Handford Wines

Here’s what Jancis Robinson OBE MW had to say about the 2006:- This attractively packaged wine, the label just as ornate as its stablemate Pichon Longueville (Baron), all turrets and engraved detail, is hardly a rosé at all but a very light strawberry red. It could surely qualify as that old Bordeaux hue clairet. And it is very definitely made for drinking with food, being pretty substantial in terms of body, definitely reminiscent of red bordeaux, but it should be drunk cool (not icy). It is the result of a saignée, or bleeding off, or less concentrated juice from grapes destined for the robustly priced grand vin and it tastes like it. Very aromatic and lively on the nose, it smells completely unlike most rosés but not unlike most red bordeaux - and there’s even a bit of tannin on the finish. The overall effect is very unusual - nothing like the super-fruity, often rather sweet wines that predominate in the rosé section of most stores. This is seriously intriguing wine because it really does hint at Pauillac and yet - it’s not red. Fascinating. I could imagine it so easily served outside in the shade on a hot day at a table heaped with delicious summer food. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc make up the blend. There’s none of the third Pichon grape Merlot because it wasn’t aromatic enough - it would have had to have been picked a week earlier to retain its aroma and acidity, which would hardly have helped the grand vin.

Single Bottle: £11.99

In a case of 12: £11.39