oc, France

Majestic

£5.99

3.5/5

Preignes Petit Verdot 2005

We're down in Devon at the moment visiting my brother-in-law's family. We are all wine lovers, and it's turning into a ritual to visit the local Majestic whenever we get together. I had a few ideas in mind as to what to buy this time, but some others were spontaneous purchases.

This was one of that spontaneous purchases - mainly because of the Decanter World Wine Awards Gold Medal sticker on it. I'm glad I bought it. It has a highly perfumed nose, and lovely tannic grip, just like a good Bordeaux (it is a Bordeaux blending grape, after all). Really impressive, especially for this price range. It's a late-ripening grape, and perhaps is better suited to warmer weather regions than Bordeaux?

I probably shouldn't mention this, but we had this bottle open along with a bottle of Paul Mas Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, and I decided to mix them together in a glass. The result was pretty good - better than the sum of the parts. Why bother with single varietals when blending gives a much better, rounded experience? Is it just to appeal to drinkers of new world plonk?

Preignes

Petit Verdot 2005

Languedoc, VdP d'Oc, France

Majestic

£6.99

4/5

Bay of Fires Tigress Rosé NV

Outside of Champagne, my two favourite regions for sparkling wine are Burgundy (Crémant de Bourgogne) and Tasmania. You can usually get pretty good bottles from these regions for about £8 - £12. So, a Tasmanian sparkler for £4.99? It must be crap right?

No - it isn't. This is part of a one-off parcel that Majestic somehow conjured up. It's a blend of Champagne varieties Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The label says strawberries, toast and mushrooms. I don't get the toast and mushrooms (but I never do), but I get strawberry jam. A perfectly good wine, and a ridiculous bargain. I just ordered a case.

PS - if Majestic runs out of stock, you can always pick it up at Channel 4's wine club for £20...

Bay of Fires

Tigress Rosé NV

Tasmania, Australia

Majestic

£4.99

3/5