How much do you know about Fine Wine? What is Fine Wine? Find out below...

Here at Majestic, we class any wine priced at £19.99 or above as a Fine Wine. Essentially these wines are regarded as better quality, more exclusive and rare, a one-off treat as well as having more ageing potential.

The majority of our Fine Wines are from the classic wine regions of the world; Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhône, Rioja, Barossa Valley, Piedmont, Napa, Tuscany, Margaret River, Mosel and many more. Producers in these regions have years (in many cases centuries) of knowledge, experience, dedication and ambition to strive to be the best .

At Majestic we have a wide selection of Fine Wine in store, and we are able to source stock from our dedicated Fine Wine Centre. We also have a fine wine to try on our Tasting Counter opened on the first Friday of every month (make a note in the diary to pop in!)

In addition, last year Majestic, in collaboration with Lay & Wheeler launched the Fine Wine Plan! The Fine Wine Plan is designed specifically for customers who appreciate drinking great wine, and who aspire to build a fine wine collection for future enjoyment.

We recognise that time is a precious commodity for many of our customers and not everyone can spend hours carefully researching the world of fine wine. We also understand that often it's the hassle and administration involved with owning fine wine which can put off otherwise enthusiastic potential collectors.

So in partnership with our en primeur specialist Lay & Wheeler, we've introduced the Majestic Wine Fine Wine Plan - the simplest and most affordable way to gradually build your own fine wine cellar. At a financial pace that suits you - starting from as little as £50 per month - you get access to the expertise and in depth knowledge of our small, dedicated team of Fine Wine specialists.

You will benefit from Lay & Wheeler's ability to access great, high demand wines en primeur, plus you gain full use of the perfect storage conditions found in our industry leading facility Vinothèque but please don't let all this stop you from coming to see us in store too!

For more information and for how to join please follow this link or visit the Fine Wine pages on the Majestic website.

http://www.majesticfinewineplan.co.uk/index.html

With a week still left before the January paycheck we thought I would be a good opportunity to see just how far ten of your finiest pound sterling can get you! Here's a few of our favourites for under a tenner:

Prosecco Conegliano Valdobbiadene £9.49
Who says you can't enjoy a bottle of fizz after Christmas? For under £10 you can get our benchmark Prosecco that comes from the best vineyards in the Prosecco region. With a classic off dry palate of peaches and apricots, you can see why this is one of our best-sellers.

Waimea, Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough £7.49 (2+)
Waimea's Sauvignon Blanc won the 'Best Sauvignon Blanc under £10' trophy in last years Decanter Magazine awards. Enough said.

Domaine L'aigle, Chardonnay £8.49 (2+)
This is one of the best estates owned by Gerard Bertrand, ex France rugby star and now celebrated winemaker. A rich peachey style of chardonnay which is beautifully balanced with limey acidity.

Louis Latour, Macon Lugny £8.00 (2+)
A bit of a Majestic classic this one. A great drinking white burgundy at under £10. Why not?

Viu Manent, Viognier £7.99 (2+)
Viu Manent are a new producer for us and so far we're impressed. This is a modern style viognier that is rich but not oily and retains plenty of acidity to balance the stone fruit and floral flavours.

Louis Jadot, Macon Rouge £7.99 (2+)
You'll never find a bad wine from Louis Jadot! He is a superb producer and negociant. This classic Pinot Noir from the Macon balances cherried fruit and soft spice in a soft and easy going style

McGuigan, Signiature Shiraz £7.59 (2+)
Typical Aussie shiraz, full of blackcurrants, damsons and pepper but at a very untypical price.

Cheateau Aigues Vives Corbieres £6.99 (2+)
Southern French wine is, at the moment, the place to go for value and character. It doesn't get much better than this, a top-class Corbieres.

Marques de la Concordia, Rioja Reserva £7.99
Another “go-to” region for value, Rioja wines are unique but don't cost the earth. Try this easy going and fruity Reserva for well under £10.

How much do you know about Fine Wine? What is Fine Wine? Find out below...

Here at Majestic, we class any wine priced at £19.99 or above as a Fine Wine. Essentially these wines are regarded as better quality, more exclusive and rare, a one-off treat as well as having more ageing potential.

The majority of our Fine Wines are from the classic wine regions of the world; Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhône, Rioja, Barossa Valley, Piedmont, Napa, Tuscany, Margaret River, Mosel and many more. Producers in these regions have years (in many cases centuries) of knowledge, experience, dedication and ambition to strive to be the best .

At Majestic we have a wide selection of Fine Wine in store, and we are able to source stock from our dedicated Fine Wine Centre. We also have a fine wine to try on our Tasting Counter opened on the first Friday of every month (make a note in the diary to pop in!)

In addition, last year Majestic, in collaboration with Lay & Wheeler launched the Fine Wine Plan! The Fine Wine Plan is designed specifically for customers who appreciate drinking great wine, and who aspire to build a fine wine collection for future enjoyment.

We recognise that time is a precious commodity for many of our customers and not everyone can spend hours carefully researching the world of fine wine. We also understand that often it's the hassle and administration involved with owning fine wine which can put off otherwise enthusiastic potential collectors.

So in partnership with our en primeur specialist Lay & Wheeler, we've introduced the Majestic Wine Fine Wine Plan - the simplest and most affordable way to gradually build your own fine wine cellar. At a financial pace that suits you - starting from as little as £50 per month - you get access to the expertise and in depth knowledge of our small, dedicated team of Fine Wine specialists.

