12.5% Bouchon légèrement entamé. Robe : une légère couleur brune apparait sur le disque. Nez : Sur le tabac blond, l'humus, les champignons... Très bien En bouche : les tanins sont fondus, le vin emplit bien la bouche. On a une bonne persistance aromatique. Malheureusement c'était la dernière. Excellent
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Part of a 2020-1995 Verticale. Remarkable for a very challenging year. Silky and seducing, with port sweetness, tobacco, roast aromas and sweet spices. Some dilution in the finish shedding light on the difficult circumstances under which the wine was borne in a stormy year.
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The last of a 6 pack might be my favorite. Rosey garnet color. Typical Sociando nose that’s filled with black and red fruit, swamp and licorice. Bold and upfront. The palate is mature, slightly rustic and fun. A chunky Bordeaux without much finesse - but one that brings much pleasure. Not going to get any better. (90)
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Clearly in its twilight years but nonetheless very pleasant. Showed a beautiful evolution in the decanter and drank very gracefully, albeit a bit past its peak.
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Brought this to Wah Lok (Carlton Hotel) for a wine dinner last night. Theme of the evening: wines from the Year of the Rabbit.
Decanted for 30 minutes before serving. A classic Bordeaux, aged for 24 years, delivers satisfaction and pleasure. Mature, with some complexity and ripe red fruits. Some cocoa, vanilla, and forest floor.
A wonderful wine.
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Twentysomething months after the last one I remain a fan. In an otherwise mediocre vintage SM did very well, offering a sensual blend of sweet mature fruit, subtle cask aromas, caramel, plum and liquorice, chocolate and some earthy notes, ending in a nice phenolic finish. But do drink up now!
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Encore une fois, Sociando nous en met plein la vue pour son appellation et son age. Cassis, sous-bois, herbacé, tannins présent mais bien intégré, longue finale, typique très bon bordeaux de 20 ans. c'est dans son prime et va tenir la route un autre 10 ans sans problème.
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Still fresh with ripe black fruits, alcohol is still there. Not expect still energtic for such fully matured wine. Blackcurrant intermixed with vanilla, drinking quite silky and balance. Very juicy and delicious.
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Solid, stern Bordeaux with a distinct mineral nature. Color is starting to turn ruby. The nose smells like a quarry - with some ripe plum and forest leaves mixed in. Masculine, firm and mature. Good but not exceptional depth. At peak. (88)
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Min andre flaske på en drøy uke. Denne var litt mer fyldig og kompleks enn forrige. Dyp rød med svakt oransje kant. Klassisk aroma med preg av blyant, tobakk, espresso, paprika, sur-søt frukt, I munn er den medium+ fyldig, tilstedeværende og begynnende integrerte tanniner og tydelig syre. God lengde. Balansert. En skikkelig klassisk deilig moden Bordeaux som var perfekt følge til lammestek.
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Not as great as the prior showing, but still nice earthy complete bordeaux. Good balance and complexity with a nice dark currant fruit profile. Went great with some steak. Would say drink up, but this was my last bottle.
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Remarkably well kept 1999, a difficult year, but a real success for SM. Perhaps a bit less concentrated than in other years this bottle still boasts all Haut Médoc treats, filling your nose with subtle cask, caramel, plum and liquorice, adding chocolate, earthy notes in the mouth, finally yielding to a nice phenolic finish. But consider drinking up now.
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A friendly and charming vintage of Sociando. All the hallmarks that you'd expect with pronounced bell pepper and leafy notes in a slightly softer and less robust package. Yet its no slouch -- good fruit with nice juicy acidity. Tannins are just about fully resolved.
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Lovely wine. Bought en primeur and well worth the 17+ year wait! Nicely intense and powerful. Retains a nice core of currant, plum and cherry fruit. Notes of earth and leather as well as tobacco. Complex, mature yet fresh enough with nice acidity, mature soft tannins and a long tasty sweet finish. Overall this is a gorgeous mature Bordeaux that punches well above its weight. For a 1999 this is excellent.
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A fine vintage of Sociando where you get all of the classic flavors and in a more moderately concentrated package. Great herb and bell pepper notes throughout. Has very good, sweet fruit with just a little less richness/concentration than you get in the warmer years.
