In Praise of the Producer: Vintae

Monday 14 May 2012 – 9:58

With 21st century Spanish winemaking on the move from its traditional Rioja heartlands, Majestic Buyer Matt Pym introduces a top new name to look out for.

Think of Spanish wines and your mind most likely turns to Rioja: Reservas and Gran Reservas with many years’ barrel and bottle ageing; classic names and labels, maybe all wrapped up in a golden wire cage. My own love for these wines is evidenced by the preponderance in my cellar of Rioja from wonderful recent vintages like ’01, ’04 and ’05. However, the real buzz in Spanish wine is coming from talented, ambitious young winemakers ready to explore other regions and varieties.

Spain has a wealth of amazing vineyard material, with 100-year-old vines not uncommon. In the past, much of this potential was wasted, but now these treasures are getting the recognition they deserve. The fruit is being transformed into plush, polished wines of grace, power and real regional character, by dynamic young companies like Vintae.


Vintae’s three Matsu wines, from Toro in the far west of Spain, unite the oriental culture of caring for nature (matsu is Japanese for wait) with advanced biodynamic techniques. All three are made from Tinta de Toro, the local variant of Tempranillo.

From circa 50-year-old vines and with just three months in oak, El Picaro (The Rogue) is all about fruit, with lush blackberries to the fore and a fresh, mineral finish. 14 months in oak and fruit from 90 to 100-year-old vines make El Recio (The Tough One) a serious wine whose intense chocolate, deep black fruit and vanilla aromas give way to a subtle mineral core offset by a silky, unctuous character. From 110-year-old vines, the superb, full-bodied El Viejo (The Old One) delivers a powerful aromatic array of pencil lead, spice box, lavender and black cherry. Of 3,989 bottles made in 2009, we have 600.


Vintae runs a project to make the best regional expressions of Garnacha throughout Spain, such as this one, from the rocky slate and gravel mountainsides in the Ribera del Queiles, east of Rioja. It’s a hard life for the 55-year-old vines, yet they struggle on to produce wonderful fruit for this youthful, full-bodied wine, with tobacco and wild berry aromas, great structure and refreshing minerality.

Matsu El Picaro 2010, Toro New!
£9.99 or £7.99 when you buy 2 bottles

Matsu El Recio 2009, Toro New!
£15.99 or £12.99 when you buy 2 bottles

Matsu El Viejo 2009, Toro New!
£25.00 or £20.00 when you buy 2 bottles
Limited Availability

La Garnacha 2010, Salvaje del Moncayo New!
£9.99 or £7.99 when you buy 2 bottles

By William James | Posted in Video | Comments (1)

Majestic on the go!

Friday 11 May 2012 – 13:22

New Mobile Site - Same Great ServiceGo to site

Visit majestic.co.uk on your mobile to experience our brand new mobile site! It has all the fantastic features of the full site, our entire range of award winning wines and improved store finding functionality for when you’re out and about. AND you’ll still get FREE delivery from your friendly local store. Easy!

By William James | Posted in Majestic News | Leave a Comment

National Ad Campaign

Tuesday 8 May 2012 – 11:39

This weekend we started our first ever national ad campaign!

In the run up to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee we are broadcasting two adverts nationwide that explain what Majestic is all about to people who may not have been to one of our stores before.

We all know that wine can be a bit baffling and in the commercials we see how Majestic helps some anxious first time customers. Chardonnay is not a word to be afraid of, and the tasting counter is there for you to find your new favourite.

This is also supported by print with a Majestic member of staff at the tasting counter appearing in national newspapers and magazines.

Come and Explore for more information

Chardonnay

Tasting Counter

By William James | Posted in Majestic News | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a Comment

Three Wine Men: Manchester

Wednesday 2 May 2012 – 15:32

Enjoy a fun-packed day of wine at the Museum of Science & Industry, Manchester, in the company of the Three Wine Men: Olly Smith, Oz Clarke & Tim Atkin MW.

We have a Majestic stand at the Three Wine Men tasting and so we can offer all you Majestic people a discount voucher! Here’s what to expect from the chaps…

“We’re on a mission to show you just how much fun wine can be. Join us as we travel the UK bringing you the best wines available on the market and hope you will come along and meet us, our producers, and retail exhibitors personally.”

We are so excited to be coming back to Manchester on 26th & 27th May. You will have a great time, whether you’re an expert, an enthusiast or just enjoy the odd glass.”

At an event, you simply:

  • Pick up a glass
  • Grab a tasting brochure
  • Taste as many wines as you like

Oz, Tim and Olly will be on the floor all weekend, so ask them for tips & advice, or just say ‘hi’ – you don’t have to be an expert!

