I have a wine that I am going to declare the best vintage of, I'm holding off buying it until I get back from vacation..

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Tue Aug 15, 2023 2:24 pm

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.

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Tue Aug 15, 2023 3:25 pm

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

Musigny 151 · Post by **Musigny 151** » Tue Aug 15, 2023 3:43 pm

right Bank Bordeaux

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Tue Aug 15, 2023 3:52 pm

Rausan Segla.

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Tue Aug 15, 2023 4:01 pm

1. No.
2. No.

Chateau Vin · Post by **Chateau Vin** » Tue Aug 15, 2023 4:10 pm

Pauillac growth property

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Tue Aug 15, 2023 4:14 pm

3. No.

PghMike · Post by **PghMike** » Tue Aug 15, 2023 4:18 pm

St. Estephe?

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Tue Aug 15, 2023 4:20 pm

4. No.

RPCV · Post by **RPCV** » Tue Aug 15, 2023 4:45 pm

A Red wine from France?

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Tue Aug 15, 2023 4:48 pm

5. Yes.

RPCV · Post by **RPCV** » Tue Aug 15, 2023 4:53 pm

Is there one of the following grapes in it?

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

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Tue Aug 15, 2023 4:54 pm

6. Yes.

jckba · Post by **jckba** » Tue Aug 15, 2023 6:18 pm

Is it from the Margaux appellation?

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Tue Aug 15, 2023 6:19 pm

7. No.

jckba · Post by **jckba** » Tue Aug 15, 2023 6:21 pm

Is it from Pessac / Graves region?

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Tue Aug 15, 2023 6:22 pm

8. No.

jckba · Post by **jckba** » Tue Aug 15, 2023 6:23 pm

Is it a Medoc wine?

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Tue Aug 15, 2023 6:23 pm

9. Yes.

jckba · Post by **jckba** » Tue Aug 15, 2023 6:25 pm

Is it a wine from the Saint Julien appellation?

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Tue Aug 15, 2023 7:39 pm

What is your definition of the Medoc?

JoelD · Post by **JoelD** » Tue Aug 15, 2023 8:05 pm

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?

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Tue Aug 15, 2023 8:13 pm

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.

jckba · Post by **jckba** » Tue Aug 15, 2023 8:46 pm

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.

DavidG · Post by **DavidG** » Tue Aug 15, 2023 9:03 pm

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?

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Tue Aug 15, 2023 9:14 pm

Ha so the answer to #9 remains Yes.

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Tue Aug 15, 2023 9:14 pm

#10: Is it the 2016 vintage?

No.

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » 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.

tim · Post by **tim** » Tue Aug 15, 2023 10:17 pm

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

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Tue Aug 15, 2023 10:19 pm

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

#10: Is it St Julien?

No.

Chateau Vin · Post by **Chateau Vin** » Tue Aug 15, 2023 10:22 pm

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...

DavidG · Post by **DavidG** » Tue Aug 15, 2023 10:25 pm

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?

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Tue Aug 15, 2023 11:33 pm

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.

jckba · Post by **jckba** » Tue Aug 15, 2023 11:51 pm

Is it from the Haut Medoc?

jckba · Post by **jckba** » Tue Aug 15, 2023 11:53 pm

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.

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Tue Aug 15, 2023 11:58 pm

#11.
Yes

jckba · Post by **jckba** » Wed Aug 16, 2023 12:03 am

Is it a bottle of Sociando Mallet?

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Wed Aug 16, 2023 12:22 am

#12
Yes

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Wed Aug 16, 2023 12:24 am

Is it the 2019 Sociando Mallet?

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Wed Aug 16, 2023 12:26 am

#13.
No.