Scooping National Wine Retailer of the Year for three years in a row is a great achievement – and Majestic’s performance at this year’s Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) shows that it’s a force to be reckoned with, with some great wines to discover.
Highlights include the three Value Golds from three very different areas, which underlines the versatility of the retailer’s range.
First up is the vibrant and pure Vavasour, Sauvignon Blanc from the Awatere Valley in New Zealand which dazzled the judges with its zippy acidity and great vibrato; next from Bodegas Fabre, the Viñalba Reserve Malbec-Touriga Nacional from Uco Valley, Argentina which enticed and enthralled with its floral, plum and mulberry aromas; and finally, the smoldering Banfi, Poggio Alle Mura, Brunello di Montalcino, very typical of the elegant 2018 vintage with great potential for ageing.
Scroll down to see our Majestic Wine Shopper’s Guide
As if all this wasn’t enough, Majestic also secured the Loire Specialist Retailer of the Year award, a great result and testament to the buying team’s commitment to the classic regions.
This specialism was underpinned with two Silver medal-winning wines from the region: Bouvet Ladubay, Saphir Brut from Saumur with its seductive creaminess and vibrant mousse and Bouvet Ladubay, Blanc de Blancs Crémant de Loire with its lively lemon sherbet flavours and lush citrus acidity.
Alongside the Loire, sparkling wine from other areas featured strongly in Majestic’s line-up with an additional four medals awarded from the category including two Champagnes: Pommery, Brut Royal NV scoring 91 points for its notes of salty butter and popcorn and the Cattier, Premier Cru Brut NV earning its 86 points for its fragrant cherry pie aromas.
Other wines of note include the 93 point-scoring Santa Rita, Medalla Real Gran Reserva Chardonnay from Chile, which is bedecked with fresh peaches and apples and a gentle, creamy texture; also the Silver-medal winning Les Vignerons d’Aghione, Compagnia from Corsica, an interesting rosé worth seeking out with its zesty grapefruit and orange peel aromas and hints of umami.
For in-store shoppers, Majestic’s well-informed staff are on hand to advise, and most stores have tasting counters for sampling. The ‘mix six’ discount offers real value and ordering online makes finding discounts simple too. There’s plenty going on to keep shoppers coming back for more.
Shopper’s guide: award-winning wines from Majestic Wine
Gold
Vavasour, Sauvignon Blanc, Awatere Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand 2022
Value Gold, 95 points
£12.99
Savoury, vibrant and pure with an expressive citrus and grassy scent. The palate has zippy acidity, great vibrato and attractive gooseberry notes. Crowd-pleasing but classy too. Alc 12.5%
Bodegas Fabre, Viñalba Reserve Malbec-Touriga Nacional, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina 2022
Value Gold, 95 points
£12.99
Enticing floral, plum and mulberry aromas. The palate has ample dark fruits, spice and violet notes, while the ripe, broad tannins manage to convey a sense of stoniness and purity. Stylish wine at a great price. Alc 14.5%
Banfi, Poggio Alle Mura, Brunello di Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy 2018
Value Gold, 95 points
£49.99
A smoldering complexity of dark cherry fruit and aromatic violet florals with a weight of grippy tannins and a prosperity of structure for long-ageing. Fabulous! Alc 15%
Silver
Bouvet Ladubay, Saphir Brut, Saumur, Loire, France 2020
Silver, 93 points
£16.99
Attractive floral and orchard fruit characters with warm toasty hints; seductive and creamy with a vibrant mousse and long finish. Alc 12.5%
Pommery, Brut Royal, Champagne, France NV
Silver, 91 points
£43.99
Ripe tropical fruit aromas with touches of lemon sherbet and marmalade. Appealing palate, with touches of salty butter and popcorn. Alc 12.5%
Bouvet Ladubay, Blanc de Blancs Crémant de Loire Brut, France 2020
Silver, 90 points
£18.99
Lively lemon sherbet and exotic characters with a zing of spearmint, a creamy mousse and a lush, citrus acidity.
Alc 12.5%
Santa Rita, Medalla Real Gran Reserva Chardonnay, Limarí Valley, Chile 2022
Silver, 93 points
£13.99
Fresh peach and apple aromas, with creamy leesy hints, very pleasant on the nose. Fresh, with a gentle creamy texture. Alc 13%
Côté Mas, L’Esprit du Midi Blanc, Languedoc, France 2022
Silver, 92 points
£8.99
Expressive scents of jasmine, stone fruit, green apple and marzipan undertones on the nose. Fleshy fruit on the palate. Alc 13.5%
Gadais, Domaine de la Tourmaline, Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie, Loire, France 2022
Silver, 91 points
£9.99
Concentrated ripe apple and nutty citrus with a volcanic mineral backbone. Fresh and juicy with a long, salty finish. Alc 12%
Saint Ferréol, Grande Réserve Viognier, Pays d’Oc, France 2020
Silver, 90 points
£17.99
Expressive nose of jasmine, pineapple, nectarine and peaches with notes of apricot liqueur. Waxy and warm, with a nutty finish. Alc 13%
Saint Ferréol, Viognier, Pays d’Oc, France 2021
Silver, 90 points
£15.99
Beautiful bouquet with white flowers and hints of apricot essence, notes of jasmine and lily. Very appealing, with a lingering finish. Alc 13%
Les Vignerons d’Aghione, Compagnia, Corsica, France 2022
Silver, 90 points
£11.99
Hints of grapefruit and orange peel with an umami undertone on the nose. Ripe and deep on the palate. Alc 12%
Bodegas Olarra, Dehesa de Lantana Reserva, Rioja, Spain 2019
Silver, 90 points
£11.99
Full-bodied and powerful with aromas of plum, black raspberry and toasty oak. The palate has soft, powdery tannins and a long, floral finish. Alc 13.5%
Bronze
Felix Solis, The Guv’nor Extra Dry, Spain NV
Bronze, 87 points
£9.99
The flavour profile of this wine is characterised by a delicate sweetness with a subtle note of dried grass. Alc 12%
Cattier, Premier Cru Brut, Champagne, France NV
Bronze, 86 points
£39.99
Fragrant and floral on the nose with notes of cherry pie and a linear acidity on the palate. Alc 12.5%
Villiera, Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch, South Africa 2022
Bronze, 87 points
£14.99
Developed nose of marmalade with honeyed and waxy notes, hits of ice tea and curry. Characterful on the palate. Alc 14.5%
Majestic, Definition White Burgundy, France 2022
Bronze, 88 points
£14.99
Orchard fruit and white flower aromas with a smack of grapefruit; creamy and textured. Alc 13%
Felix Solis, The Guv’nor Rosé, Spain NV
Bronze, 86 points
£9.99
A fine commercial style with a restrained floral and herbal nose. The palate is quite creamy with fine bubbles. Very decent. Alc 11%
Chronic Cellars, Purple Paradise, Paso Robles, California, USA 2021
Bronze, 88 points
£17.99
Ripe, brambly fruit character with savoury undertones. Plummy fruit on the palate, easy to drink. Alc 14.5%
Vik, A Cabernet Sauvignon, Cachapoal, Chile 2021
Bronze, 87 points
£19.99
Resinous dark fruit aromas with leafy scents, cedar and dried herbs. Concentrated on the palate. Alc 14%