“Olly, Tim and Oz were lovely and approachable, very interesting and helpful. We had a great afternoon and discovered a range of beers as well as lots of lovely new wines. We are really looking forward to the next event”

Gillian Barbour, Manchester.

Buy tickets via: www.threewinemen.co.uk
When you pay, enter the voucher code 3WINEFIVE and £5 will automatically be deducted from the price of every ticket you order.

ThreeWineMen on Facebook

@threewinemen on Twitter

By William James | Posted in Majestic News | Leave a Comment

Wine & Food Matching

Monday 30 April 2012 – 15:18

Here at Majestic, we don’t need too many excuses to enjoy a glass or two of something great with friends. But in this summer of celebrations, we’re well and truly spoilt for choice!

With the eyes of the world turning to the British Isles this season, it’s up to us all to show them how we throw a good party. And what better way to get it started than firing up the barbie and trying out some of these great wine and food combos? Best of all, there’s no need to overcomplicate things. Barbecued food has a fabulous flavour all of its own, so you can keep things nice and simple – leaving you free to enjoy the festivities!

Côté Mas Blanc 2011, PGI Pays d’Oc, France New!

State-of-the-art vinification and ageing equipment combines with a focus on nature to create what the Paul Mas family call ‘agriculture raisonnée’. The result here is a floral blend of Grenache Blanc, Vermentino, Chardonnay and Sauvignon with peach and pear aromas. Pair with mustard, thyme and ginger spatchcock chicken.

Viñalba Reserva Malbec 2010, Mendoza, Argentina

Bordeaux-born Herve J. Fabre adopts a minimum intervention approach to winemaking, while making the most of Mendoza’s altitude to add elegance and balance to Viñalba’s wines. This example is effortlessly smooth, with sweet juicy black fruits complementing intense plum and dark chocolate notes. Firm tannins make it an ideal pairing for a good honest barbecued steak.

Rioja Reserva 2001, Viña Ardanza, La Rioja Alta, Spain

Rioja doesn’t get much better than this elegant, subtle wine. Smooth, oaky vanilla lies beneath luxurious layers of juicy red fruits, rugged earthiness and well-integrated medium tannins. Look beyond lamb and go for Alabama pork ribs with a sweet and spicy glaze.

Lunta Malbec 2009, Mendel Wines, Mendoza, Argentina

Fruit from 80-year-old vines makes this a wonderfully concentrated wine that still displays characteristic Mendoza finesse. A year in new French oak adds soft vanilla spice to those deep, rich brambly black fruits, with a hint of eucalyptus and generous tannin also on show. Pair with Turkish lamb burgers.

Les Hauts de Castelmaure Corbières 2009, France New!

Hand-picked grapes are left as bunches and vinified by carbonic maceration, before spending 11 months in French oak (20% new). This attention to detail is evident in a wine that delivers red fruits, hints of garrigue and spice on the nose and a silky palate with enhanced vanilla from the oak. Pair with some good wild boar sausages.

By William James | Posted in Staff Articles | Tagged , , , , | Leave a Comment

What’s your style?

Thursday 26 April 2012 – 12:22


It seems you can’t go anywhere without seeing the hashtag #. From twitter it has spread to cross-posting on Facebook and other social networks such as Instagram, Foursquare and Pinterest (we’re on all of these channels by the way) as well as appearing at the beginning of TV shows and even the News: #millionpounddrop, #bbcapprentice, #itvnews…

Majestic stores have taken to their twitter feeds and created their own wine hashtags too. Majestic Northampton have the #3wordwinereview that has caught on throughout all Majestic stores and the Majestic bunch; our most active followers on twitter.

On Monday night I went to a Spanish wine tasting with Majestic managers in the city of London. We tasted through around 20 wines, most of which were from Rioja. This was just a small sample of wines from one supplier that contributes to our range of wines from Spain, yet it made me realise just how diverse our Spanish range is; there is pretty much a wine for everyone, whatever your style… #pickyourstyle!

That’s how it happens, inadvertently whilst live tweeting the tasting. So whatever your style, at Majestic, you can #pickyourstyle…

Below are some tweets from Monday night. Tweet me your style @majesticwine

By William James | Posted in Majestic News | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

New! Summer Grape to Glass

Monday 23 April 2012 – 15:48

Summer has arrived for majestic.co.uk and there are lots of new wines to try out.

Each week on the Majestic Blog this summer we are featuring an article from our brand new Grape to Glass magazine: from food matches to fizz to handy party services, it’s all you need to keep the celebrations going right through the incredible summer ahead!

