2009 Sociando Mallet has been uncorked....

[JimHow]

Let's see if this is any good.
So far it is closed up tight.

[Houndsong]

Told ya. Funny, I took the bottom half out of the freezer to have with a monster T-bone.

[JimHow]

We're having it and an '00 d'Armailhac with tenderloins tonight.
So far the '09 Sociando is coming in like the '09 Meyney.

[RDD]

I'll join in with a 1989 Sociando Mallet.
My brain hurts from coding all day.

Well I couldn't find the 1989 so I'll have to serttle for a 1990.
WOW what a nose.
I'll just take it in for a while..................

[JimHow]

Well done, Rob, very well done.

[RDD]

Lead pencil box...........
I could enjoy the aroma all night.
Black currants.

[Houndsong]

In this unfrozen half 09 I get more oak in the nose but less in the palate. Jim, what's your oak meter reading now?

[RDD]

In this unfrozen half 09 I get more oak in the nose but less in the palate. Jim, what's your oak meter reading now?

Funny you should mention that. Because I was just thinking toasty oak on the nose the 1990.
But the fruit doesn't show it.
There are some firm but not harsh tannins and a nice 10 second finish.

Man I still love the 90's.

[JimHow]

I'm not getting an overwhelming amount of oak, Hound.
I'm actually liking this wine.
It has opened up nicely with steak and whoopie pie.
Raspberries, modest but pleasant nose.
Medium bodied. Tannins moderate to me but, well, you know about me and my relationship with tannins.
Very nice!

[RDD]

I'm not getting an overwhelming amount of oak, Hound.
I'm actually liking this wine.
It has opened up nicely with steak and whoopie pie.
Raspberries, modest but pleasant nose.
Medium bodied. Tannins moderate to me but, well, you know about me and my relationship with tannins.
Very nice!

The 1990 has currant/blueberry instead of raspberry.
The nose is really impressive.
And with that I'm going to go watch VT and FSU play football.
GO HOKIES!

[Houndsong]

So, what's the JHEPI of buying more of this?

[JimHow]

I personally liked it, Hound, I give it 91 points.
At $40ish, I'm in for 3-4 more bottles.
Sociando is a style thing for a lot of people, I think.
Cork soaked two-thirds of the way through.
It was slow to open but it did open.
It's a steak and whoopie pie kind of wine.
I liked the ripe, rugged tannins.
What about you? What's your final assessment?

[Houndsong]

Has some 09 vintage characteristics but comes across as atypically tannic or hard as against the two other data points I have. Needs a lot of time. I have five more bottles. One's coming with me to Hawaii but if my time frame is only 3-6 years there it might be coming back with me too. Of course this assessment is only "final" concerning this bottle, 3 years from harvest. I think a truly final assessement will be years or decades in the making.

[Blanquito]

The 1990 Sociando Mallet is a sensation. I wonder if it seemed atypically rugged on release for a 1990? The 2003 S-M didn't, instead it definitely showed/shows the vintage's torrid signature, but in a good, St Estephe-thrives-in-hot-years kinda way.

[RDD]

The 1990 Sociando Mallet is a sensation. I wonder if it seemed atypically rugged on release for a 1990? The 2003 S-M didn't, instead it definitely showed/shows the vintage's torrid signature, but in a good, St Estephe-thrives-in-hot-years kinda way.

I've had the 1990 a number of times upon release. Rugged may be too strong a word. Certainly stern.
But I assocaited that with other St Estephe such as Calon Segur which take a long time to smooth out.
Personaly I think the 1990 SM is showing great and hope I have a few more squireled away.