Handford Wines

Priorato is a beautiful mountainous area in north- eastern Spain an hour or so down the coast from Barcelona. The area is volcanic in origin and production methods have hardly changed since Cathusian monks first established vineyards in the 12th century. Chiefly red wine is produced and the area has gone through a great resurgence sine the 1980's with some big names investing in this alluring landscape. This is where probably the best examples in the world of wine produced from Garnacha and Carinena are made. This is a hot rugged landscape with poor soils and plenty of steep rocky hill sides which make cultivation difficult, and mechanisation impossible.. The wines are rich and dark with high natural alcohol levels but wonderful complexity of spices and dark gamey fruit. Mas d'en Compte was founded in 1995 and has 80 hectares of vineyards with a young owner an d winemaker Joan Sangenis. His philosophy is to spend 10 months in the vineyard and 2 months in the cellar, because great wine comes from great grapes and not great hands he says. While producing some terrific red wine he is one of a handful to produce an equally impressive white repeated voted the best White in Spain!

The Wine

The 2006 Mas d'en Compte Blanco harks back to the classic styles of the 2001 and 2002 Blanco that won this cellar the best white wine in Spain award 2 years running from the Penon Guide, the Spainish Wine bible. Much crisper, fresher and tighter than the fat, ripe 2003 (92/100 RP), this wine is taught and dense and has plenty of citrus and peach flavours to offer as well as the classic mineraity that is emphasized by the wines fresher acidity. A very classy Garnacha Blanca based wine that reflects the change in vintage conditions for the cooler 2006. Fans of this estate will be bowled over, as usual. Limited quantities as always!

Single Bottle: £18.99

In a case of 12: £18.04