Hecht Bannier & Faugères 2005

Languedoc, France91 points from David Schildknecht for Parker's Wine Advocate!Formed in 2002, Maison Hecht et Bannier produces wines that are reference points for the Languedoc-Roussillon, France's largest and most confounding winemaking region. Founders Gregory Hecht and Franois Bannier: "To conserve the typical Mediterranean strength in our wines while preserving balance and crispness, this is our mantra for all the appellations we produce." This cutting edge firm is one of the Languedoc's most exciting projects in recent memory, and promises to be aformidable player with dramatic impact in the region.Hecht & Bannier is at the forefront of a revolution in quality in this region. Each of their wines is typically based on 5-10 different parcels found to be of exceptional quality. These blends are then vinified and bottled to best represent each appellation in the range. All Hecht & Bannier wines are aged for two years in large, traditional "Demi Muids" (600L wood barrels,) which insures preservation of fruit quality and imparts "resistance" to the wines, allowing them to age well. A portion of each wine is aged in neutral concrete vats to focus the expression of fruit and appellation. Faugeres is a small appellation located somewhat inland on the Mediterranean coast to the west of Montpelier and Nimes. This blend of Syrah, Mourvdre and Carignan is vinified in a combination of 10% tank, 30% large neutral oak casks and 60% oak barrels. 30% of the oak is new. The wine is densely structured with ripe, concentrated flavors of black raspberry and cassis and rich minerality. It has the refined tannins of a wine to cellar.Enjoy Hecht & Bannier Faugeres with roast beef, steak, cassoulet and aged cheeses.