Three Underage Texiers

[Oswaldo Costa]

In honor of the fallen Côte Rotie, over the last three evenings we drank three Texier lolitas. All freshly arrived from the old country (here that means Portugal), so possibly a wee bit travel shocked; all were given two to three hour decants, in tender observance of youth, and gently experienced with food & company, the vinous equivalent to intercourse in a monogamous, overage and loving marriage.

2010 Eric Texier Côtes du Rhône "Brézème" 12.0%
100% Syrah from 20Y vines. Very aromatic: herbs and pot-pourri airing more than fruit. Good acidity, fruity and fresh, lightish body. Not carbonic, but almost as glou-gloutinous. Gave zippy pleasure, yet would have liked a tad more weight.

2010 Eric Texier Côtes du Rhône Villages Séguret V.V. 13.0%
99% Grenache, 1% Clairette and Carignan, from 60 to 90Y vines from near the town of Séguret, at the feet of the Dentelles de Montmirail. Olive-oleaginous and mildly bituminous, with bright cherry and black pepper. Beautifully balanced and fully satisfying in the body department; some heat still dancing around the edges, an adolescent brashness that should resolve soon.

2009 Eric Texier St. Julien en St. Alban Vieille Serine 13.5%
100% Syrah, from never fumigated massale vines across the Rhône from Brézème, including a bit of old Serine. Beautiful dark plum aromas, serene, majestic, still a little unyielding and monolithic. Loved the mouthfeel, the ideal balance, the mix of savory and peppery, the sense of perfect ripeness (Eric thinks he picked this a day or two too late, but if this one could ever tell, this one can no longer). Should age beautifully too; one to collar, corral and cellar.

ps: I hope the above is in conformance with the creepily conformist vibe around here

 

[SFJoe]

O, you just like the StJ because it's 200m higher than the Brézème.

If you want to get ahead of the curve, the latest raves from the Fatreich mostly involve winds. (Cf. Brézème above)

I like the lightness of the Brézème, but don't find bottles in NYC to be glou-glou, I find them in need of some time.

 

[VLM]

originally posted by SFJoe:
I like the lightness of the Brézème, but don't find bottles in NYC to be glou-glou, I find them in need of some time.

Agreed.

OTOH, I've been swilling bottles of the Côtes-du-Rhône Villages like it's water. Beautiful stuff.

 

[Sharon Bowman]

Completely agree.

 

[Peter Creasey]

originally posted by Oswaldo Costa: Three Underage TexiersIn honor of the fallen Côte Rotie

Oswaldo, If this isn't a private gibe of some kind, perhaps you can comment on the range/nature of decline that it is intended to suggest.

. . . . . Pete

 

[Bill Lundstrom]

For Pete's sake, Pete!! Even I get this.

 

[Unknown]

originally posted by VLM:

originally posted by SFJoe:
I like the lightness of the Brézème, but don't find bottles in NYC to be glou-glou, I find them in need of some time.

Agreed.

OTOH, I've been swilling bottles of the Côtes-du-Rhône Villages like it's water. Beautiful stuff.

You guys don't bury Brezeme unconditionally, do you? I have found that hold-but-monitor approach works best, with outcomes being vintage dependent. '06 PVV seems perfect now, while the '04 is beautiful for my taste but I have recently made the mistake of serving to a crowd that would have definitely preferred it 2-3 years ago. Unless it was in magnum.

 

[Everett Bandman]

Pete, most likely the comment refers to a thread on WB started by someone who thinks Eric's wines are over rated because he doesn't care for them. OTH, I've been going to the Marche aux Vins in Ampuis the last 10 and you don't need to be a wine geek to taste the dramatic change in style coming from virtually every producer there (of course there are a few exceptions). IMO, Eric is trying to make Cote Rotie these days like some of the brilliant wines of Gentaz. We visited last year and had the 08 that is so dramatically different than anything out of the local vignerons in CR in 08. For me its syrah made in a burgundian style that reflects the unique conditions of each vintage and terroir. Hope that helps answer your questions...Everett

 

[Everett Bandman]

Sasha, had the 2000 VV recently and that bottle can still use more time in the cellar though its tasting better, and less acidic, than it ever has (I've had 2 bot so I think its a valid statement). The 03 is definitely one drinking well now IMO. I'm feeling from my tastings of Erics's style with old vine Brezeme fruit that the wines go through roller coaster like stages in drinkability, so you try holding back a few that you think are at peak now.

