The Morning Claret

Simon J Woolf & Friends on Wild and Wonderful Wines

Year: 2018

DT-Montage-SJW
7 minute read

Are nuances an endangered species?

Ever felt fatigued and deflated after reading an article about the current state of the wine world? I did after reading Are Great Sommeliers an Endangered Species?, a conversation between two highly-respected American sommeliers, Jordan Salcito (the interviewer, who notably Read more

Casè labels
3 minute read

Cosi Casè – a capricious Malvasia di Candia

Every week, Simon selects an orange wine (a white wine made with extended skin contact) that grabbed his attention. View the whole series here. When I first discovered the macerated monolith that is La Stoppa’s Ageno, I made the assumption that it was Read more

The press
5 minute read

Cellar hygiene über alles

The latest instalment of Hannah’s adventures in the Ardeche finds her developing a strange relationship with a pneumatic press. And realising that the hardest work at harvest was not in the vineyard, after all.

Jurtschitsch – Grüner Veltliner Lamm 2017

An exciting, unusual expression of Grüner Veltliner – kumquat, mango, racy acidity, almost buttery, but completely avoids being overbearing or fat. Nose has some lightly aromatic notes (lychee, but nothing like as O.T.T. as Gewürztraminer). Still a baby but beautiful, Read more

Nigl – Riesling Hochäcker Privat 2017

Exotic, perfumed nose of angelica root and passion flower, similarly exotic fruits on the palate, dancing acidity, superbly elegant and poised. Such a delicate pretty wine, but so focused and multi-dimensional too. Excellent.

Schmid – Riesling Sunogeln 2017

Green apple and citrus fruit, nervy acids, concentrated but reined in and bone dry. Almost a dead ringer for Gruner with its ripe appley fruit. A very satisfying drop.