2000 vs. 2003 Sociando Mallet

[JimHow]

I have had both wines now in the past month.
They are both outstanding wines.
The 2000 has an amazing almost over the top green to it that is actually really appealing, if you like that style of wine. Which I do.
It has great complexity on both the palate and nose, still youthful but providing great satisfaction now and I'm guessing for quite a few more years to come, I'm guessing it has another 20 years in it.
The 2003 is likewise a stunning effort. The thing about this wine, though, is that I'm not sure I would ever identify it as a 2003 in a blind setting. It hasn't seemed like other 2003 Medocs I have had, like Pontet Canet, Leoville Barton, and others. This 2003 has a nice crispness and definition to it. Nothing flabby here. I didn't get anything approaching the bell pepper that is so gloriously present in the 2000.

I love both wines.
Maybe it's kind of like the 1959 Latour/Lafite up against the 1961 Latour/Lafite. The 1961s may be the more "complete" wines, but I found the 1959s the more "interesting" wines.
Likewise, I think the 2003 Sociando Mallet has all the stuffing of a great wine, I think I just find that wild 2000 more interesting.
Ratings:
2000 Sociando Mallet: 94+ points.
2003 Sociando Mallet: 93 points.

[AKR]

I've had them both recently too, but (much) prefer the 2003.

I agree that the 03 is atypical.

[robert goulet]

2003 trumps '05 for me....never tasted the '00

[marcs]

I once called the 2000 SM a "green pepper chocolate sundae" because of the striking combination of OTT green pepper with a full, rich midpalate. I actually really liked it, it was a vegetal sweetness if that makes any sense and although it doesn't sound good it definitely worked for me.

Been less impressed by the 03 but I should try again.

I think 05 is going to be fantastic but it is very far from giving all it has .

[Comte Flaneur]

I think the 2005 SM leaves all other vintages, prior, in the dust. In my opinion it is a no brainier. The 2008 and 2012 are very good too. Sociando Mallet is rather cheap right now, relative to its intrinsic quality.

[Blanquito]

I've acquired 7 bottles of the 2005 over the last few years, mostly due to Ian's endorsement (it was one of the few 2005s I didn't buy as futures or on release). I haven't even remotely considered opening one yet though.

I had an 82 S-M at Christmas that truly blew me away. One of those near-religious experience bottles. It was true to the house style but with an awesome depth and the nuance and texture of a fully mature claret. No other vintage has come close to that bottle, not even the 1990 which is my second favorite.

What about the 2009? Will that be the next 82? Or the 2010? Those are floating around in the high $30s still at auction (though you have to buy a whole case, which I almost never do)...

[Racer Chris]

I paid $45ea. for the two 2010s I bought last year.
The 2011s were only $33.
I'll get around to opening one of them in a few years, '11s first.

[JimHow]

I don't know if I've ever tasted a wine like that crazy, glorious 2000 Sociando-Mallet.

It's like what marcs was kind of saying: It is green yet ripe at the same time.

Crazy shit, man. Love it!