(89-90)/100
For their 2010 Languedoc, Hecht and Bannier introduced into the mix of sources that informed their 2008 and 2009 some additional Carignan from Corbieres and some Cinsault from Saint-Chinian, which has no doubt helped underscore the fortes of this vintage, namely the preservation of fresh fruit liveliness and the showcasing of mineral elements, yet against a background of rich ripeness. Indeed, insofar as 2010 combines the best of 2009 and 2008 this is a perfect example. Some of the density and borderline confitured character of the 2009 is allied to saline and stony minerality and cooling, minty herbal inflections (less the more-typical pungent garrigue) for a vibrant, vivacious, lip-smacking finish of a sort one can only be amazed at and grateful for in a wine of this price. And since this will be in tank for nearly another year before bottling not to mention – as the 2007 and 2008 versions of Hecht & Bannier’s “basic” wine have demonstrated – that one can even expect improvement in bottle, this will be another must-have everyday red. US$14
