Majestic has come a great distance because it opened its first retailer in Haringey, North London, 45 years in the past. Immediately the corporate is the UK’s largest specialist wine retailer, with greater than 200 branches and extra opening yearly. Prospects worth the employees information and experience, the massive and various vary, and the mix-six discounted costs (see under). The spring press tasting in Could showcased an eclectic vary of just below 100 glowing and nonetheless wines.
Seasonal highlights
At a time of 12 months when many people shall be reaching for whites and rosés, there was loads to select from, together with some food-friendly, everyday-drinking Italian whites, a formidable fruit-forward Grüner Veltliner from South Africa, and a string of good-value rosés from the Languedoc and Rhône. One orange wine of the 4 stocked by Majestic was showcased, a tangy, mandarin-scented Grüner Veltliner from Austria, however it’s value exploring the class additional with the opposite three too (from Greece, Georgia and the south of France).
Among the many reds, standouts included a line-up of spectacular French reds, sourced by Majestic’s head of shopping for and regional France purchaser Matthew Fowkes. Make a beeline for the gorgeously fragrant Loire Cabernet Franc when it comes again in inventory on the finish of June, and within the meantime attain for the juicy Negroamaro from southern Italy, or, if you happen to’re on the lookout for one thing extra sturdy, the Georgian Saperavi or the Intacto Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon.
Scroll right down to see our picks at Majestic
Personal-label
The own-label wines are all the time value a glance. The Definition vary, launched almost 10 years in the past and relaunched in spring 2024, goals to seize the quintessential qualities of the world’s best wine kinds, and make them accessible to all wine lovers. Standouts at this tasting included two Rhône reds – a Crozes-Hermitage and a Châteauneuf-du-Pape – and a Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir.
The Definition vary sits above – and customarily presents extra pleasure and individuality than – the Chosen by Majestic vary, which was launched final 12 months, although there are nonetheless good buys to be discovered right here, together with the German Riesling under.
Lastly, don’t neglect Majestic’s Parcel Collection, the place the retailer secures often very small allocations of wine from top-tier producers at a markdown, on the situation that the producer stays nameless. This press tasting didn’t function any of the vary, however this can be a label value looking for.
Sugar and alcohol
A few of the wines proven (not these really helpful under) did appear a little bit heavy on the residual sugar. A little bit residual sugar can work nicely when the wine is in stability, however in some wines it felt just like the sugar stage had been upped to compensate for a decrease alcohol stage. The UK responsibility legal guidelines launched earlier this 12 months penalise wines which can be greater in alcohol, and there’s a normal pattern amongst high-street retailers to carry alcohol ranges down in some strains. The brand new responsibility legal guidelines have additionally, sadly, meant that some small-volume, higher-alcohol wines have been delisted by Majestic, as they’re now not commercially viable. Decrease alcohol definitely doesn’t imply decrease high quality, however it’s a pattern to pay attention to.
Costs
The twin pricing system sees prospects paying greater, single bottle costs the place they purchase as much as 5 bottles at anyone time. When prospects purchase six or extra bottles (any mixture of bottles is okay), the decrease mix-six value applies. There’s typically – however not all the time – a substantial distinction between the 2 costs, and the single-bottle costs typically appear a little bit excessive, so it truly is value ready till you wish to purchase a minimum of six bottles earlier than visiting Majestic (or its web site, which operates the identical pricing coverage).
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Prime picks from the present vary:
The 30 suggestions that observe are primarily a mixture of new wines and new vintages tasted by Amy Wislocki in Could 2025 at Majestic’s Spring 2025 press tasting in London, but additionally consists of wines tasted by the Decanter tastings group at earlier press tastings which can be nonetheless obtainable.
All costs listed under are single-bottle costs. There are financial savings to be made, typically important, once you purchase a minimal of six bottles (any combine). The combo-six costs are given inside the particular person tasting notes. All bottle costs are appropriate at time of publication; nonetheless, the single-bottle and particularly the mix-six costs do fluctuate, so examine on the Majestic website for the newest costs.
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