Majestic still delivering wine while its stores are closed

“We are so fortunate that the retail shops were not sold off during our Naked period,” he said. But then I remembered that it was only last year that the much-loved chain of Majestic wine shops was owned by the mail-order people known as Naked Wines.

At one point, Majestic stores were threatened with closure as Naked planned to focus online only. There was even a “blink and you missed it” transformation of Majestic’s Wakefield store as it was branded to Naked and then just a few months later rebranded to Majestic.

Of course, present restrictions mean that you can’t actually visit any of the 180 stores spread around the country, but they are being put to great use as a hub to collate orders and get them delivered to their customers.

The advantage of this set-up is that you can deal with your local store, and not with a remote head office. Once we adjust back to normal, you will actually get to know those people who have been leaving your wine on your doorstep.

Other recent changes include a shake-up in the commercial team and additions to the buying teams and so Majestic is now poised to fill up its shelves with fresh flavours and new labels.

There is a slight possibility of some stores opening if they can get the safe- distancing protocols in place. If any in our region do, I will let you know, but meanwhile the whole range is on the website www.majestic.co.uk.

Here are 10 to try from Majestic, most of them new additions to the range. Majestic used to sell only by the mixed case, but now you can buy a single bottle although prices are higher. You get the best deal on a mixed case of six bottles, and these are the prices I give here.

Whites

Devil’s Creek Sauvignon Blanc 2019, Barrel Select, Marlborough, New Zealand, £8.99: Ignore the words “Barrel Select” on the label. I can’t taste any wood in this wine. This is a great value, fresh, lively gooseberry-filled wine with enough peachy depth to cope with fish and shellfish.

Thierry Delaunay Manoir Touraine Sauvignon Blanc 2019, Loire, France, £8.99: The Loire is the original home of Sauvignon Blanc and so it is hardly surprising that the flavours are different from New Zealand. This has texture, depth and a creamy edge as well as crushed-blackcurrant leaf aromas and peach and pink grapefruit flavours.

Fincher & Co Sauvignon Blanc 2018, Awatere Valley, New Zealand, £12.99: Marlborough is where the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc revolution started, but Awatere is where it went next. This is a small-scale quality wine which shows in its bright, vibrant complexity with layers of fresh juicy peach, lime, melon and a hint of dusky old-fashioned roses. Team with turbot, or just enjoy on its own.

Roaring Meg Pinot Gris 2019, Central Otago, New Zealand, £12.99: Make a change from New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and try a Pinot Gris. This comes from one of my favourite producers, Mount Difficulty in South Island’s Central Otago. It has terrific depth, flavour and balance with notes of ripe pear, hints of passion fruit and mango. It also has an underlying freshness that makes this perfect to go with chicken, fish and lightly spiced dishes.

Edouard Delaunay Septembre 2018, Bourgogne Chardonnay, France, £12.99: This wine has elegance and flavours far above its humble Bourgogne Chardonnay category. Soft aromas of citrus fruit, yellow stone fruit and tree blossom with finely balanced flavours and a savoury finish make this good enough for Sunday lunch. Team with chicken, sole or salmon, and ignore the “rich and oaky” description on the website. “Rounded with perfectly integrated oak” is a better description.

Jaraman Chardonnay 2018, Wakefield Wines, Australia, £15.99: A blend of Chardonnay grapes, half from the Clare Valley in South Australia and half from Margaret River, 2000 miles away. Why? The Margaret River grapes add freshness, balance and elegance to Clare’s fruit and complexity, says winemaker Adam Eggins. He also uses Burgundy barrels to mature his wines for similar reasons. The result is an Australian wine that has definite Burgundy tendencies, with a touch more sunshine than you usually get in Meursault.

Rosé

LB7 Rosé 2019, Vinho Regional Lisboa, Portugal, £7.99: Provence pale, etched with strawberry and redcurrant fruit. Delicate and fresh. The perfect wine for a summer lunch.

Reds

Yalumba The Y Series Tempranillo 2019, South Australia, £7.49: Rioja’s famous grape has been transported to South Australia where it has settled down and makes a raspberry-packed, savoury-toned, delicious wine. Yalumba is a family-owned company with its own nursery and has been at the forefront of importing and developing new varieties in Australia. Tempranillo is a definite success. Team it with lamb or grilled sausages.

Lulu l’Alouette Chinon, 2018, France, £10.99: There was a time when every decent wine shop stocked a raspberry-filled, juicy Chinon, but now you have to look for them. This is one that is well worth seeking out. Made from the Cabernet Franc grape, it has raspberry and red currant fruit, with silky, soft tannins and top-notes of violets adding interest. Chill it for half an hour to taste it at its best and serve with charcuterie, grilled lamb and tagines.

Wakefield Jaraman Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, South Australia, £14.99: Another Wakefield wine that blends grapes from two regions, this time Clare Valley and Coonawarra. The aim is always balance and this is perfectly managed. Dark plum fruit, with blackcurrant tones, hints of chocolate and mint with freshness on the finish. Good enough for a roast rib of beef.

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