Majestic has come a long way since it opened its first store in Haringey, North London, 45 years ago. Today the company is the UK’s largest specialist wine retailer, with more than 200 branches and more opening every year. Customers value the staff knowledge and expertise, the large and diverse range, and the mix-six discounted prices (see below). The spring press tasting in May showcased an eclectic range of just under 100 sparkling and still wines.
Seasonal highlights
At a time of year when many of us will be reaching for whites and rosés, there was plenty to choose from, including some food-friendly, everyday-drinking Italian whites, an impressive fruit-forward Grüner Veltliner from South Africa, and a string of good-value rosés from the Languedoc and Rhône. One orange wine of the four stocked by Majestic was showcased, a tangy, mandarin-scented Grüner Veltliner from Austria, but it’s worth exploring the category further with the other three too (from Greece, Georgia and the south of France).
Among the reds, standouts included a line-up of impressive French reds, sourced by Majestic’s head of buying and regional France buyer Matthew Fowkes. Make a beeline for the gorgeously aromatic Loire Cabernet Franc when it comes back in stock at the end of June, and in the meantime reach for the juicy Negroamaro from southern Italy, or, if you’re looking for something more robust, the Georgian Saperavi or the Intacto Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon.
Scroll down to see our picks at Majestic
Own-label
The own-label wines are always worth a look. The Definition range, introduced nearly 10 years ago and relaunched in spring 2024, aims to capture the quintessential qualities of the world’s greatest wine styles, and make them accessible to all wine lovers. Standouts at this tasting included two Rhône reds – a Crozes-Hermitage and a Châteauneuf-du-Pape – and a Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir.
The Definition range sits above – and generally offers more excitement and individuality than – the Chosen by Majestic range, which was launched last year, though there are still good buys to be found here, including the German Riesling below.
Lastly, don’t forget Majestic’s Parcel Series, where the retailer secures usually very small allocations of wine from top-tier producers at a markdown, on the condition that the producer remains anonymous. This press tasting didn’t feature any of the range, but this is a label worth looking out for.
Sugar and alcohol
Some of the wines shown (not those recommended below) did seem a little heavy on the residual sugar. A little residual sugar can work well when the wine is in balance, but in some wines it felt like the sugar level had been upped to compensate for a lower alcohol level. The UK duty laws introduced earlier this year penalise wines that are higher in alcohol, and there is a general trend among high-street retailers to bring alcohol levels down in some lines. The new duty laws have also, sadly, meant that some small-volume, higher-alcohol wines have been delisted by Majestic, as they are no longer commercially viable. Lower alcohol certainly doesn’t mean lower quality, but it’s a trend to be aware of.
Prices
The dual pricing system sees customers paying higher, single bottle prices where they buy up to five bottles at any one time. When customers buy six or more bottles (any mix of bottles is fine), the lower mix-six price applies. There is sometimes – but not always – a considerable difference between the two prices, and the single-bottle prices often seem a little high, so it really is worth waiting until you want to buy at least six bottles before visiting Majestic (or its website, which operates the same pricing policy).
Save when you subscribe to Decanter
Top picks from the current range:
The 30 recommendations that follow are mainly a mix of new wines and new vintages tasted by Amy Wislocki in May 2025 at Majestic’s Spring 2025 press tasting in London, but also includes wines tasted by the Decanter tastings team at previous press tastings that are still available.
All prices listed below are single-bottle prices. There are savings to be made, sometimes significant, when you buy a minimum of six bottles (any mix). The mix-six prices are given within the individual tasting notes. All bottle prices are correct at time of publication; however, the single-bottle and especially the mix-six prices do fluctuate, so check on the Majestic site for the latest prices.
