WTN: 2005 Texier Chusclan

[David M. Bueker]

2005 Éric Texier Côtes du Rhône Villages Chusclan
This is a much more restrained style of Southern Rhone wine, with dark fruit flavors that are bright rather than brooding, a cleansing acidity instead of a finishing heaviness, and a very food-friendly style. While I really enjoy many of the hyped Southern Rhone wines, I find this style very easy to drink and a wine that raises the level of the overall eating/drinking experience.

Texier gets good reports here, I'll have to try one soon, but there are a few, so not sure where to start...

Last time I was in NY, I picked up a Dard & Ribo St. Joseph!

Full disclosure : we import Texier. Yup, that Chusclan was wonderful. But for some reason my boss decided to concentrate on the St. Gervais (also wonderful IMO) so I have only once tasted the Chusclan. I was quite sad about his decision because I would have liked both since I remember them showing very different personalities.

[David M. Bueker]

With Texier, I will take whatever I can get. The wines is very fine & the pricing is good.

Last time I was in NY, I picked up a Dard & Ribo St. Joseph!

Very different from Texier I believe.

All these reports on Texier are quite tantalising. This is a very Rhône friendly country but his website lists no Belgian importer.

This is a very Rhône friendly country but his website lists no Belgian importer.

His wines are not 'typical' Rhone. At least the recent Southern ones and at least what many people think of Rhone these days.

And he has great word-of-mouth buzz in the States. I think better than in France in fact.

Tom Hill summed it up well in a recent post where he said that Texier marches to the beat of a different drummer and (paraphrasing) its sometime hard to tell where some of these wines are going.

Some good/great bottles but too many dissapointments IMHO to be called "great".

I don't read Parker anymore (haven't subsribed in 6-8 years) but I wonder if Parker has given him an "artificial" bump in the US that doesn't exist across the pond.

I don't read Parker anymore (haven't subsribed in 6-8 years) but I wonder if Parker has given him an "artificial" bump in the US that doesn't exist across the pond.

Did Parker like his wines?

I know he definitely gets lots of bumps from this and a few other wine forums, but beyond that I'm not even sure about his reputation in the broader US wine market.

Did Parker like his wines?

I have no idea; I don't read Parker.

Did Parker like his wines?

I have no idea; I don't read Parker.

Parker seldomly reviews his wines. They are not among his favorites. I love his Cote Roties, Hermitages, The 05 & 06 Brezemes are great. 2000 Brezeme Rousannne is excellent. His style of Rhone winemaking is often described as Burgundy like. Surely not in your face Parker like.

I'm a Texier fan. Having a '99 Brezeme now. Calmer than a few years ago.

Tom Hill summed it up well in a recent post where he said that Texier marches to the beat of a different drummer and (paraphrasing) its sometime hard to tell where some of these wines are going.

Some good/great bottles but too many dissapointments IMHO to be called "great".

I don't read Parker anymore (haven't subsribed in 6-8 years) but I wonder if Parker has given him an "artificial" bump in the US that doesn't exist across the pond.

Spectator gave him an 89.