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

Largely from a parcel of vines to the south of Avignon and facing the vineyards of Chateauneuf. With rich, red soils and large 'galets' or stones, the terroir mimics that of its great neighbour. The piece de resistance is the portion of fruit that comes from his own Gigondas vineyards. This 100% Syrah, boasts a refined, silky texture with elegant fruit and natural acidity. So elegance, harmony and persistence are the keys here. Drink now to 2010.

Single Bottle: £16.99

In a case of 12: £16.14