89+/100 Leaning heavily on Syrah from schist, the Hecht & Bannier 2006 Saint-Chinian was nearly two years in a combination of tank and barrels. Smoke and crushed stone seem to hover over the glass, and an adamant mineral tone persists throughout, with bitter- and tartly-edged black fruits reflecting the relatively low pH of the vintage. […]
91/100 The Hecht & Bannier 2006 Cotes du Roussillon Villages smells of cedar, coconut (from a significant proportion of new wood), cherry, marjoram, and smoke. Stimulating hints of cherry pit bitterness along with smoke, herbal pungency, and graphite and crushed stone add to the dynamic impression conveyed by unusually fresh fruit, leading to a long, […]
91/100 A hint of coconut and lanolin (from a new demi-muid incorporated into the blend) mingles with smoke-tinged black cherry in the nose of Hecht & Bannier’s 2006 Faugeres. With an impressive sense of grip and sheer density, yet of fine-grained tannins, too, this offers an invigorating combination of fruit skin and rhubarb-like (vintage typical) […]
90/100 Summer drought and early September rains took their toll on the number of lots that could be selected by Hecht and Bannier for their 2005 Minervois, and hence the volume of finished wine, but the results are unusually fine-grained and brightly black-fruited for this vintage (so many whose wines are reduced, tough-textured, or generally […]
91/100 – SMART BUY Vibrant, rich and well-balanced, delivering intense red plum, cherry and mineral flavors. There’s plenty of peppery seasoning as well, along with a finish dominated by dark chocolate. This has the stuffing to age. Drink now through 2014.— K.M. – $22
88/100 A supple red, with red plum and licorice flavors that are flanked by smoke, spice and paprika. The finish is filled with notes of kirsch and pepper. Drink now through 2013 –KM
88/100 Bright, peppery red, with plenty of muscle behind the dense mocha, dark plum and blackberry flavors. Hints of leather on the powerful and spicy finish. Needs a good steak to stand up to. Drink now through 2012. –KM
16/20 – coup de coeur du comité de dégustation Ce vin semble posséder un exceptionnel potentiel de garde. A la fois ciselé et vif, il est déjà profondément marqué par le caractère très minéral des Syrah sur schistes. Il s’affirme par sa tension et son énergie. Avec un nez de fruits noirs et d’épices douces, […]
*** + Ce St-Chinian 2005, fascine par sa fraîcheur malgré une matière fruitée dense et riche. Fait en majorité a partir de Syrah, son nez très aromatique laisse s’échapper des arômes de fruits noirs, de fleurs, de réglisse, de toasté et de cacao. En bouche, les tanins sont matures et enrobés, le boisé bien dosé […]
