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Jenny Mackenzie reports from Majestic's summer tasting

Published:  10 May, 2013

Despite its size - 193 stores and counting - Majestic manages to retain a personal touch, with a biannual magazine written by its "graduate staff" and autonomous tweeting from each branch.

Despite its size - 193 stores and counting - Majestic manages to retain a personal touch, with a biannual magazine written by its "graduate staff" and autonomous tweeting from each branch.

Majestic held its summer press tasting this week at the RSA, with 140 wines (of its 1,100 lines) on show including some from its "fine wine specialist" Lay & Wheeler.

With the Bordeaux en primeur 2012 campaign currently underway, Nick Dagley, Bordeaux and Lay & Wheeler buyer said that "en primeur usually makes up less than 1% of Majestic's turnover", however in "good vintages, such as 2009, it can be 30% of its annual Bordeaux sales". He added that "Majestic usually has a core range of 12 Bordeaux lines with up to 200 additional parcels per annum".

Majestic had a strong rosé range on show at the tasting, with Rosé from Provence featuring as one of the six, upcoming, in-store tastings this summer.

Buyer Matt Pym confirmed the "popularity of New Zealand over the past decade", with "approximately 100 lines in Majestic". Pym also said that Spain and Italy "were strong" and "Rioja continues to offer fantastic value".

Top picks from the tasting included:

Poggio Argentiera Vermentino 2012, £9.99 (20% off Italian wine £7.99). Vermentino is well set to be the next big thing due to its snappy, "mineral" notes and zippy freshness. Tuscany is one area where it grows well and this top producer makes a good-value, attractive example.

Claude Lafond Valencay 'Le Clos du Château' 2012, £8.99 (buy two bottles save £2, £7.99). A "hand-sell" according to Majestic staff, 10% Chardonnay in this Loire Sauvignon gives a rich, smooth, very elegant wine: stunning value and one to impress wine lovers at a dinner party.

Domaine Zind Humbrecht Pinot Gris Reserve 2011, £14.99 (buy two bottles save £4, £12.99). As far removed from watery, industrial Pinot Grigio as it is possible to get, this is a consistently superb "foodie" white from top Alsace vineyards by highly respected, biodynamic pioneer, Olivier.

Tenimenti Angelini Chianti Classico San Leonino 2009, £11.24 (20% off Italian wines, £8.99). Lovers of age-worthy, lighter-style reds need look no further than Tuscany, especially in the higher-quality Classico zones. With attractive, floral aromas and silky structure, this is stylish and excellent value.

Bouvet Ladubay Saumur NV, France, £11.99 (buy two bottles save £4, £9.99; special offer £8.99). The offer coinciding with peak wedding season, this rich, elegant Loire sparkler is a stylish alternative to Prosecco at a comparable price. With enough weight for food, it would be good with vol au vents as an aperitif.

Codorníu Reina Maria Christina Blanc de Noirs 2010, Spain, £14.99 (special offer £9.99). Proving there's more to Spanish fizz than traditional Cava, this Pinot Noir sparkler from one of the top producers generated complimentary comments, including from wine presenter Joe Wadsack.

Read more from Jenny Mackenzie at earlybirdwinenews.com

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