Brezeme Three Ways
8/23/2007 -
Eric Texier is one of our favorite producers here at Chambers Street Wines. He makes a wide range of wines from the Southern and Northern Rhône and occasionally might wander over to Macon or Cassis. When Eric started his dream of becoming a winemaker, buying vineyards was too much of a financial burden, so he became a negociant which explains why he makes a variety of different wines. There is a consistent thread of non-interventionist winemaking that runs through Eric's wines as his attention to detail is nothing short of sensational. The wines are always clean and pure with exceptionally vivid fruit and are always representative of their respective terroirs.
Brezeme is unique as it lies between the Southern and Northern Rhône and is exclusively planted to Syrah. What is so interesting about this appellation is that Brezeme is the only Cotes-du-Rhône that is given its own AOC. Villages like Cairanne, St. Gervais or Seguret are part of the Cotes-du-Rhône-Villages AOC and will always have Cotes-du-Rhône-Villages AOC on the label followed the name of the respective village. So as far as Cotes-du-Rhône goes Brezeme is a unique entity. Eric Texier is the perfect person to give this area a voice.
The regular 2005 Brezeme is fantastic, coming from vines that average 15 years of age. The terroir in the coteau is very similar to Hermitage in that it is on a very steep hill and is terraced towards the top. The soil is a clayey-limestone mix towards the bottom of the slope and becomes decomposed limestone the higher up the hill you go. Brezeme is always a robust wine with a wild, animal side to it and has burly tannins and crackling acids. This offers great complexity for its appellation and has great aging potential. Agreat Brezeme.
The 2005 Brezeme "Domaine de Pergault" is from very old vines that the "Grandfather of Brezeme," Monsieur François Pouchoulin, has tended for the last fifty years. This is from a very small 0.6 HA parcel that has decomposed limestone soil. The 2004 was one of my favorite wines since I have started working at Chambers Street Wines. Explosively complex aromas of spice, incense, blueberry and olive lead to a massive palate of incredibly vivid fruit and wonderful ripe tannin. Great old vine sap and intensity. Ripe and rich with a long finish. Sweet tannin. This has the legs to age for many years.
The 2006 Brezeme Roussanne "Domaine de Pergault" is the maiden voyage for what hopes to be a benchmark Brezeme blanc bottling. Only 50 cases were produced of this lovely old-vine Roussanne from vines owned by M. Pouchoulin.
2005 Eric Texier Cotes-du-Rhône "Brezeme" - $17.99
2005 Eric Texier Brezeme "Domaine de Pergault" - $29.99
2006 Eric Texier Brezeme Blanc "Domaine de Pergault" - $29.99
There will be a 10% case discount and the the Pergault wines will be here at the beginning of next week. The Brezeme Cotes-du-Rhône is here already.
