Wine of the Week: The Lodge Hill Shiraz 2011 Jim Barry, Clare Valley

Grape: Shiraz

The inky blackcurrant and boysenberry fruit is lifted by violet and menthol notes, with smooth tannins still providing plenty of grip. The finish is long and rich.

Goes great with grilled meats, lasagna and casseroles.

ONLY £10.99 when you buy 2 or more

20% off Australia

Viura is the synonym in Rioja for Macabeo and makes up about 90% of the still white wine production in the region.  A high productivity makes it suited to hot, dry conditions and the fact that it is late budding means there is very little risk from spring frosts.

Light biscuit characters intermingle with hints of cinammon and forward grapefruit flavours creating a mouthwatering wine with an elegant finish.

Perfect lightly chilled on its own or served with Paella.

BBQ Wines Tasting Tutorial - Saturday 15th June 2013

We just decided what wines we will be opening for the tasting tutorial and thought we'd give you some insight into the wines and get you excited to try them...

Aperitif

Codorníu Reina Maria Cristina Blanc de Noirs 2010 (£9.99): Made from 100% Pinot Noir. It is difficult for a producer to keep the juice completely white when all the grapes are red. They press the grapes very gently so that none of the colour is released. Amazingly bright and jittery on the nose with aromas of lemon, cranberry and cooking apple. The palate has a frothy bubble structure, tangy red fruit, a pinch of salt and a firm mouth-feel

Dry Furmint 2011 Royal Tokaji (£9.99or £8.49 when you buy 2 or more): This wine is 100% Furmint, an indigenous Hungarian variety thought to be related to Vermentino of Italy. It ripens late and has extremely high acidity, which is good for both dry and sweet wines.Clean pear, lemon and acacia on the nose, it has a slightly funky, mineral note a la Chablis. The palate is racy with eye watering acidity balanced by a linear body and much complexity.

Sausage

Domaine Haut-Lirou 2010 Pic Saint-Loup (£8.99 or £7.99 when you buy 2 or more): Made from Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre.Very smoky on the nose, and rich, with liquorice and deep black fruit. It’s savoury and strong on the palate with an underlying florality and dark fruit. Great length and a sweet, soft tannin.

Corbières La Combe des Oliviers 2011(£7.99): Made from Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre. A beguiling nose of blackcurrant, herbs and olives, it smells of the Med. On the palate there is real concentration, again olives, the blackest of fruit, possibly a sunblush tomato and tannin.

Steak

Amalaya de Colomé Malbec Blend 2011 (£10.99, or £8.99 when you buy 2 or more): Made from a blend of Malbec, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Tannat. A very interesting nose of blueberries, juniper and raspberry. The palate is very luscious, it feels velvety, with rich fruit, a bit of pepper and vanilla.

Chateau Musar 2005 (£19.99): A blend of Cabernet, Cinsault and Carignan. It takes seven years to make a bottle, during which time they ferment the wine in cement for 6 months, age in French oak for a year and then age in bottle until release.So much texture and tannin and flavour of damson, baked figs, medicine, violets, pepper, tea and aniseed. It’s silky and plush like a pomerol, and vibrant and acidic like red Burgundy.

Look forward to seeing you on Saturday!

Wine of the Week: The Lodge Hill Shiraz 2011 Jim Barry, Clare Valley

Grape: Shiraz

The inky blackcurrant and boysenberry fruit is lifted by violet and menthol notes, with smooth tannins still providing plenty of grip. The finish is long and rich.

Goes great with grilled meats, lasagna and casseroles.

ONLY £10.99 when you buy 2 or more

20% off Australia

Viura is the synonym in Rioja for Macabeo and makes up about 90% of the still white wine production in the region.  A high productivity makes it suited to hot, dry conditions and the fact that it is late budding means there is very little risk from spring frosts.

Light biscuit characters intermingle with hints of cinammon and forward grapefruit flavours creating a mouthwatering wine with an elegant finish.

Perfect lightly chilled on its own or served with Paella.

BBQ Wines Tasting Tutorial - Saturday 15th June 2013

We just decided what wines we will be opening for the tasting tutorial and thought we'd give you some insight into the wines and get you excited to try them...

Aperitif

Codorníu Reina Maria Cristina Blanc de Noirs 2010 (£9.99): Made from 100% Pinot Noir. It is difficult for a producer to keep the juice completely white when all the grapes are red. They press the grapes very gently so that none of the colour is released. Amazingly bright and jittery on the nose with aromas of lemon, cranberry and cooking apple. The palate has a frothy bubble structure, tangy red fruit, a pinch of salt and a firm mouth-feel

Dry Furmint 2011 Royal Tokaji (£9.99or £8.49 when you buy 2 or more): This wine is 100% Furmint, an indigenous Hungarian variety thought to be related to Vermentino of Italy. It ripens late and has extremely high acidity, which is good for both dry and sweet wines.Clean pear, lemon and acacia on the nose, it has a slightly funky, mineral note a la Chablis. The palate is racy with eye watering acidity balanced by a linear body and much complexity.

Sausage

Domaine Haut-Lirou 2010 Pic Saint-Loup (£8.99 or £7.99 when you buy 2 or more): Made from Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre.Very smoky on the nose, and rich, with liquorice and deep black fruit. It’s savoury and strong on the palate with an underlying florality and dark fruit. Great length and a sweet, soft tannin.

Corbières La Combe des Oliviers 2011(£7.99): Made from Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre. A beguiling nose of blackcurrant, herbs and olives, it smells of the Med. On the palate there is real concentration, again olives, the blackest of fruit, possibly a sunblush tomato and tannin.

Steak

Amalaya de Colomé Malbec Blend 2011 (£10.99, or £8.99 when you buy 2 or more): Made from a blend of Malbec, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Tannat. A very interesting nose of blueberries, juniper and raspberry. The palate is very luscious, it feels velvety, with rich fruit, a bit of pepper and vanilla.

Chateau Musar 2005 (£19.99): A blend of Cabernet, Cinsault and Carignan. It takes seven years to make a bottle, during which time they ferment the wine in cement for 6 months, age in French oak for a year and then age in bottle until release.So much texture and tannin and flavour of damson, baked figs, medicine, violets, pepper, tea and aniseed. It’s silky and plush like a pomerol, and vibrant and acidic like red Burgundy.

Look forward to seeing you on Saturday!

Galicia's signature white wine from the region's most famous producer.  Made exclusively for Majestic, with some grapes having possibly been picked by Majestic's own staff, as a small number each year go to Galicia to help with the harvest.

A light, fresh, youthful wine, with a zesty and well defined citrus backbone, overlayed with subtle hints of stone fruits and nectar.  Crisp and refreshing, yet round and enduring on the finish.

Drink with mussels or other shellfish, and all fresh grilled seafood.

Staff Choice: Château Pigoudet 'La Chapelle' Rosé 2012 Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence

Grape: Grenache, Cinsault, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah or Shiraz

Due to its excellent southern position, embedded in a picturesque valley close to the river Durance, Château Pigoudet benefits from sunshine all year round. The wine has been made using the saignée method.

Super-light and the colour of bright pink petals, the nose boasts red apples and ripe cherries. Fresh and elegant, this aromatic rosé lingers on a beautiful finish.

Enjoy with Salade Niçoise.

Only £8.99 when you buy two or more bottle