Home > Trade Tastings > Autumn 2000 Wines at Majestic

Autumn 2000 Wines at Majestic

A selection of wines available from Majestic in Autumn 2000. (13/11/00)

Tasting Notes

Tasted in November 2000. Click to locate stockists:

White Wines

Bois de Lamothe Sauvignon Blanc (Côtes de Duras, France) 1999: The nose is full of citrus aromas, particularly grapefruit, although there is a suggestion of richness. The palate, however, is somewhat dull, and slightly bitter. More of that grapefruit. 13/20 (£3.99)

Jean Balmont Chardonnay (VdP du Jardin de la France, France) 1999: Fresh and clean fruit on the nose. A touch sulphurous, and an unimpressive palate. 11/20 (£4.99)

Gérard Thomas St-Aubin Blanc 1er Cru (Burgundy, France) 1998: Some pleasant, buttery oak on the nose, with some white fruit. Quite a dry, somewhat austere palate, with good acidity. Some citrus fruit flavours. Needs time. 15.5+/20 (£9.99)

Sanctus Jacobus Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Kabinett (Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany) 1990: A rich, golden yellow. Smoky, honeyed fruit on the nose. The palate is rich, just off-dry, with lovely weight, and good balancing citrus acidity. Superb, honeyed fruit flavours. A good wine, and again excellent value. 16/20 (£3.99)

Martin Codax Albariño (Rias Baixas, Spain) 1999: An agglomerate cork doesn't bode well as far as quality is concerned. Nevertheless, some fresh peach and sherbet aromas on the nose. A clean palate, with a touch more sherbet. Sharp acidity. Would make a good food wine, particularly if you're looking for something a little different. 15/20 (£6.99)

Vigneto Mortaro Orvieto Classico Seco (Umbria, Italy) 1999: Pleasant, fruity nose. Clean palate, with refreshing fruit. Good acidity. 15/20 (£4.49)

Robertson Wide River Sauvignon Blanc (South Africa) 2000: A smoky, somewhat vegetal nose, with aromas of green beans and asparagus. A similarly vegetal palate. Good acidity, slightly bitter finish. 12/20 (£3.99)

Durney Vineyards Chardonnay (Carmel Valley, California) 1993: Majestic's list states that several vintages of this wine, from 1990-1996, are available. This vintage has a smoky, spicy, vanillin, barrel ferment nose. A similar profile on the palate, with good weight and a little fruit. An interesting wine, but a bargain at this price. 15/20 (£3.99)

Santa Rita Reserve Sauvignon Blanc (Chile) 2000: A pale colour, and a clean, grassy, citrus fruit nose. Quite dry and austere, rather than fruit-laden, on the palate, but with tangy grapefruit and some mineral notes. 16/20

Cono Sur Viognier (Chile) 1999: An aromatic, medicinal nose. The palate has some spicy fruit, is quite rich, with more medicinal notes, and it is just off dry. 14.5/20

Cono Sur Gewurztraminer (Chile) 1999: An aromatic, fruit-laden nose. Good weight on the palate, less fruit than you would expect. A spicy finish. 14.5/20

Alamos Chardonnay (Argentina) 1997: A spicy, American oak nose. The palate is, unsurprisingly, laden with more spicy, vanillin American oak. Some fruit. 14/20

Casa Lapostolle Chardonnay (Chile) 1998: Another oaked wine, but this time it is less aggressive and the aroma profile clearly suggests French rather than American oak. A big, weighty mouthfeel, with fat, buttery Chardonnay fruit and French oak flavours. A spicy, oak dominated finish. Lacks the lemony acidity of good Chardonnay. 14.5/20

Red Wines

Château Guiot (Costières de Nimes, France) 1999: A good, rich red colour. Good fruit on the palate, and pleasant tannins. 15/20 (£4.99)

Guigal Côtes du Rhône (Rhône, France) 1998: Quite closed on the nose. Very young palate, but packed with fruit. Some tannins, good acidity. All you would expect from Guigal in such a good year. Needs keeping a little, but has potential. 16.5/20 (£6.99)

Berberana Dragon Tempranillo (Barros, Spain) 1999: Reasonable colour. Good smoky berry fruit on the nose. Attractive body, with somewhat confected fruit on the palate. 14.5/20 (£3.99)

Arva Vitis Tempranillo (La Mancha, Spain) 1998: Somewhat more intense berry fruit here, with that smoky quality again. Good body, more grip than the Berberana, although again a slightly confected note to the fruit. A step up from the Berberana wine, but still very much 'cheap and cheerful'. 14/20 (£4.99)

Celler de Capçanes Finca Lasendal (Tarragona, Spain) 1999: A softly spicy nose. Some pleasant fruit on the palate, with a slightly burnt note. Lacks body, but otherwise acceptable. 13.5/20 (£4.99)

Marqués de Riscal Tempranillo (Castillo y León, Spain) 1999: The nose is loaded with berry fruits. The forepalate has a lovely body and good texture, although this thins out towards the finish. Lovely fruit, correct balance. 16/20 (£6.99)

Viñas de Gain Crianza (Rioja, Spain) 1997: Summer berry fruit on the nose. Good weight on the palate, with strawberry and other fruits on the palate. Correct acidity, soft but present tannins. 14.5/20 (£7.99)

Celler de Capçanes Costers del Gravet (Tarragona, Spain) 1998: A deep richness to the colour. Good fruit on the nose, married with a sheen of vanillin oak. Lovely fruit on the palate, grainy tannins provide a good backbone. Correct acidity. Good wine, which may improve a little in bottle. 16+/20 (£8.99)

Berberana Reserva (Rioja, Spain) 1989: A lovely aged patina, a tawny, mahogany red hue. Good ageing Rioja nose of sweet fruit and subtle oak. Good texture on the palate, pleasant fruit, and integrated wood. Medium bodied, and still a touch of tannin. Finishes well. 16/20 (£9.99)

La Rioja Alta Viña Ardanza Reserva (Rioja, Spain) 1993: Another delightful aged patina, slightly richer in appearance than the Berberana. An earthy, undergrowth, sweet toffeed fruit nose. A lovely smooth palate, with spice, toffee and caramel notes, and a touch medicinal. 16.5/20 (£13.99)

San Telmo Malbec (Argentina) 1999: An unimpressive nose. A hollow, red and black fruit palate. A thin wine. 11/20

Catena Argento Malbec (Argentina) 1999: My second taste of this wine this month. Good fruit, sensibly applied oak, a glossy mouthfeel. 15.5/20

Cono Sur Merlot (Chile) 1999: An attractive spice and coffee nose suggests this might be good drinking. Unfortunately, lots of bitter, stalky tannins on the palate. Some black fruit, spice and pepper, although a little hollow. This may improve with time, but that stalkiness is probably there to stay. 14+/20

Cono Sur Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (Chile) 1999: An attractive fruit-laden, coffee grounds and spice nose. The palate is dominated by tannins, which pervade right through to the finish. Needs time. Previous vintages have been much more jammy than this. 15.5/20

Casa Lapostolle Cabernet Sauvignon (Chile) 1999: Very closed on the nose. Some hints of French oak. On the palate, black fruit with some spice. Again, very tannic, and needs time. 16/20