(90-91)/100
Hecht & Bannier’s 2007 Minervois leans heavily on Syrah from La Liviniere, along with some Grenache and Carignan. Prior to bottling (and with the blend subject to small final adjustments), it smells of cassis, marjoram, and white pepper. Lush and silken in texture on the palate, it combines richness with vivacity and freshness of fruit to a remarkable degree, especially for its appellation. A suggestion of beef juices mingles with juicy black fruits, and the finish offers a long, savory, saline, positively invigorating persistence. I suspect this will outpace its predecessors, offering enormous pleasure for the next 5-7 years. US$22
