H&B Un Verre de Mentino
Un Verre de Mentino is “A Glass of Mentino” – alluding to the Italian grape Vermentino which now has to be referenced by its French name Rolle.
It is one of the few wine grape varieties that can be eaten as a table grape. The large berries are juicy, very aromatic, and reveal notes of hawthorn and cider apples.
A blend of 100% Rolle, sourced from four vineyards located in Languedoc and Roussillon (the regions of Aigues-Mortes, Saint Chinian, Saint Bauzille de la Sylve and Espira de l’Agly). Rolle flourishes on sandy soils such as in Aigues-Mortes where it preserves its vivacity. On more chalky soils, the juices have more roundness and fatness.
Vinified in stainless steel tanks, H&B’s complex blend preserves the two facets of this grape variety: an aromatic wine with good length and beautiful crispness.
An explosive nose of white fruits, pear and quince but also floral notes of elderberry and citrus.
Not simply reserved for aperitif; it has a fairly structured body that allows it to accompany terrines, grilled fish and vegetables, asparagus and artichokes.
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.
