Handford Wines

Kurt Feiler has an understated quiet confidence in what he is doing, and understands the value of what we are achieving for him on the UK market. Business in the UK for a wide range of the Feiler-Artinger wines has grown impressively, and we are developing a strong following for both red and sweet wines. Rust is of course world-famous since the 16 th century for its sweet wine – Ruster Ausbruch . It became a Royal Free Town in 1681 for the help it gave to the Emperor Leopold I in providing 500 buckets of sweet wine. And today the lovely town can boast that it was built on the proceeds of its sweet wines. These are resurgent again in the last few years, though it has been the growth in red wine demand which has kept the producers most busy in the last 10 – 15 years. Different sites and soil types favour red and white grapes, and a wide range are planted, generally the whites, closer to the lake influence for noble rot, and reds on higher, drier microclimates. Sweet wine production is certainly in the blood here, and the Ruster Ausbruch are unparalleled for their concentration and freshness, but Kurt has a deft touch and his reds – predominantly Blaufränkisch, with Zweigelt, Pinot Noir, and a little Cabernet Franc and Merlot – have a powerful, but charming supple texture and elegance.

The Wine

Ripe cherry with bitter cherry pit and smoke accents in the nose, in turn inform a cool-fruited but ripe palate, with subtly stony and spicy notes that carry into a bright, sappy finish. This may well pick up some further nuance with time in bottle but, as things stand, offers an excellent introduction to Blaufrankisch. Perfect for enjoying over the next 2-3 years.

Single Bottle: £17.99

In a case of 12: £17.09