90/100
Hecht & Bannier’s 2008 Languedoc incorporates primarily Syrah and a bit of Carignan the Terrasses du Larzac; Syrah from Saint Chinian; and Grenache from the Agly Valley of Roussillon, a mix that held essentially constant for 2009. This is pungently redolent of garrigue and hedge flowers along with distilled essences of purple plum and black raspberry. Ripe but tart-edged dark berries intensely and confidently assert themselves on an infectiously juicy, bright yet glycerin-rich palate infused with piquant fruit pit, thyme, arbor vitae, rosemary, crushed stone, and mineral salts. “Francois and I were trying to make a Beaujolais from the South of France,” jokes Hecht, “? Seriously, because we’re big fans of Beaujolais crus, and wanted to create something easy and fresh.” They went well beyond that mandate with this amazing value! But at 13% alcohol, it is certainly buoyant and all to easy-to-drink; and I detect an emerging note of rich beef marrow that I associate with, say, a top-notch Moulin-a-Vent. I suspect this will remain lovely for at least 3-4 more years, whatever its authors’ intentions. US$14
