The Morning Claret

Simon J Woolf & Friends on Wild and Wonderful Wines

Taka Takeuchi

Hails from Japan. Raised on German Riesling. Loves languages. Trained anthropologist. Lives in London. Data cruncher for Casio when not tasting and writing.
Dom Bliskowice – J’16 Johanniter Ultra 2016 ©Taka Takeuchi
3 minute read

Dom Bliskowice Johanniter Ultra 2016

Poland doesn’t get the respect that it deserves, either with food or wine. Ignorance too often clouds the landscape. I was recently on a train to Warsaw eavesdropping as four Brits struggled to come up with a single dish other Read more

3 minute read

Julien Meyer – Crémant d’Alsace Brut “0” 2010

I love Champagne. But whenever I start talking about it, I fear being labelled elitist. But, but… Grower Champagne? And then there are those Champagne enthusiasts who think any other form of effervescent wine inferior. They huff and puff and Read more

Rennersistas - Chardonnay 2015 © Taka Takeuchi
4 minute read

Rennersistas – Neusiedlersee Chardonnay 2015

As Amber Revolution approches its second stretch goal on Kickstarter, what better way to celebrate than by reviewing another orange wine? This time we’re heading to Austria to revisit a producer already mentioned briefly on this site: The Rennersistas Chardonnay 2015. I first Read more

Clemens Busch Mosel Riesling Trocken O 2015 © Taka Takeuchi
3 minute read

Clemens Busch – Mosel Riesling Trocken “O” 2015

To celebrate the launch of Simon’s Kickstarter campaign for his book Amber Revolution, here’s a German “orange” wine made from Riesling. German Riesling still has an image problem in the UK. And Germany is not the first place that comes to Read more

Les Cailloux du Paradis - Romorantin 2013 © Taka Takeuchi
2 minute read

Les Cailloux du Paradis – Romorantin 2013

I’m seeing more and more Romorantin in London and loving it. That’s saying something, with a grand total of only 70 hectares in existence. But what makes it more special is that it happens to produce great wine. Romorantin is Read more

Domaine Sainte Croix - La Serre 2015 © Taka Takeuchi
3 minute read

Domaine Sainte Croix – La Serre 2015

Here’s a fittingly off-piste wine to mark my first review for The Morning Claret. Domaine Sainte Croix was created in 2004 by an English couple, Jon and Elizabeth Bowen. Jon used to be a globe-trotting winemaker, Elizabeth an agricultural economist. Read more