Stockist/Retailer: Majestic

(2026) A Rioja from selected vineyards where 90% Tempranillo is joined by Garnacha and Graciano, it is a modern style, not dominated by oak, despite 20 months in American and French barrels. It was fermented with wild yeasts, which has perhaps enhanced the savoury nature of the aromas that melt into crunchy red and black fruits. The oak manifests more as cedar than vanilla, and the palate is medium-bodied, with a bittersweet endive bite to the tannins and acidity. Pomal suggest this food wine will cellar well for a decade. Watch the video for more information.

(2025) Musar's typical blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault and Carignan, aged six years before release. I thought this was a fabulous young Musar, brimming with aroma and flavour already which is quite primary in character, so there is surely more to come with cellaring. Plush with cranberry and ripe, rich blackcurrant, a hint of mint in there too. Such sweet and mouth-filling fruit, caressing the tongue with medium-bodied and quite silky texture, hints of earth and smoky minerals, but really all about smooth and plush flavours over moderate tannin and particularly juicy acidity. A fine rendition of this classic in a relatively forward style, but it will age. Watch the video for more information.

(2025) This is an early review for this wine, written in November 2025, so expect it to become much more widely available over ensuing months. With fruit mainly from the Wairau Valley, 1.8% of the blend was fermented in large-format oak vats and a portion using wild yeast. Aromatically there is definitely a touch of the passion fruit and elderflower, but this vintage seems to be more about a direct citrus freshness in a wine of very pale colour. In the mouth it is bracing stuff, less flamboyant than some vintages, and again a cool citrus and lightly herbal character rather than anything overtly tropical. It has texture, and glimpses of a juicier nectarine weight in a a well-tempered rendition of this classic Marlborough SB in 2025.

(2025) Cramele Recaș is a very large producer and exporter of Romanian wines, and I suspect there are several different labels for this Pinot Noir, depending on where you buy it. There certainly appear to be several very similar Pinots from them, at the same price point, in different retailers. What you get is a very easy-going, fruity and sweetly ripe wine with a a cerise colour and notes of cherry and violet. It's not a Pinot for classicists, with only faint glimpses of the sous-bois and truffle the variety can offer, as it is all about juicy and pretty fruit on the palate with negligible tannins and a cherry-ripe acidity. OK, so it is not for the Pinot purist in some ways, but it is eminently quaffable and well made, and might well be able to grace the Christmas table if the budget is a bit tight - only £7.50 on offer at time of review. Watch the video for more information.

(2025) At five years of age this Grand Cru Chablis is in a lovely place. It has roundness and richness, perhaps lacking a little of the flinty austerity that can be so attractive in Chablis, but making up for that with its sesame-touched, pristine orchard fruit and sense of mineral precision. The palate has more of the same: direct and sheer, but with texture and hints of stone fruit ripeness, running into a lemon and salts, serious acidity.

(2025) Domaine de la Métairie d’Alon is a Languedoc estate owned by Abbotts & Delaunay, so rooted in Burgundian winemaking. Organically grown grapes come from selected vineyards at higher than usual altitude near Limoux, grown on clay and limestone soils. It has a very attractive nose, just hinting at briar and sweet, damp earth, but more focused on a chestnutty, savoury fruit density. Sweet and supple fruit coats the mid-palate, some creamy oak adding depth, and the ripe, gentle tannins and acidity complete a most enjoyable picture. £18.99 as part of a mixed six and in Scotland and Wales.

(2025) Villemarin is made from 100% Piquepoul Blanc grapes grown beside the Étang de Thau in the Languedoc. The saline lagoon runs along the coast from Montpellier to Béziers, where sea breezes help the grapes to retain freshness. Ormarine also believes it imbues this wine with "a subtle salty hint". The nose has bright fruit, moving from cool pear to a more luscious peach. In the mouth there is a sprightly character here, a touch of sherbet brightness and, yes, a hint of salts, with loads of zesty fruit and always hints of nectarine and more exotic ripeness. £9 in Scotland and Wales, or as part of a mixed six elsewhere. Watch the video for more information.

(2025) Sourced from several South Australian wine-growing regions and made with wild fermentation plus ageing on the lees, aromatically this has excellent typicity and clarity, with apricot and almond, a touch of honeysuckle and spice. In the mouth the fruit is full and sweet, a creaminess to the texture fills the mid-palate, and the limey zest of the pithy acidity in the finish offers excellent balance. An honest and delicious wine that you might also find on promotional pricing occasionally.

(2025) This Vin de France is another lighter wine, both in colour and its 12% alcohol. I believe it is based on Grenache and Cinsault and comes mostly from the Languedoc. Quite neutral, though some pretty red berry fruit in there and just a hint of confectionery. In the mouth balance is pretty good, though it has a touch of sweetness. There is something about this wine that always feels a little too confected for me, though it is a crowd-pleasing summer-in-the-garden sipper.

(2025) A blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault from some of the appellation's highest vineyards at 420m above sea level. Delicate and fruity, raspberry and marshmallow spring to mind, the palate following on with a dry, gastronomic character, small red berries but a very clean mineral and lemon finish.