Handford Wines

While his family has ben growing grapes for 14 generations, Louis Barruol is the first of the clan to bottle his own wines, rather than sell grapes to local négociants. Indeed, Louis has become a négociant himself, sourcing grapes and wines throughout the Rhône valley and making an outstanding range of wines. The basic Côtes du Rhône puts most producers to shame, while the Gigondas made from his own estate fruit is always one of the top wines of the appellation. Louis makes his wine without fining and his wines are bottled unfiltered to produce exuberant fruit and flavour as well as lots of character. His wines remain one of our star finds and judging by all the great reviews he has received we are lucky to have found them when we did.

The Wine

60% Grenache and 40% very old vines Mourvedre from 2 lieu dits, La Crau and Valori, this is aged for 24 months in old barriques. It is an outstanding example of balance, power, complexity and structure. Cherry, crushed strawberry, truffle, thyme and black olive tapenade. No filtration. If you have the patience it will go on into the 2020s. We tasted the 2001 recently; for such a mighty drink to retain such freshness is quite a feat. Remarkable. RP 92/100

Single Bottle: £24.95

In a case of 12: £23.70