Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts

I am going to buy a case next week, I'm holding off announcing it out of concern that the price will skyrocket. Can you guess what it is? Answer will be disclosed on Monday.

20 questions eliciting yes/no answers, one question pending at a time, no questions about price.

right Bank Bordeaux

Rausan Segla.

1. No.
2. No.

Pauillac growth property

3. No.

St. Estephe?

4. No.

A Red wine from France?

5. Yes.

Is there one of the following grapes in it?

Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Carménère

6. Yes.

Is it from the Margaux appellation?

7. No.

Is it from Pessac / Graves region?

8. No.

Is it a Medoc wine?

9. Yes.

Is it a wine from the Saint Julien appellation?

What is your definition of the Medoc?

This doesn't count as a question. But just to clarify, you mean that this is the best vintage of this specific bottling that you've tasted before, right?

Yes I was going to clarify that Joel. I have enjoyed several bottles of this particular vintage of this wine. The other night I tried one more bottle to confirm whether I wanted to buy another case and it was the best bottle yet.

JimHow wrote: ↑Tue Aug 15, 2023 7:39 pm What is your definition of the Medoc?

Above the city of Bordeaux. It was generic as to cast the wide net to narrow down the region before going area by area in an attempt to isolate it.

But Haut-Medoc is my next guess.

So red, French, Medoc.

Yet to be clarified whether “Medoc” refers to the entire region encompassing N. and S. Medoc and whether it includes the more specifically named communes or if it means only those properties outside of them. We’ve ruled out Pauillac, St Estephe, and Margaux and are waiting on an answer about St Julien vs. the “lesser” Medoc properties are still in the running.

I’ll take a stab at the vintage: 2016?

Ha so the answer to #9 remains Yes.

#10: Is it the 2016 vintage?

No.

Not questions for Jim, but background discussion for the rest of us…

If we assume for a second it is not St Julien, then it must be Haut Medoc, which probably means La Lagune, Sociando or Cantemerle.

If we assume it is St Julien, what could be Jim’s best ever from there? And presumably we’re thinking of recent vintages.

I don't believe he answered the St Julien question...

Greetings from above the Atlantic.
Oops you are right Timmy:

#10: Is it St Julien?

No.

Blanquito wrote: ↑Tue Aug 15, 2023 9:39 pm Not questions for Jim, but background discussion for the rest of us…

If we assume for a second it is not St Julien, then it must be Haut Medoc, which probably means La Lagune, Sociando or Cantemerle.

If we assume it is St Julien, what could be Jim’s best ever from there? And presumably we’re thinking of recent vintages.

Blanquito, I remember Jim was impressed with 2018 Cantemerle sometime back. But not sure if he had any La lagune recently...

Just noodling, not asking…

Patrick, I concur those are the likely top contenders. I’d lean towards Sociando and a recent vintage, 2018, 19, or 20. Second guess would be Cantemerle ‘cuz the other one is The Wine That Shall Not Be Named (TWTSNBN). Whaddaya think?

Given what we know so far, I agree Sociando makes the most sense... except I don't recall the BD waxing lyrically about this a recent vintage of Sociando, which should be a tell. Plus, is wine like Sociando likely to go up much in price even if we on BWE go a little nuts buying it up? It always seems like there's a lot of it on the market.

Is it from the Haut Medoc?

David, can’t be a 2020 as there is no way Jim has had anything from that vintage multiple times already and with enough time for it to change.

#11.
Yes

Is it a bottle of Sociando Mallet?

#12
Yes

Is it the 2019 Sociando Mallet?

#13.
No.