 

[Peter Creasey]

originally posted by Everett Bandman: Pete, most likely the comment refers to a thread on WB ... Hope that helps answer your questions.

Everett, I thought there was probably a refer-back of some kind. I don't follow Wine Berzerkers so I missed that.

Thanks!

. . . . . Pete

 

[Bill Lundstrom]

originally posted by Peter Creasey:

originally posted by Everett Bandman: Pete, most likely the comment refers to a thread on WB ... Hope that helps answer your questions.

Everett, I thought there was probably a refer-back of some kind. I don't follow Wine Berzerkers so I missed that.

Thanks!

. . . . . Pete

except that there is current thread addressing it all here.

 

[Peter Creasey]

originally posted by Bill Lundstrom: there is current thread addressing it all here.

Bill, Thanks! Sorry I missed it!

. . . . . . Pete

 

[Jay Miller]

If the Cote Rotie would stay in stock anywhere for more than 10 seconds I'd still be buying it.

 

[Ian Fitzsimmons]

[...]

You guys don't bury Brezeme [...]

We come not to bury Eric, but to praise him.

 

[VLM]

originally posted by .sasha:

originally posted by VLM:

originally posted by SFJoe:
I like the lightness of the Brézème, but don't find bottles in NYC to be glou-glou, I find them in need of some time.

Agreed.

OTOH, I've been swilling bottles of the Côtes-du-Rhône Villages like it's water. Beautiful stuff.

You guys don't bury Brezeme unconditionally, do you? I have found that hold-but-monitor approach works best, with outcomes being vintage dependent. '06 PVV seems perfect now, while the '04 is beautiful for my taste but I have recently made the mistake of serving to a crowd that would have definitely preferred it 2-3 years ago. Unless it was in magnum.

Actually, I only bury the PVV, and then I monitor. Agree on the 2006, with some air it is "dope", as the old people say.

 

[Marc D]

originally posted by .sasha:

originally posted by VLM:

originally posted by SFJoe:
I like the lightness of the Brézème, but don't find bottles in NYC to be glou-glou, I find them in need of some time.

Agreed.

OTOH, I've been swilling bottles of the Côtes-du-Rhône Villages like it's water. Beautiful stuff.

You guys don't bury Brezeme unconditionally, do you? I have found that hold-but-monitor approach works best, with outcomes being vintage dependent. '06 PVV seems perfect now, while the '04 is beautiful for my taste but I have recently made the mistake of serving to a crowd that would have definitely preferred it 2-3 years ago. Unless it was in magnum.

Is PVV = Vieilles Vignes Domaine de Pergaud?

I tried an 06 in July that seemed pretty tight.
Might have to open another one soon.

 

[Marc D]

The 2006 Brezeme Pergaud was achingly beautiful last night.
Very expressive, detailed, delicious, and kept getting better until the bottle was finished.

I haven't had so much pleasure from a Rhone syrah since a bottle of 99 Verset Cornas. I'm not comparing them except to say how much joy both brought.

It almost makes me want to send a bottle of this to Mr Dave Z.

 

[VLM]

originally posted by Marc D:
The 2006 Brezeme Pergaud was achingly beautiful last night.
Very expressive, detailed, delicious, and kept getting better until the bottle was finished.

I haven't had so much pleasure from a Rhone syrah since a bottle of 99 Verset Cornas. I'm not comparing them except to say how much joy both brought.

It almost makes me want to send a bottle of this to Mr Dave Z.

Isn't it just amazing? I'm hard pressed to come up with a more beautiful nose on a syrah. The only thing that immediately comes to mind was that recent Cote-Rotie, but I think I slightly prefer the Pergaud if I had to choose.

 

[Salil Benegal]

originally posted by Marc D:

It almost makes me want to send a bottle of this to Mr Dave Z.

Eh. No need. Better to leave those wines where they're appreciated. Though if you feel like parting with one, I could always give you my address...

Any thoughts on the 2007, gents? Have only a couple of bottles remaining in the cellar, but am really tempted to check into one. (If nothing else, it may keep me from drinking too much of the 2010 SJSA young.)

 

[MLipton]

originally posted by Salil Benegal:

Any thoughts on the 2007, gents? Have only a couple of bottles remaining in the cellar, but am really tempted to check into one. (If nothing else, it may keep me from drinking too much of the 2010 SJSA young.)

My thought is to avoid touching mine for another decade (as with the SJSA) while reading your notes about how great they are [insert emoticon of choice here].

Mark Lipton