Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts

Rained all day, but the evening has turned beautiful.
The garden is in full bloom, two types of cucumbers, two types of tomato plants, two types of radishes, plus garden beans, peas, and carrots.
I tried to plant everything to coincide with the arrival of some BWEers in late July but we shall see.

It has been a while since I've had a 2002, my favorite Bordeaux vintage between 1961 and 2010.
This Sociando Mallet is so lovely. Fresh, a pleasant touch of green, oh so classic. 12 point five percent, baby! Man I love this vintage!

Yes, that says 12.5% at the bottom.

Does anybody remember laughter!

We got these for like $25 at PJs back in the day. Did you pick up any of these Blanquito?

Anybody had the 2002 Duhart lately? I know Jim drank all six of his at one tailgate party at the Razor in 2006.

Lol. Indeed Hound. I have one 6L left, I was just looking at it tonight and wondering….

I know you guys think I'm insane but I swear the 2002 vintage is amazing!!

Any word yet on how the Lynching of Tom Brady went today?

So the BIG QUESTION:

How is this drinking at age 13?

I say: It is drinking mighty fine, thank you. It is fresh, vital, and still youthful. But why wait? It is offering up a great deal, why wait, I say. The color is great, no fading. I suspect I'll be struggling mightily to hold off drinking the other 11 bottles from the case over the next five years.

Rating: 93 points. Love this wine, it is a beauty.

JimHow wrote:We got these for like $25 at PJs back in the day. Did you pick up any of these Blanquito?

I do indeed, I have 4-5 purchased on release. Your bottle sounds wonderful.

I have a pretty good vertical of Sociando going, maybe 10-12 vintages... Let's see, I have in the cellar the: 82, 86, 89, 90, 95, 96 (of course), 98, 00, 01, 02, 03, 05, and 09.

I might open a half bottle of the 2001 Sociando tonight.

We did a 30 or something year vertical of this some years ago. Many vintages last a long time, but there are some that are better drunk today. I'd put 95 in that camp. I can't remember but 89 might have been too.

Had a 95 by itself maybe last year and its not as nice as 96, and seemed to be trending downwards.

The 82 and the 90 Sociando are sensational still, but I agree that most vintages don't last as long.

I remember that tasting in NYC that Arvind referred to. I think it was circa 2006. Patrick was there too.

We had a good spread of vintages from 1982 iirc to 2003. Both the 2000 and 2003 showed well, but the 1996 was off form.

The consensus was that it was a contest between the 1982, which was served en mag, and the 1990 iirc.

However the wines which wowed me most were the 1986, which was an out-and-out hooligan, and the 1989, which I thought had a bit of extra finesse to get my nod for wine of the night.

I fantasize about acquiring and drinking some 1970 and 1975 S-M, which I would imagine would be brutal and rustic wines for sado-masochists.

I agree, the 1990, for the price, is an amazing wine.

Nic

Descriptions of the 2014 are reminiscent of the 2002 only more so. It's $24 and you like 'em young so seems like a no-brainer.

Btw I tried the 2005, 09 and 10 six weeks ago and they are amazing. Especially the 2005, probably the best ever Sociando. I'm glad I bought a case.

Comte Flaneur wrote:I remember that tasting in NYC that Arvind referred to. I think it was circa 2006. Patrick was there too.

We had a good spread of vintages from 1982 iirc to 2003. Both the 2000 and 2003 showed well, but the 1996 was off form.

The consensus was that it was a contest between the 1982, which was served en mag, and the 1990 iirc.

However the wines which wowed me most were the 1986, which was an out-and-out hooligan, and the 1989, which I thought had a bit of extra finesse to get my nod for wine of the night.

I fantasize about acquiring and drinking some 1970 and 1975 S-M, which I would imagine would be brutal and rustic wines for sado-masochists.

Those 70's era S-M are much more costly to acquire. So little was brought into the US then.

And people looking for them are somewhat cost insensitive since its often to complete a vertical or conduct a tasting.

Never seen any pre 70 stuff stateside.

