I tried Majestic's Wine Club and was amazed by how educational it is
If you want to actually learn about wine rather than just drink it but don't know where to start then I've just tried something that I think might be perfect. Majestic is known for selling incredible wines but it's Wine Club might be one of the best wine subscription services I've ever tried.
I got my hands on the first case that was released 'Discover the Hidden Gems of France' which is actually from August 2021 but as a lover of French wines I was thrilled. You get twelve carefully selected wines but also a map and a booklet that massively improves the experience.
You can see where on a map each wine has come from which is a nice introduction into wine knowledge and can also make it a little easier to identify what types of wine you personally enjoy most. They also have recipes with two wines paired which is great for when having a dinner party.
READ MORE: I tried a case of Virgin Wines and now love a region I'd never have guessed
Each wine gets a dedicated double page spread in the booklet. It includes a picture of the vineyard and QR codes for more information on the producer. It elaborates with a breakdown of the wines characteristics and further information about the wine, region and producer.
You've been pronouncing your favourite wines all wrong - an expert explains howThere's a space for your own rating and and notes on the wine and quotes on what you can typically expect from this style of wine. There's also two other recommendations for similar wines you can try if you enjoyed this one which I think is a great way to expand your palette and grow your favourites list.
I really liked this detail as it made it really easy to identify which wines were for me and which were not. I'm a fan of the Muscat grape which is often mistaken with Muscadet but as highlighted in the booklet they're worlds apart.
Included in the case was Paul Buisse Muscadet which is a type of wine I'd never tried before. Before opening up the booklet I wasn't actually too sure what to expect, it has notes of green apple, pear and lemon which is fairly common in cooler climate white wines but the flavour of slate is quite different.
The quote in the book says it all: 'You can almost taste the Atlantic in each citrusy, slightly saline sip.' This wine is massively influenced by the cooling and salty breezes that come in on the west coast and it really shows.
The pale yellow wine is somewhat salty. It reminded me of olive brine and if you love dirty martinis then I think it's for you. I don't think I'd have it again but I'm glad I know what it's like. I think this would go down a treat with fans of Fino Sherry.
One that I really enjoyed was Chateau de Pizay Beaujolais, I was already aware that I liked Beaujolais as it ticks all my boxes for a red wine. It's a pale red with high acidity but a fairly light body and low tannins. This is a wine named after a region rather than the grape so there was some information about Gamay and how it's a thin skinned grape which leads to the tannin and body of the wine.
It's got your classic red notes of red fruits but also a touch of sour cherry and even some earthiness. Personally I thought this was a delicious wine and I will definitely keep a look out for it's suggestions of Chateau de Pizay Morgon and Definition Beaujolais Villages.
This is a wine I'd recommend to fans of Pinot Noir and lighter wines. They recommend it with charcuterie and grilled meats.
I really enjoyed the Majestic Wine Club and while I have tried others, such as Virgin Wines, I do think this is more thorough in its education which I find really valuable. There are three cases, Discovery, Tour and Grand Tour which you can select to find the quality you'd most enjoy - although even the most basic package is brilliant.