Last night I popped a 1999 Texier Cotes du Rhone Brezeme when a friend came over for a bottle trade. Cork was sawdust, but was able to get with an Ah-So. High acids, but not the teeth enamel remover I remember from a few years ago. Red fruits, all cranberry and raspberry, this is interesting but doesn't strike me as very Syrah-ish. Don't like as much as some more recent bottles (but this definitely isn't tired) B-
I made chicken thighs in a soy/lemon sauce, with rice and a mizuma salad. The Texier didn't seem quite right, so I opened the 2003 Querciola "Sori" Barolo. Ripe, tannic, needs a bit of time to unwind. On low acid side as you might expect from vintage. Modern, on simpler side of Barolo, but ok. B/B-
Plenty of both left we'll see how they fared overnight
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.