Because of the number of wines, I'm writing this Majestic wine press tasting up in five parts. First, the white wines, then the reds (in two parts, French and the rest), and then the fizz and fortifieds, plus separate recommended mixed cases (chosen from all these wines). The current offer period (for special offers referred to here) is November 4th 2002 until 27th January 2003. 

fizz

Heidsieck Brut Héritage NV Champagne
Toasty, yeasty nose. Good depth of flavour on the herb-tinged, toasty palate. Attractive. Very good+ (£16.49 buy 3 save 33% = £10.99)

Canard Duchêne Brut NV Champagne
Rich, creamy nose with a touch of toasty character. Fresh, lively full flavoured palate is quite classy and satisfying. Very good/excellent (£17.99 buy 3 save 33% = £11.99)

Nicolas Feuillatte NV Champagne
Rich, appealing nose shows a touch of caramel. Slightly lifted. The boldly flavoured palate has good acidity and lovely balance. Impressive fizz: rich but balanced. Very good/excellent (£17.99 buy 3 save 33% = £11.99)

Jacquart Brut Mosaique NV Champagne
Racy, assertive acidity on the palate. Quite a structured wine. Very good (£19.49 buy 3 save 33% = £12.99)

Piper-Heidsieck Brut NV Champagne
Slightly herby, toasty nose leads to a full flavoured herby, structured palate with high acidity. Intensely savoury. Very good+ (£19.99 buy 3 save 33% = £13.32)

Heidsieck Gold Top 1996 Champagne
Taut and structured with some classy herby and savoury toasty notes on the palate. Tight at the moment but with room for development. Very good+ (£22.49 buy 3 save 33% = £14.99)

Jacquart 1996 Champagne
Lovely intense focused nose is toasty and slightly buscuitty – very savoury. Intense, boldly flavoured palate with good acidity and savoury richness. Very good/excellent (£25.49 buy 3 save 33% = £16.99)

Seaview Brut NV, Australia
Lemony edge to the fruity nose. Fresh, high acid palate. Nicely judged and perfectly adequate fizz. A tempting prospect at the offer price. Very good (£6.99; buy any 2 Seaview save 25% = £5.24; buy any 12 Seaview wines save 30% = £4.89)

Seaview Rosé NV, Australia
Nice pale salmon colour. Good herby, fruity nose leads to a crisp, fruity high acid palate with nice herbiness. Very good+ (£6.99; buy any 2 Seaview save 25% = £5.24; buy any 12 Seaview wines save 30% = £4.89)

Valdobbiadene Prosecco di Conegliano Extra Dry NV, Italy
Slightly floral lemony nose. Crisp, fruity palate is quite appealing and herby. Very good (£6.99 buy 2 save 20% = £5.59)

Freixenet Brut Nature 1998, Spain
Fresh, crisp and fruity with high acidity. Nicely savoury. Good/very good (£8.99 buy 3 save 33% = £5.99)

fortified wines

Brown Brothers Orange Flora and Muscat 2001, Victoria, Australia
Fresh, lemony floral-edged grapey nose is a bit confected. Light, sweet lemony palate is confected and a tiny bit chemical. OK (£5.99/37.5 cl, buy 2 save £2 = £4.99)

Royal Tokaji 5 Puttonyos 1996, Tokaji, Hungary
Unusual complex nose, with slightly lifted acidity and honeyed, marmaladey complexity. Lovely bitter-sweet palate with marmaladey tangy fruit, good acidity and some herby, caramelly complexity. Very good/excellent (£13.99)

Taylor LBV Port 1997
Rich, caramelly herby fruit with soft, sweet palate. Attractive for the price. Very good (£9.99 buy 2 save £4 = £7.99)

Croft Quinta da Roêda Single-Quinta Port 1983
Mature and soft, this is drinking well now. Quite a pale colour. Intriguing liquoricey herby nose is almost liqueur like. Mature, soft open palate with some spicy character. Very good+ (£13.99, buy any 2 single Quinta ports save £4 = £11.99)

Taylor Quinta de Terra Feita Single-Quinta Port 1988
Quite deep coloured. Mature, rich, soft, sweet palate is seamless with a good concentration of liquoricey fruit. Very good (£17.99 buy any 2 single Quinta ports save £4 = £15.99)

Taylor Quinta de Vargellas Single-Quinta Port 1987
Some spicy fruit on the nose. Rich, liqouricey herby palate with good concentration and some spicy backbone. Striking and rich, this is drinking well now. Very good/excellent (£21.99 buy any 2 single Quinta ports save £4 = £19.49)

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