This week: New favourites from the Old World. Some fresh European arrivals to the Majestic range with food matching ideas from fresh sushi to steak and kidney pie…

Got a taste for it already? View the whole magazine online as a fancy flipbook, download the PDF, pick up a copy in store or  if you’re lucky enough wait for it to land through your letterbox later this week.

Cheers!

By William James | Posted in Majestic News | Leave a Comment

New this Season: Old World

Monday 23 April 2012 – 15:27

Let the celebrations continue with some fresh European arrivals.

Mas des Montagnes Terroirs d’Altitude Blanc 2010, Côtes de Roussillon New!
£9.99 or £8.49 when you buy 2 bottles

Origin: Patrick Léon, formerly of Domaines Baron Philippe de Rothschild, is consultant winemaker for this higher-altitude Roussillon estate.
Tasting Note: A mineral-tinged wine reminiscent of its stony-schist hillside origins. Its citrus backbone is joined by subtle hints of fennel and wild herbs.
Food Match: Any grilled fish, or baked sea bream with a salt crust.

Château Barthès Rosé 2011, Bandol New!
£11.99 or £9.99 when you buy 2 bottles

Origin: Former fashion model Monique Barthès started making wine in the late 1960s, and has since gone on to develop an award-winning 40 hectare estate.
Tasting Note: Classic Provence rosé with aromas of fresh red berries, pears and hints of floral perfume. The lithe, supple palate finishes with a subtle liquorice hint.
Food Match: Try with a seared tuna steak served with fresh green vegetables.

Chablis ‘La Collégiale’ 2011, Laroche New!
£13.99 or £11.99 when you buy 2 bottles

Origin: A high-quality Domaine Laroche Chablis made from fruit supplied by several partner growers.
Tasting Note: Pale gold with spring blossom nuances on the youthful citrus nose. Nicely focused fruit character on the fresh, harmonious palate plus a lingering stony texture on the finish.
Food Match: Freshly prepared sushi, or a salad of prawns and watercress.

Campofiorin 2008, Masi New!
£12.49 or £9.99 when you buy 2 bottles

Origin: From one of Veneto’s longest-standing producers, this wine gains richness and complexity from a secondary fermentation with some partially dried grapes.
Tasting Note: Ripe cherry aromas predominate, with vanilla and cinnamon nuances. Rich and mouth-filling, it has soft tannins and a velvety, savoury finish.
Food Match: A selection of matured cheeses, black olives and Parma ham.

Spolverino Toscano 2010, Carpineto New!
£12.49 or £9.99 when you buy 2 bottles

Origin: Italian for ‘feather duster’, Spolverino is a tongue-in-cheek reference to the Black Rooster, the emblem of Chianti Classico. Had the wine been bottled with a cork rather than screwcap, it would be classified as a Chianti Classico, hence the light-hearted dig on the label.
Tasting Note: Intense red cherries on nose and palate, interwoven with tobacco and violet notes. Juicy richness and snappy, youthful acidity.
Food Match: Best with barbecued red meats and game.

Rosso di Montalcino 2010, Il Poggione New!
£18.74 or £14.99 when you buy 2 bottles

Origin: The vineyards on the Tuscan slopes around Montalcino are known for Brunello, a dark-skinned, low-yielding clone of Sangiovese, but this lighter wine is made from the fruit of the younger vines.
Tasting Note: Intense nose of ripe red berries plus the toasty scent of 12 months in barrel. The smooth, mellow palate has satisfyingly chewy tannins.
Food Match: Rare-grilled steaks and portabello mushrooms.

By William James | Posted in Majestic News | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a Comment

Voice Behind the Vine: Diego Pinilla-Navarro

Thursday 19 April 2012 – 16:43

We speak to head winemaker Diego from Vina Pomal about his wine and what makes him tick…

1. Vina Pomal wines are 100% Tempranillo and the grapes come from your own vineyards around the winery in Rioja Alta. What difference does this make to the style of wine compared to other Riojas?

That is main difference! Our 250 hectares in Haro make the personality of our wines. We have a big influence from the fresher Atlantic climate. This and the predominant argilo calcaire (clay and limestone) soils mean we have a slow ripening. The result is that we are fortunate to have elegant, well balanced Tempranillo that ages well and provides smooth, fine Riojas.

2. The winery recently celebrated it’s centenary. What wines and food would you celebrate your 100th birthday with?

Something simple. A nice tomato salad and eggs with fries and “jamón” (essentially Spanish ham, egg & chips!) Being able to pair this with any of the wines I make today would be fantastic, it would be re-tasting wines from 63 years ago!

