TN: 2010 Eric Texier Saint-Julien-en-Saint-Alban Vieille Serine

[Salil Benegal]

I loved this on release. I drank a bunch of these in 2012/13, and didn't cellar as many as I should have because it was so irresistibly good then. At least I put some away and checking into one for the first time in some years, I am absolutely blown away.

The bright red fruit and florality I remembered on release are still there, but it's showing so much more complexity now. It's more savoury than I recall with lots of smoky, briny, and lightly meaty flavours framing the fruit, and the finish is all earth and mineral. It's still very young and still showing a bit of grainy tannin on the back end, but it's absolutely thrilling now. What a fantastic wine.

 

[Rahsaan]

Very nice. Just put my hands over a few bottles of the 2010 Brezeme and tried to justify opening one, but I think I'll leave them for a little more time.

And this may also inspire me to hold onto some of the younger SJeSA, although those seem easier to drink younger than the Brezeme so I end up opening them.

 

[MLipton]

Great note, Salil. My holdings bookend this bottling, but I’ll take your experiences into account. BTW, we’re overdue.

Mark Lipton

 

[Jeff Grossman]

Thanks for the note, Salil. I know Eric's wine reward those who wait.

 

[Jay Miller]

Thank you Salil! I think I still have one of those so it is very useful to know.

 

[Oswaldo Costa]

Same here.

 

[Karen Goetz]

I opened one of three bottles in early 2014 and it was full of promise but truly monolithic; a wine stuck in stone. Thanks for your note.... I'll open another bottle soon to see how mine are doing.

 

[Ian Fitzsimmons]

What's this wine's track record for longevity? I think I have several bottles of 2007 still lost in the mayhem of my cellar.

 

[Jeff Grossman]

originally posted by Karen Goetz:
I opened one of three bottles in early 2014 and it was full of promise but truly monolithic; a wine stuck in stone. Thanks for your note.... I'll open another bottle soon to see how mine are doing.

I have noticed that Eric's wines have a definite shutdown period.

 

[Rahsaan]

Well I was inspired and could not resist, so tonight I opened the 2012 Texier SJenSA VS. I cannot say it was all the way developed to the 'complexity' of Salil's 2010, but it was a nice showing.

Still with the freshness on the finish that I remember from years ago, but the nose and the front end are evolving. The florals and the fruits are mellowing and turning suave, which is a welcome development and adds interest. The crunchy finish means it is still a great/better accompaniment to food. But it's going good places and after not drinking these wines for a while, it was nice to remember the pleasures.