Ten years of The Morning Claret
The Morning Claret turns 10 years old today – so in its honour, I decided to tell the full story or how and why it started, and what it’s done for me since.
Sa Defenza – Furau 2019
A frizzante that bizarrely seems to have oxidised. I don’t know whether this was intentional or not. The colour is on the brown side of pink, and the fruit feels very bruised and a little tired. The nose has some Read more
XXVI Talhas – Tinto do Tareco 2020
Joyful and characterful talha red, with beautiful fruit, subtle tannins, loads of freshness and that slight raisined hint that seems to be very typical of this style. It’s hard to imagine a better benchmark for this style – there is Read more
XXVI Talhas – Palhete do Tareco 2020
A red/white blend that’s very traditional in Alentejo – sometimes called “Petroleiro” (petrol coloured) – this has a a hugely appealing deep red hue. It’s packed with crunchy red berry fruit, and pleasantly spiky tannins. Being a red/white blend, there’s Read more
XXVI Talhas – Branco do Tareco 2020
Super fresh with charming white blossom and white peach perfume. The idea here is to give as close as possible to the true experience of drinking straight from the talha. And it works. Attractive light russet brown hue, with beautiful Read more
Škegro Family Winery – Carsus Trnjak 2017
Tight and full of red cherry fruit and acidity, this is a great example of a still relatively rare grape variety. I love this wine from Škegro every year – it has more lift and firmer tannins than the lightweight Read more
Škegro Family Winery – Krš Crni 2018
I always think of Blatina as a lightish grape variety, so it’s slightly strange to taste this 14.5% monster! That said, the fruit is charming – concentrated but full of supple, ripe cherry and plum. The structure means business too Read more
Škegro Family Winery – Carsus Blatina 2016
The nose promises a pure fruited expression of this indigenous variety, but sadly the palate feels slightly tired and over oaked. There is some attractive red cherry fruit, but the oak really distracts. The structure is soft and overall the Read more
Škegro Family Winery – Krš Orange 2018
Appealingly rustic nose with some bruised apple, dried herb and a subtle medicinal hint (nappies) – if it’s brett, it’s very subtle and kinda fun. Nice fresh acidity, soft tannins and altogether very well balanced. An easy drinking orange that Read more
Sa Defenza – Deminera 2019
A little reduced and lacking in expression on the nose, but this turbo-charged Cannonau (Grenache) has amazing fruit purity and drive. It’s hard to get the head around, but this is a wine with 15.5% alcohol that has loads of Read more