Domaine Hegarty-Chamans No 2

點(diǎn)擊次數(shù)：3398

Hegarty-Chaman’s 2004 Minervois Cuvee No. 2 is majority Grenache, with Syrah and Carignan. Fennel, sage, and marjoram are the prominent aromas, but sweetness of black raspberry emerges clearly on the palate, along with slightly gritty tannins which, as Berger acknowledges, are a function of this vintage’s dryness and extremely low yields. An unusually tart berry character, bitter herbal licorice and wormwood notes, and hints of chalk and pepper make for a striking finish. True, a part of this wine wants to display its richness and is a bit awkwardly imposed-upon by tannin and acidity. Nevertheless, I find the resulting dynamic fascinating, and the flavors here are more complex than in the more harmonious 2005. I would not be at all afraid to follow this excellent value for another couple of years. Note that the 2003 vintage of this cuvee – tasting delicious now – and the No. 1, both reviewed in issue 173, were in fact also granted Minervois appellation, but I had not attended to the finished labels at the time I tasted them, and so omitted the appellation. Londoners John Hegarty and Philippa Crane are putting into action the old adage about starting with a small fortune – theirs having been made in advertising – but they are clearly dedicated heart and soul to their 50 acres sheltered in the foothills of the Montagne Noire, a property acquired and radically renovated in 2002. They are also committed to rendering wines that express their aesthetic, environmental and (biodynamic) viticultural ideals and a spirit of adventure, all symbolized for them by the black sheep on their label. Burgundy-trained Samuel Berger, their articulate cellar master since 2003, is similarly focused and experimental-minded. The vintages tasted have largely not yet been released to the U.S. market, hence the relative absence of suggested retails.Imported by Robert Kacher Selections, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 832-9083