Boundary pushing importer Morgenrot has launched what is thought to be the first draught Cote d’Aix-en-Provence Rosé in the UK after rolling out it’s Hecht & Bannier summer solution in All Bar One sites.
Produced by Hecht & Bannier and scoring 90 points in both the prestigious Wine Enthusiast and Robert Parker tastings, this happy organic marriage of Grenache and Cinsault that epitomises a summer in the south of France, rolled out on draught for the first time in June.
Grapes for H&B’s rosé are selected from the cooler parts of the upper Provence vineyards. The higher altitudes also allow a full maturity without excessive sugar, therefore lower in alcohol content.
These grapes are complimented with others from the limestone foothills that add some mineralogy and Cinsault, from vineyards close to the Mediterranean Sea, that bring a subtle, salty and anise expression.
Vines 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.
Graham Archibald said:
“This wine is known and loved around the world so we’re immensely proud to be the first to launch this innovative new format. With summer revving up, we think it will be a huge hit and bring a little piece of Provence to UK consumers.”
Key wine info
- Grape Varieties: Cinsault, Grenache, Rolle, Syrah
- Alcohol/VOL: 12.0%
- Vintage: 2016
- Other: 20 litre key keg, Vegan, Vegetarian
- Food match: Incredibly versatile but great with tuna, anchovies, crab and salmon
About Hecht & Bannier
Maison Hecht & Bannier is a ‘Negociant Eleveur’ dedicated to sourcing and then blending wines from the Mediterranean 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 overriding aim is to conserve the typical Mediterranean strength in their wines while preserving balance and vitality for all the appellations produced.
For more information or to stock, contact Morgenrot on (0845) 070 4310, email enquiries@morgenrot.co.uk, visit www.morgenrot.co.uk or follow on Twitter @Morgenrot_Group
Established in 1970, Manchester-based Morgenrot supply a sublime selection of wines, beers, ciders and spirits nationally including Krombacher, Quilmes, Windhoek, Tucumen, Tribaut, Loxarel, Supper Club and Vallemajor to name a few. With a core specialism in Spain, Morgenrot now has the finest range of Catalan, Basque and Spanish craft beers alongside the country’s on-trend wines, sherries, sidra, vermouth, gin and water.