Doug Powers

9.1

Youthful yellow color, some intriguing honey notes laid over some lemon, white flowers and saline aromas and flavors as well, solid acid, not overly ripe or viscous, long, lingering finish, this should continue to develop in the cellar. — 4 days ago

with Jim

Doug Powers

9.3

This 2001 is much more backward than the 2000, more smoke as well as black fruits, some savoury and black olive flavors, still shows some firm, albeit not bitter, tannins, nicely balanced acidity, I actually believe this will improve further for another 3-5 years, long, lingering finish, kudos to Eric!! — 7 days ago

with Jim

Doug Powers

9.1

So, initially I thought this was nowhere near the 1990 Marcoux CdP, and this is Côtes du Rhône (WHAT????), but for a 38 year old CdR, it’s pretty fine, zero tannins, definitely lower alcohol (label says 12.5% ABV, but I’m not buying it?!?!), but no noticeable ABV and smooth and suave, honestly, I attribute the great showing to the 1988 vintage!!? — 9 days ago

with Jim

Doug Powers

8.8

This bottle seems a little less fresh than the prior one I opened, I guess at 25 years old it’s not super surprising, still good, but not more. — 5 days ago

with Jim

Doug Powers

8.8

Honeyed, white flowers, very pretty but the fatness of the vintage is now really showing, still quite fine, though I think it’s mature or close to it, last bottle I have. — 6 days ago

with Jim

Doug Powers

9.1

[@Delectable Wine, this bottling has “Vielles Vignes” on the top of the front label, whereas the 2001 I also opened has no such designation.]
This lovely Syrah from Brezeme was made from virtually abandoned super old vineyards, with Eric Texier essentially first saving the old grapevines and then making great under-the radar French Syrah from these super old vines (it always helps that Eric is as nice a guy as you’ll ever meet)!! These wines are unfiltered, with simply incredible acidity, low ABV (12.5 to 13%), classic black olive, savoury, faint smoky aromas as well, still very fresh and crisp, lingering finish, this bottle seems mature, but holding well. I actually purchased 11 bottles of this 2000 on WineBid around 2003/2004, Eric had quickly attained a ton of notoriety and respect on various online wine sites, including West Coast Wine, and a fair amount of people on that site (not me, but a close friend was active) purchased these early Brezemes, opened a bottle, and were (their words, not mine) overwhelmed by the very high acidity, so these wines were being dumped on WineBid for less than $10/bottle — I was happy to oblige (same story for the 2001 which I’ll post on next!! — 7 days ago

with Jim

Doug Powers

9.3

This aged CdP still has very fine color, just the faintest hint of bricking, shows just a trace of surmaturite (which has been evident in most 1990 CdPs I cellared), lovely medium-ripe redfruits, while it’s mature and ready, with a little heat (14% ABV) in the solid, lingering finish (BTW, this is the “regular”, not Vielles Vignes, bottling), this is a really impressive aged CdP!! — 9 days ago

with Jim

Doug Powers

8.8

Red cherry, earthy, lovely acidity, not one to age, but very nice tonight! — 5 days ago

with Jim

Doug Powers

8.9

This 12-year-old Domaine Jean Dauvissat “Heritage” Chablis — popped and poured — is still drinking quite well, maybe not quite at the level of the 2014 Premier Cru bottles, but with the solid acidity, still very nice!! I just found 4 bottles in my cellar, and had no idea they were still there!!
@Lyle Fass, if you see this, other than reassuring me of my abject stupidity for burying these in a box with 1985 Raveneau Grand Crus (these were on the bottom, WTH!?!?), I’d love to hear any thoughts you might have on this wine!! — 6 days ago

with Jim

Doug Powers

9.2

My notes on this from last month hold, really just a classic, terrific Alsatian Gewurztraminer!! — 8 days ago

with Jim