Some great wines at today’s Majestic press tasting

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Some great wines at today’s Majestic press tasting

otero bierzo

I really enjoyed today’s small but perfectly formed Majestic press tasting, held in a stock room at their fine wine store in St John’s Wood. [As an aside, they have some cracking wines on the shelf there, and while there is a nominal 6 bottle minimum purchase, I strongly suspect that nice polite buyers purchasing something decent will stand a good chance of having this waived.]

Of the 55 wines I tasted, I could recommend the majority of them. The strike-rate seemed a lot higher than in the larger press tastings Majestic hold. They have been buying well.

The stand-out wine for me was the Pizarras de Otero 2010 Bierzo, Spain (£8.99 but £6.99 each if you buy 2). Ripe, sweet, supple and focused with lovely fresh cherry fruit. 91/100

saint clair pioneer block

I was blown away by the thrilling aromatics of the Saint Clair Pioneer Block 21 Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand’s Marlborough region. This has amazing passionfruit character and lovely purity. 92/100 (on offer at £13.99 if you buy 2)

I also loved the Camins del Priorat 2010 from Alvaro Palacios (£13.99 if you buy 2), which is supple, smooth and aromatic. 92/100

In a ripe style, but delicious, the Plan de Dieu Mistral 2010 from Cave de Monerail is a lovely southern Rhone wine with sweet, rich berry fruit countered by nice freshness. 90/100 (£6.99 if you buy 2)

I really liked the Bellingham The Bernard Series Viognier 2011 from South Africa, which is currently at £8.79. It has fabulous aromatics with brilliant varietal character. One to drink young while it’s so aromatically beautiful. 92/100

Finally, Jean-Marc Pillot’s Bourgogne Blanc 2010 is a pretty serious, aromatic white Burgundy. 92/100 (£13.99 if you buy 2)

2 Comments on Some great wines at today’s Majestic press tasting
wine journalist and flavour obsessive

2 thoughts on “Some great wines at today’s Majestic press tasting

  1. I’m just about to file an order for a mixed SA case, so I’ll add the Bellingham viognier – many thanks for the recommendation. Did you try the new Saint Clair parcel of Gruner Veltliner, by any chance? Saint Clair make excellent wines, although from a consumer’s perspective they have far too many labels in their “Pioneer Block” range – they have 9 sauvignon blancs in that range alone.

  2. If anyone wants to order from Majestic in the Cambridge area of the UK / London, chat to Steven Durrant. He know’s his stuff and their service is great.

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