2000 Sociando Mallet: Stunning.

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Sat Apr 20, 2019 3:31 am

This wine is flat out brilliant. I've had it a number of times, this may have been the best yet. The greenness has toned down but still defines the wine. At age 19 it is still youthful but it is debatable whether it needs to be blanquitoed. That would be a matter of style preference. It has an earthiness and almost rusticity to it, a penetrating nose of cedar and spice, the purple/ruby color shows basically no sign of aging. Gobs of sediment in the end. This beauty has such a unique personality. Again, I choose this handily over 2003. A Bordeaux classic. Rating: 96 points.

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Sat Apr 20, 2019 4:07 am

Sounds delish.

robert goulet · Post by **robert goulet** » Sat Apr 20, 2019 7:26 am

Brilliant stuff indeed Jim...at our blind christmas tasting it bested G.Larose,pape clement, pchon baron, ausone and many others....sociando is so fantastic and consistent

and yes, I do love '03 but '00 is quite possibly the better wine...cheers

Bordhead2000 · Post by **Bordhead2000** » Sat Apr 20, 2019 10:48 am

Jim
What do you mean by “blanquitoed”?

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Sat Apr 20, 2019 11:55 am

It means it needs another 5 years, BH2K, as Blanquito often likes his wines on the older side.
To double blanquito or triple blanquito a wine means to hold it for 10 or 15 years respectively, etc.
To "how" a wine means to drink it young, as I, JimHow, often like to drink my wines young.

brodway · Post by **brodway** » Sat Apr 20, 2019 12:21 pm

Jim

i still remember the cases upon cases that were purchased of the 1996 Sociando based on your raving review.

Sociando offers super value. Not sure about the 96 points. Have to revisit it. Last bottle i tasted didn't wow me, but its always solid wine. Used to be priced at level where it was an every day drinker

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Sat Apr 20, 2019 1:48 pm

Prices have crept up even at Sociando, but the 2014 (I’ve not had it but our own OrlandoBobby speaks highly of it) has been available on and off in the high $20s.

I’m looking forward to trying a 2016 S-M.

dstgolf · Post by **dstgolf** » Sat Apr 20, 2019 3:04 pm

Jim,

2000 SM is beautiful but you have to like the background green pepper notes which some find off putting and typical of SM being worse in off ripe years. If you don't like pyrazines then this won't get the 90+pt rating for sure.

robert goulet · Post by **robert goulet** » Sat Apr 20, 2019 4:30 pm

dstgolf wrote:Jim,

2000 SM is beautiful but you have to like the background green pepper notes which some find off putting and typical of SM being worse in off ripe years. If you don't like pyrazines then this won't get the 90+pt rating for sure.

I see the 2000 more as a frac'ish green tobacco than pyrazines.

OrlandoRobert · Post by **OrlandoRobert** » Sat Apr 20, 2019 5:36 pm

I am as big on this one as is our fearless leader, though not quite in to the 96 point range. It is a fantastic wine of distinction. I would never recommend it for anyone other than folks that can handle green pepper and ash notes in their wine. It is a Loire Cabernet Franc lovers Bordeaux. I popped one a month or so ago that was almost too green for my clunky palate. But most of the bottles that I have popped, and I think I am now over 18 consumed, have been outstanding.

If you do not buy 2014, you are missing one of the values of the vintage. It is excellent.

Nicklasss · Post by **Nicklasss** » Sat Apr 20, 2019 5:54 pm

I too i'm looking forward the 2016 Sociando Mallet. I appreciate that estate a lot, with it's traditionnal Haut Médoc style. What I find interesting, is that Sociando don't overconcentrate at all their wines, producing normally between 50-80 hl per hectare.

I don't think I ever had the 2000, but looks like i would apprecite too.

Nic

DavidG · Post by **DavidG** » Sat Apr 20, 2019 8:57 pm

Drank through a small stash of these and agree that it’s excellent stuff. The green weedy stuff adds complexity and is not out of bounds for my palate, but I can see where some might not like it.

AKR · Post by **AKR** » Sun Apr 21, 2019 12:17 am

I thought the 2001 had a much prominent bell pepper/celery streak vis a vis the 2000

Bordhead2000 · Post by **Bordhead2000** » Mon Apr 22, 2019 3:38 pm

JimHow wrote:It means it needs another 5 years, BH2K, as Blanquito often likes his wines on the older side.
To double blanquito or triple blanquito a wine means to hold it for 10 or 15 years respectively, etc.
To "how" a wine means to drink it young, as I, JimHow, often like to drink my wines young.

Thank you Jim! I think Mr. Blanquito and I have similar preferences on our wines. I'm looking forward to incorporating this new lingo into my comments here.

AKR · Post by **AKR** » Tue Apr 30, 2019 5:23 am

I'm surprised there were no links to this when Neil Martin released this last month

https://vinous.com/articles/outsider-lo ... march-2019

Excellent discussion of Sociando Mallet.

Makes me want to pull a cork on one this weekend

jckba · Post by **jckba** » Tue Apr 30, 2019 3:24 pm

I had a pour of the 2000 last night and while it was very good initially it was still showing some vanillin on the palate and after a couple hours of air, the greenie meanies took over this bottle. Would be interested in seeing where this one goes ...

Arv - thanks for that informative NM Vinous piece

Ognik · Post by **Ognik** » Tue Apr 30, 2019 7:34 pm

Love to read this thread.
Respect.
Great estate. Great winemaker and great wines.
Far away from beeing mainstream.
You have to have guts to like this stuff.
No wine for pussies.
Sorry. Political incorrectness.

