(90-91)/100
Chocolate-covered plum and cherry; cassis and blackberry headily scent and lushly saturate the plush palate of Hecht & Bannier’s 2009 Cotes du Roussillon Villages a less complex or dynamic wine – tasted from tank just prior to bottling – than its 2008 counterpart (which was a hard act to follow by any measure) but with a seductive richness all its own. Nor is this simply about fruit: a deep red meatiness and saliva-inducing salinity permeate the palate and add the finishing enticement to take the next sip. The small amount of Mourvedre present here seems surprisingly efficacious. Look for this excellent value to reward for the next 4-6 years. US$22