You will benefit from Lay & Wheeler's ability to access great, high demand wines en primeur, plus you gain full use of the perfect storage conditions found in our industry leading facility Vinothèque but please don't let all this stop you from coming to see us in store too!

For more information and for how to join please follow this link or visit the Fine Wine pages on the Majestic website.

http://www.majesticfinewineplan.co.uk/index.html

With a week still left before the January paycheck we thought I would be a good opportunity to see just how far ten of your finiest pound sterling can get you! Here's a few of our favourites for under a tenner:

Prosecco Conegliano Valdobbiadene £9.49
Who says you can't enjoy a bottle of fizz after Christmas? For under £10 you can get our benchmark Prosecco that comes from the best vineyards in the Prosecco region. With a classic off dry palate of peaches and apricots, you can see why this is one of our best-sellers.

Waimea, Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough £7.49 (2+)
Waimea's Sauvignon Blanc won the 'Best Sauvignon Blanc under £10' trophy in last years Decanter Magazine awards. Enough said.

Domaine L'aigle, Chardonnay £8.49 (2+)
This is one of the best estates owned by Gerard Bertrand, ex France rugby star and now celebrated winemaker. A rich peachey style of chardonnay which is beautifully balanced with limey acidity.

Louis Latour, Macon Lugny £8.00 (2+)
A bit of a Majestic classic this one. A great drinking white burgundy at under £10. Why not?

Viu Manent, Viognier £7.99 (2+)
Viu Manent are a new producer for us and so far we're impressed. This is a modern style viognier that is rich but not oily and retains plenty of acidity to balance the stone fruit and floral flavours.

Louis Jadot, Macon Rouge £7.99 (2+)
You'll never find a bad wine from Louis Jadot! He is a superb producer and negociant. This classic Pinot Noir from the Macon balances cherried fruit and soft spice in a soft and easy going style

McGuigan, Signiature Shiraz £7.59 (2+)
Typical Aussie shiraz, full of blackcurrants, damsons and pepper but at a very untypical price.

Cheateau Aigues Vives Corbieres £6.99 (2+)
Southern French wine is, at the moment, the place to go for value and character. It doesn't get much better than this, a top-class Corbieres.

Marques de la Concordia, Rioja Reserva £7.99
Another “go-to” region for value, Rioja wines are unique but don't cost the earth. Try this easy going and fruity Reserva for well under £10.

We've got a couple of great wines of the week this week:

Red Wine Of The Week

Rioja Reserva 2006, Viña Pomal
£9.99 when buying two or more

http://www.majestic.co.uk/find/keyword-is-pomal/product-is-14431
 

This is a great wine for these long, cold winter months. A rich, dark nose of blackcurrants, tobacco and a touch of spice is underpinned by a firm structure which makes this ideal with stews and roast meats.
 

White Wine Of The Week

Riesling 'Les Princes Abbés' 2009, Domaines Schlumberger
£10.99 when buying two or more

(so new it's not yet on our website)

This is a really fine example of the wonderfully elegant wines Alsace is famed for. Delicate and subtle, this wine slowly reveals aromas of lemon zest, grapefruit and pebbles whilst a racy acidity draws out a long and delightful finish.
 

The first vineyard in Marlborough was first established in 1973, by Montana, however it was the Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc, 1985, that put Marlborough on the international map. The large flat river valley with deep gravel and silt deposits, changing the soil composition across the valley, leading to a huge variation in quality and style across Marlborough. Cloudy Bay is still available today in Majestic Dulwich, with the Sauvignon Blanc costing £24, or £19 when you buy 2 or more. However, there are many other wines we have available which are a lot easier on the wallet! Waimea at £9.99, or £6.99 when you buy 2 or more bottles has recently won the Decanter award for the best Sauvignon Blanc under £10.  In Marlborough, quality wines are also available from the larger producers, as exemplified by Villa Maria Cellar Selection, now available at £10.99 each or £8.49 when you purchase 2 or more.

Globally there are a range of Sauvignon Blancs which can not only compete with these New Zealand heavyweights, but also offer an interesting alternative if you fancy a change. The Buitenverwachting Sauvignon Blanc, 2010 from Constantia, resting beneath Table Mountain in South Africa, founded in 1685, offers a more traditional old-world style, than the ultra-zesty wines coming out of New Zealand, fantastically balanced on the palate would offer a great companion to seafood and chicken. The name Buitenverwachting actually means 'Beyond expectations' which is exactly what this wine offers, especially at the price of £10.99 each, or £8.79 when you buy 2 or more South African wines.

In any wine comparison the French cannot be discounted, and here a great contestant would be the Pouilly-Fumé 'Les Griottes', Jean-Pierre Bailly, from the upper Loire valley, where wine has been produced for the past 2000 years, at £12.99 each or £11.99 when you buy 2 or more bottles. A palate of fresh, clean, vibrant acidity, citrus fruits, and flinty minerality with a long finish. The dry body would accompany shellfish fantastically on a bright sunny day.

These two wines offer very interesting alternatives if you are looking to explore beyond the New Zealand range we offer. They are also a good choice if you are not a fan of the New Zealand style, but are looking for a dry white to accompany seafood.

Elsewhere in the world can offer great alternatives to compete with New Zealand, but nowhere can offer the range and variety. With our range starting at £5.99 and going through to £30, we have a wine for all tastes and budgets, and it is for this range and choice, that New Zealand must still remain the King of Sauvignon Blancs...........for now anyway!

Its now our last week of promotion for New Zealand with 20% off the range when you buy any two wines as a part of your mixed case, so hurry down before the offer ends (31/1/12).