OrlandoRobert · Post by **OrlandoRobert** » Wed May 01, 2019 1:26 am

Ognik wrote:Love to read this thread.
Respect.
Great estate. Great winemaker and great wines.
Far away from beeing mainstream.
You have to have guts to like this stuff.
No wine for pussies.
Sorry. Political incorrectness.

I’d make one correction:

“You have to have guts to make wine like this”.

Kudos to this distinct winery. Wines of distinction over anything, always.

IMHO.

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Wed May 01, 2019 1:41 am

Ognik wrote:
Love to read this thread.
Respect.
Great estate. Great winemaker and great wines.
Far away from beeing mainstream.
You have to have guts to like this stuff.
No wine for pussies.
Sorry. Political incorrectness.

I’d make one correction:

“You have to have guts to make wine like this”.

Kudos to this distinct winery. Wines of distinction over anything, always.

IMHO.

Amen, my brothers.
These are the reasons why we pick wines like Sociando Mallet as our wines of the year.
These are wines that dare to be different, something unique. Something memorable.
It was 19 years ago that we selected the 1996 Sociando Mallet as our first BWE wine of the year.
And, nearly two decades later, we are still talking about this modestly priced Haut Medoc, as much as any other classified growth of Bordeaux.

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Mon Jun 17, 2019 6:18 pm

Like father, like son.

On Saturday night we took the 2000 out for a run in the paddock with its elderly mentor.

The 2000 showed extremely well, with no green meanies. The 1970 is still singing and lasted the whole night without fading.

I need to apply to the BD and Dr Glasser for an exemption from the summer freeze.

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Mon Jun 17, 2019 6:20 pm

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JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Mon Jun 17, 2019 6:42 pm

Exemption granted.

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Mon Jun 17, 2019 6:58 pm

And there’s a standing exemption for all 2002 Left Banks, yes?

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Mon Jun 17, 2019 7:02 pm

Yes, that is part of the 2005 BWE 2002 Accord, which has never been amended or vacated.

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Mon Jun 17, 2019 7:43 pm

The 2000 was really fabulous. Not much primary fruit but plenty of riveting mineral and iodine notes.

I am taking out a case of 1996 from storage shortly a wine I have not gotten along with as well as others have.

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Mon Jun 17, 2019 7:54 pm

Agreed, Comte. That latest bottle of the 2000 was the best yet.

Man, Nic and I had a '96 Pontet Canet in my room the other night that was absolutely sublime.

Nicklasss · Post by **Nicklasss** » Mon Jun 17, 2019 10:45 pm

A very glorious 1996 Pontet Canet.

1996 Left are perfect.

Nic

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Mon Jun 17, 2019 11:41 pm

Ian, Tim and I had a 96 Pontet Canet in April 2018, and it showed quite primary after a night of 82s. Delicious but with miles to go still. I can see this being right in the How Zone sweet spot as is.

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Tue Jun 18, 2019 12:09 am

Just opened a 2000 Sociando... wow, there’s some big green here!

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Tue Jun 18, 2019 12:14 am

Ash, green peppercorns, celery seed, smoked poblano peppers, Swiss chard, capsicum. Wild and distinct, and for me, totally irresistible.

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Tue Jun 18, 2019 12:16 am

Indeed! What personality in a wine!
That 2000 Pichon Lalande we had the other night was similarly marked by the "green streak."
What a treat, to try the 2000 Baron and Lalande side by side, so close geographically and yet, at least in 2000, so different.

brodway · Post by **brodway** » Mon Jun 24, 2019 6:13 pm

Drank a bottle of the 2000 Sociando this weekend.....Very much Sociando characteristics including dark mineral(ly) fruit with black licorice twist... more refined than the more chunky 1996....Possibly the mid weight can give the illusion of greatness and balance, but it lacks depth.....i thought it was a solid 90 point wine.... 96 points really? My kids would call that grade inflation

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Tue Jun 25, 2019 1:12 am

That's because I am a true Bordeaux wine "enthusiast."
This ain't about grading high school class papers.

brodway · Post by **brodway** » Tue Jun 25, 2019 1:56 am

yes sir Howe....noted!!!!

Nicklasss · Post by **Nicklasss** » Tue Jun 25, 2019 2:31 am

Serve a good Bordeaux to JimHow, he'll give your wine a good rating. The same night of the 1996 Pontet Canet, he even liked my half bottle of 2015 Haut-Batailley.

My quick analysis: he is an improved J. Suckling.

Nic

marcs · Post by **marcs** » Tue Jun 25, 2019 5:41 pm

Folks, Jim is a Bordeaux wine ENTHUSIAST! Not a Bordeaux wine critic!

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Tue Jun 25, 2019 7:07 pm

Indeed!

Racer Chris · Post by **Racer Chris** » Tue Jun 25, 2019 8:29 pm

marcs wrote:... Not a Bordeaux wine critic!

Except when it comes to GPL.

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Tue Jun 25, 2019 8:41 pm

JH: the GPLC @ BWE

dstgolf · Post by **dstgolf** » Tue Jun 25, 2019 10:36 pm

Blanquito,

Those green pepper notes in wine are as good as cilantro for me. I think you either love it or hate it and I can't stand either. I can't get to loving SM for that reason and I must say that we've drank enough of and keep searching for the love but...That's what makes wine tasting so fascinating. There are no rights and wrongs. If you love it then great but don't blast someone because they don't enjoy your favourite wine or disagree with your slant on how you feel about certain wines. There really are no wrongs just people who think they are right all of the time!!