3. We have a twitter hashtag #3wordwinereview – can you give us a three word summary for Vina Pomal Crianza and for Vina Pomal Reserva?

Crianza: Everyday Great Rioja
Reserva: Rioja since 1908

4. With a few more words to spare – what else would you like people to know about the wines?

Vina Pomal was established in 1901 and is the oldest winery in the prestigious Rioja Alta district.
Vina Pomal is named after the vineyard plot in which all the fruit for the wines are sourced.
Viña Pomal has a great affinity with the UK. Back in the 1940′s, the wines were once bottled at Charing Cross station in London and Viña Pomal was reputed to be the favourite Rioja of Sir Winston Churchill!

5. Real Madrid or Barca?

Anything but Madrid or Barca!!! Real Zaragoza and Spain are my all time favourites. However, watching Barca play these days is a pleasure for anyone that likes football.

6. Cava or Champagne?

I enjoy all wines when they have a good personality. I love refreshing fruity cavas and elegant champagnes. From both I expect softness, and richness.


7. Tapas or Paella?

Tapas on Saturday night with the friends in Laurel Street (Logroño) and my mother’s Sunday paella. Unbeatable weekend food!

8. Picasso or Dali?

Dalí’s paintings. I prefer realist art and Dali’s surrealism is a representation of its own reality. (Also, Vina Pomal was once a favourite wine of Salvador Dali!)

9. What’s been your favourite place in the world that you’ve visited and why? And have you got a dream destination you haven’t visited yet?

The Salar de Uyuni impressed me a lot. It was my last a stop after one year travelling across South America and the Salar was just amazing – I would highly recommend. Japan and Asia in general are the places I would like to go next.

10. If you weren’t a winemaker what would you be?

Until the last moment I thought I was going to be a doctor like my father. But I am very happy that I changed my mind and became a winemaker. It is such an interesting, varied job and what better way to reward yourself at the end of the day than with a glass of wine!

By William James | Posted in Staff Articles | Leave a Comment

Sticky Chinese pork recipe

Tuesday 17 April 2012 – 9:34

Every Tuesday on the Majestic blog we have featured a recipe from the delicious. magazine website matched up with the perfect wine pairings for spring, it’s Bottoms up Tuesday! This is the final week of the spring feature, but watch out for more recipes from delicious in the summer.

For our final wine a recipe match Lizzie from the delicious. team brings the taste of a top-notch Chinese restaurant to your home but instead of going out save money and calories by cooking the dish yourself. Please visit the delicious. recipe page for a printable version.

Ingredients

  • 500g diced pork loin
  • 3 tbsp light soy sauce, plus extra to serve
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil
  • 2 tsp Chinese five-spice powder
  • 1 garlic clove, crushed
  • 2.5cm piece fresh ginger, grated
  • 4 tbsp honey
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 red pepper, sliced
  • 60g mangetout, finely sliced
  • 2 pak choi, cut into quarters
  • Handful beansprouts
  • Toasted sesame seeds, to serve

Method

  1. Place the pork in a bowl with the soy sauce, sesame oil, five spice, garlic, ginger and honey. Toss together and set aside for 10 minutes.
  2. Heat half the oil in a frying pan over a medium heat. Add the pork with a slotted spoon and fry until almost cooked. Add the marinade and bubble for 5 minutes until sticky.
  3. Meanwhile, in a separate wok or frying pan, heat the remaining oil and stir-fry the pepper and mangetout with a splash of water for a few minutes. Add the pak choi and cook for a further minute, then stir in the beansprouts. Toss with the pork, drizzle with soy sauce, sprinkle with the sesame seeds and serve.

Nutritional info per serving: 337kcals, 16.6g fat (3.4g saturated), 30.8g protein, 17.1g carbs, 15.4g sugar, 3g salt

Will’s Wine Matches

Gewürztraminer ‘Les Princes Abbés’ 2009 Domaines Schlumberger

A wonderfully food-friendly wine that marries so well with the sticky pork and ginger edge. Slightly off-dry the hint of sweetness is picked up together with rose petals, oriental spice and tropical fruit flavours.

Bellingham ‘The Bernard Series’ Viognier 2010/2011 Western Cape

This is a big wine, but I think it goes toe to toe with the big flavours in the sticky pork. Peaches, lychees, rose petal and spice are complemented by rich layers of fruit with spicy undertones of white pepper. It’s a yummy mouthful.

By William James | Posted in Grape to Glass Recipe Match | Leave a Comment
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 34 other followers