Domaine de la Tourade, Gigondas

André Richard is one of the fastest improving producers according to Thierry Deseauve of La Revue du Vin de France in Tom Stevenson's Wine Report 2004. In the best years (such as 2001) he makes three wines from Gigondas: a good-value standard cuvée, the richer, more ageworthy "Font des Aïeux" from older vines and the intense and delicious "Morgan" aged in new oak.

He is undoubtedly a dedicated producer: after the floods which destroyed whole vineyards in nearby Châteauneuf-du-Pape in 2002, he ensured that no rotten berries reached the winery for his standard Gigondas by first removing them at the harvest then sorting grapes in the field and again at the winery. As a result, he produced one rounded, fairly concentrated wine (but nothing in Vacqueyras: everything was sold off in bulk). We are fortunate, however, to have secured a small allocation of the last of his excellent 2001s.