Dammit, I didn’t buy enough of this. I liked the 2009 but it wasn’t at this level. I remember Eric posting about this site before the '09 (debut vintage) came out and comparing the terroir to Cornas, but to me this wine is more reminiscent of a Cote-Rotie. It’s brimming with personality right from the pop of the cork with a touch of the textbook Northern Rhone bacon element, but perhaps even stronger than that is the minerality which basically feels like someone stirred some pulverized granite in here. It cuts a slender figure and the tannic structure is neither rustic (on one end of the spectrum) nor soft (on the other)–it’s satisfyingly edgy, but it doesn’t have the effect of drying out or even tightening up the wine mainly because the fruit is so bold, almost piercing in its concentration. If it wasn’t so lean and precise it would seem almost sweet, except that it has an acute wild-berry zing and an almost saline savoriness. The bright magenta hue in the rim of glass is sort of like a Beaujolais (though it’s deeper at the core), and that’s pretty much what you’re getting here, vibrancy and richness at the same time (with a whole lot of personality too). I figured this would be a great wine but I didn’t expect it to be so great so soon.
Love the 2010 Brezeme but did not pick up this cuvée. Want!
Is the 2011 at the same level? Consider me a big fan of the 2011 Northern Rhone vintage in general, so perhaps this is a no-brainer.
We opened a bottle last month, it gets better after the first day.
Funny, I also bought the 2010 HN Murgers from PC: I seem to be treading in your footsteps, acquisition-wise.
Robert: is that a f*#%ing Picasso?
Robert, I drank the '10 eight months ago after having first tasted the '11. I came away a little bit disappointed having been wowed by the '11. Drank the '11 last week and my impression was confirmed. (Both bottles pop n pour and drank over a long evening/night. Evolving sloowly.)
I have not tasted them side by side, and they are both very beautiful. To me the '10 is a little bit leaner and unforgiving, the tannins are similar to my recollection, the '10 possibly more searing but that could be the '11s slightly bigger fleshiness speaking. '10 is probably a little more wild and saline. I don’t like these comparisons much, but '10 leans a little Cote-Rotie while '11 Cornas. No drying or closing down on either. From my own description I would have thought I’d prefer the '10… Maybe usual ideals collide in the Texier interpretation? More likely the '11 just has that little extra undefinable yet so attractive I don’t quite see in '10.
I don’t get nor care for Keith’s Beaujolais reference, but hey that’s his problem! ![[wink.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/0/04707e6a7bbb03e0153e349d8a9270d30e1e9525.gif "wink"){kind=small}
The '11 Brezeme VV, which I’ve only tasted never drunk, is also wonderful. The difference in soils speaks very loudly and I prefer the tannins from a granitic soil. Brezeme is broader and richer and a little less enticing. Still very good, just ordered a bottle for comparison, and more St J St A.
Thanks, Geir, really helpful information. And welcome to the Boards, your posts have been great, lots of value-add!
I’m not so sure about Cote Rotie, but a very good Saint Joseph? Absolutely.
Thanks Robert ![[basic-smile.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/8/83717c74df9b0ce202453063bc4f11baf0ee6b8a.gif "smile"){kind=small}
Masas y Frutas
Mariano Rodriguez, 1978
Mixed media (oil, acrylic, ink)
Confession: I’ve never gotten the bacon-connotation in N Rhone. I don’t pick up on it. Olives ok, pepperiness, dark yet fine fruits, lots of floral aromatics, quartz-like minerality…
Maybe a certain raw meatiness at times, but where’s this ubiquitous bacon I ask! Just a curiosity, I’m more concerned with the acid- and tannic structure and it’s balance with the flavors in general, more interested in the interplay of aromatics, structure and flavors than any one particular descriptor. And not very enthusiastic about bacon in general.
No, 2010 > 2011. Opened the 2011 last week and really liked it…it’s very young, but there’s good stuff in there.
If that were true, Todder would be working for me and this Board would be called WineBozos, horns on the helmets turned down. Perhaps one up, one down.
If you like Picasso, you MUST go see this:
The Lauder exhibit - an amazing donation and collection of essential cubist works by Picasso, Leger, Gris and Braque. So fortunate to have art patrons like this.
My avatar is Mariano Rodriguez, a mid-century Cuban modernist:
Tooch, thanks. I’ll grab some 2011s, but if you know where some 2010s are, let me know.
Thanks; let’s blame it on the small reproduction size in the avatar, rather than any deficiency in art education. 
Another nice acquisition, in any event.
Would love to see the Lauder exhibit, I’m very fond of Picasso’s early cubist paintings and drawings. Unfortunately, I rarely make it to NY.
The 2011 showed really, really well when we did our dinner with Eric. I’m surprised that Keith’s 2010 is showing so well so young. The 2011, OTOH, has always shown pretty well, IMO. I think that the St.J-St.A will always be more accessible than the Brézème because of the soil differences. I’ve got a theory about reds on limestone being more temperamental than wines from other soil types. For example, Burgundy, Baudry Croix Boissée, Foucault Poyeux, and the Brézème. It’s more of a “theory” since it is just based on my experience and not on any scientific reasoning, but I’ve clearly experienced it.
Robert, I’ve said this about Baudry and the same holds for Texier. If you like the Pergaud wines, always buy them no matter the vintage. They will always be good and it’s really cool to see how different vintages develop. Eric won’t put something in a Pergaud bottle that he doesn’t think is up to snuff. So, if you like the wine, I’d buy some tout suite. It was the most popular wine that people bought from the dinner and most of the NC supply is gone, but you can check with Cave Taureau (in which I am an investor) as there were a few bottles as of Friday. You should be able to find some somewhere.
Dammit, after reading your note, I didn’t buy enough either. The wine is pretty electric.
This is totally just a shot in the dark, but “bacon” means different things in different parts of the world. Are you thinking of cured American style bacon strips, or some different type of bacon?
I opened a bottle of this last year and it was fantastic. Looking back on my note I had written fresh and lively. Glad I have 2 more remaining.
I bought mine after hearing Eric describe 2010 as the first vintage that really came out the way he wanted it to.
We had this blind across a 2010 N Rhone vertical about a year ago. It had minimal air and showed coiled. Apparently day two was more expressive, but it’s good to hear the wine is opening up.
Cheers
Serine is a somewhat rare clone of Syrah correct? Price point on this? Never seen it in this market.