H&B Côtes de Provence Rosé
A Provence rosé specially blended to deliver immense charm and minerality.
Grapes for H&B’s rosé are selected from the cooler parts of the upper Provence vineyards where the oak and olive tree forests protect the vines that are planted in the clay-limestone soils. The higher altitudes also allow a full maturity without excessive sugars (and therefore alcoholic degree in the finished wines).
The blend is completed with grapes from the limestone foothills of Montagne Sainte Victoire, whose wines are almost marked by a vivacious and persistent minerality., Very fresh Cinsault planted a few meters from the Mediterranean Sea in La Londe des Maures are introduced to bring a subtle salty and anise expression.
Grapes are harvested at night between 3.00am and 9.00am in order to avoid oxidation and to preserve all of the fresh characteristics of the terroir and varietal. Grenache and Syrah are macerated together so that their personalities and qualities intermingle, for H&B the reductive character of Syrah balances beautifully with the oxidative natural character of Grenache.
The cuvee is matured in concrete and stainless-steel tanks.
Awards: 2020 vintage
90 points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
89 points / Bronze Medal – Decanter
90 points – Wine Spectator
89 points – Wine Enthusiast
A delightful pale pink rose with expressive floral notes backed by fennel and anise. It offers immense charm and minerality on the finish.
A wine to sip and enjoy in the sunshine with fougasse (or similar bread), olives and some anchovies.
About the Producer
Hecht & Bannier
Maison Hecht & Bannier is a ‘Negociant Eleveur’ dedicated to sourcing and then blending wines from the Mediterrean regions. They started in 2001 with partners Gregory Hecht and François Bannier assembling four cuvées of Southern France appellations.
Convinced that the Roussillon to Provence region has not yet received the international recognition that it deserves for its quality and diverse vineyards, they have expanded their passion for blending and now visit hundreds of producers to select the best juice. Often the grapes come from vineyards in the cooler foothills where it isn’t unusual to see hundred year-old vines.
The goal is to have the H&B label become the bench-mark for wines in a range of appellations, allowing wine-lovers to discover the extraordinary quality and wealth of the region.
Each blend is usually based on 5 to 10 samples from the 15-30 that have been pre-selected; some very good wines are rejected because they do not express H&B’s vision of the appellation. The blend can change between vintages to remain true to each specific geographical origin, while emphasising particularly successful grapes or vineyards in each harvest.
Once the long selection process has come to an end, H&B then begin to create the blends and decide the ‘elevage’ options. The overiding aim is to conserve the typical Mediterranean strength in their wines while preserving balance and vitality for all the appellations produced.
In 2022 they achieved B Corp certification. This international label rewards businesses that aspire to be agents of change and measure their social and environmental impact, accelerating the transition towards a more inclusive, fair, and regenerative economy.
