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Peter Lee Smith presented a fascinating tasting where we compared, in a blind tasting, samples of Majestic’s Definitions range with a similarly priced wine. The aim of the evening was to see if we felt the Definitions range was a) A good example of the wine and b) Value for money
The compared were:-
PAIR 1:- Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand 2018
DEFINITION Wine: by Marisco. 13% £8.99
“Gooseberry, passion fruit and freshly cut grass.”
CHALLENGER Wine: Villa Maria Estate.13.5% £10.99
“Easy drinking, yet mouth wateringly fresh, aromatic style, displaying notes of gooseberries and cut grass.”
PAIR 2:- Chenin Blanc. South Africa. 2018
DEFINITION Wine. Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch. 14% £9.99
“Rich peach and tropical notes; apple pie and vanilla.”
CHALLENGER Wine. Zalze Bush vine. Wine of Origin Western Cape. 13% £8.99
“Upfront tropical, ripe pineapple and peach aromas, are complemented by a
long crisp aftertaste.”
“Attractive aromas of lime zest and guava.”
PAIR 3:- Ganache, Syrah and Mouvedre blend, French, Cote Du Rhône
DEFINITION wine 2016. Bottled by Bob at F84100. (Possibly by producers of La Vieille Ferme) 13.5% £8.99
“Discover perfume, blackcurrant and pepper.”
CHALLENGER Wine: E. Guigal 2015 14% £8.99
“Bold flavours of dark fruits and an attractive peppery note.
PAIR 4:- Malbec, Vino Argentino Bebida Nacional, Mendoza
DEFINITION wine: bottled by Bodega Benegas 2018. 14.5% £9.99
“Plummy, smoky fruit and chocolate.”
“Plenty of plum, mocha and warming spice aromas”
CHALLENGER wine: Norton Winemaker’s Reserve 2016 14% £9.69
“Made from carefully selected grapes from vineyards more than 30 years old and at altitudes ranging between 850 and 1100 m above sea level.
Rich, plush, yet refreshing, with aromas of liquorice and blueberry, toasty oak and a backdrop of fine-grained tannins.”
“The wine is characterized by its elegance and complexity. It’s beautifully round and velvety with flavours of ripe black fruit, violets, spices and tobacco with a long and complex finish.”
The general feeling of the group was that the Definitions were, on balance, reasonably priced and representative of the wine but we generally preferred the ‘Challenger’ wines as having perhaps a little more character.
Thanks to everyone who brought food for the evening – I venture to say we have rarely had such an excellent selection of cheeses.