Comte Flaneur wrote:Btw I tried the 2005, 09 and 10 six weeks ago and they are amazing. Especially the 2005, probably the best ever Sociando. I'm glad I bought a case.

This makes me happy. I love Sociando on a number of levels, but I tend to prefer it in bigger-riper vintages based on tastings from 1982-2003. Sounds like this has remained true to form, and I have almost a case of the 05 as well (and I keep seeing the 05 in the consignment market for like $35).

May have to try some 89/90 stashed in the back.

AKR wrote:

Comte Flaneur wrote:I remember that tasting in NYC that Arvind referred to. I think it was circa 2006. Patrick was there too.

We had a good spread of vintages from 1982 iirc to 2003. Both the 2000 and 2003 showed well, but the 1996 was off form.

The consensus was that it was a contest between the 1982, which was served en mag, and the 1990 iirc.

However the wines which wowed me most were the 1986, which was an out-and-out hooligan, and the 1989, which I thought had a bit of extra finesse to get my nod for wine of the night.

I fantasize about acquiring and drinking some 1970 and 1975 S-M, which I would imagine would be brutal and rustic wines for sado-masochists.

Those 70's era S-M are much more costly to acquire. So little was brought into the US then.

And people looking for them are somewhat cost insensitive since its often to complete a vertical or conduct a tasting.

Never seen any pre 70 stuff stateside.

I think 1970 was the first vintage Arv, because the estate was only born in 1969

Comte Flaneur wrote:

AKR wrote:

Comte Flaneur wrote:I remember that tasting in NYC that Arvind referred to. I think it was circa 2006. Patrick was there too.

We had a good spread of vintages from 1982 iirc to 2003. Both the 2000 and 2003 showed well, but the 1996 was off form.

The consensus was that it was a contest between the 1982, which was served en mag, and the 1990 iirc.

However the wines which wowed me most were the 1986, which was an out-and-out hooligan, and the 1989, which I thought had a bit of extra finesse to get my nod for wine of the night.

I fantasize about acquiring and drinking some 1970 and 1975 S-M, which I would imagine would be brutal and rustic wines for sado-masochists.

Those 70's era S-M are much more costly to acquire. So little was brought into the US then.

And people looking for them are somewhat cost insensitive since its often to complete a vertical or conduct a tasting.

Never seen any pre 70 stuff stateside.

I think 1970 was the first vintage Arv, because the estate was only born in 1969

I recall something in Parker's Bordeaux book, that Sociando-Mallet existed in 1855 and it didn't get classified only because the owner didn't bother sending anything down to the city as it was a pretty long trip via horse and buggy back then. Not sure if this is true or if I have the details correct. Alex?

Wikipedia says "Sociando-Mallet was a forgotten and derelict property of vastly reduced land by the time it was bought by Jean Gautreau, a négociant from Lesparre, in 1969."

Apologies all yes you are right Patrick

Comte Flaneur wrote:Apologies all yes you are right Patrick

In any case has anyone seen a pre 1970 S-M anywhere - US or Europe?

I seem to remember Matt R and I looking around and being confounded by the absence.

AKR wrote:

Comte Flaneur wrote:Apologies all yes you are right Patrick

In any case has anyone seen a pre 1970 S-M anywhere - US or Europe?

I seem to remember Matt R and I looking around and being confounded by the absence.

No I haven't; but I saw Elvis in Harrods last week

Hmmm.

It may not be as long lived as Sociando Mallet, but I find Charmail has many traits that make it like S-M for the next generation.

Wine Searcher shows both the 75 and 78 S-M available for sale in the USA, though for silly high prices.

Yup. People need them for verticals or tastings, and will pay whatever it takes.

Smart retailing. Charge what the traffic will bear.

Its not like they are making any more of the stuff (from that year!)

AKR wrote:Yup. People need them for verticals or tastings, and will pay whatever it takes.

Smart retailing. Charge what the traffic will bear.

Its not like they are making any more of the stuff (from that year!)

If the price goes high enough someone will.