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Each time I open a mature Sociando it confirms that it would deserve a classement, had it been around in 1855. Even more than the 95 (which we had at the same meal) it completely dwarfs other 99s. Dense, yet fresh nose of mature red berries, licorice, red fruit, cedar, plum, graphite, mentol. Medium to full bodied. Lots of sweetness but perfectly balanced, with mature red fruit, licorice, tobacco, chocolate, plum, balsamic notes, toast, menthol. Very expressive, inviting for much more. Could last annother 3 years.
Bu à la suite d'un Insigna (Phelps) du même millésime, il était beaucoup plus délicat, resté jeune à l'oeil, au nez (fruits noirs) mais aussi en bouche. Ses tannins très fins et son petit manque de concentration suggèrent de le boire sans plus attendre.
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This delivered just as expected. Mature, with resolving tannins and a soft palate. Nice aromatics with spice, tobacco, and mild herbal notes. Not particularly herbaceous at all, like some other vintages. Finish is strong, without adding further complexity. I don’t see this getting better, but it’s pretty damn good now.
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Smells fresh and clean. Has a very pleasant underlying sweetness in contrast to the green bell pepper and secondary notes of tobacco, earth, and old cigar box. Fruit is fading. The last of a case.
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Bouchon entamé 20% Robe : noire, profonde, très peu évoluée mais avec un léger disque orangée de belles larmes s'écoulent le long des parois Nez : de mémoire, très agréable sur les fruits noirs la mure, la fraise. Puis viennent des arômes tertiaire de sous-bois, de havane; Des senteurs de cedre. en bouche : c'est plus long que large, les tanins sont fondus, gouleyant, très belle longueur Excellent
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Beef blood, iron and tobacco. Green and bitter, with just enough fruit to get away with it. Tannins fairly well integrated, but not enjoying this as much as previous bottles. Drink up.
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Aunt Eugenia's Bday 2017. @Tableat7. 750ml bottle from Nic. Pop and poured. Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour. legs. Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of sweet earth, sweet spices, tobacco, graphite, slight perfumed capsicums. Developed. On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium alcohol (12.5%), grippy high tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of blackcurrants, sweet black cherries, tobacco, graphite, sweet earth. Medium+ finish. Very good quality. Nice. Time to drink up over next 3 years before this starts to decline. Tannins will outlast the fruit.
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The ripe/Cali style of the vintage doesn’t overwhelm the green tobacco leaf/herbiness of the estate. Black currants, herbs/green, cocoa. Not complex but ready to go. B
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Poured into decanter and drank over 2h. Tight upon opening, the wine still needs about 30 min in the decanter to open up. Still a fairly dark garnet with a 3mm wide transparent rim. Increasingly dominated by tobacco notes this is still showing a good balance on the palate, however lacks the concentration and aromatic expressiveness of a truly great Bordeaux. Fairly short finish. A very nice wine especially this is not the easiest vintage but from my point of view these should be drunk now as this is on a slight downwards slope and I struggle to find my excitement for this wine from 4 years ago. 89-90
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Into my 3rd case. Wow has this wine put on weight! Beef blood, earth and that SM tobacco nose Dark fruit, olives and even some raspberry crispness. Plenty of power and structure but with elegant tannins. Good finish. My kind of wine!
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Another very good bottle of this ready-to-go vintage of Sociando. Beautiful medium-full nose of dried plum, mineral and a healthy dose of bell pepper and green herb. Medium bodied on the palate with good balance and medium concentration. Right it a prime drinking window and should hold for several years. Quite satisfying.
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A terrific Bordeaux that is drinking wonderfully at the moment. The nose has that signature Sociando green herb and bell pepper note with plum and just a kiss of barrel spice. Medium bodied palate with modestly concentrated fruit (given the vintage). Nice balance. Should provide pleasure for 5-10 years.
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Lovely wine. Integrated and developed but still with fresh fruit character. Harmonious tannic/acid structure; elegant if not concentrated; seamless segue to subtle, satisfying finish.
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Purple plum in color with cherry and pencil on the nose. My kind of palate bursting with sweet black and red fruits, a touch of lead pencil and soft minerals. Really delicious!
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Slow ox'ed for 4 hours but wine needed some more time in the open bottle to show its best. Dark garnet almost to the rim. Initially plenty of dark berries, sous bois and a slight mustiness on the nose. Later the wine started to show spices and some secondary notes. On the mid palate a touch thin but still very good / enjoyable. Fine but sandy tannins. Finish rather short. Worked very well with steak and great QPR and great 1999. 90-91
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Dinner with Friends (San Francisco, CA): Deep ruby but a bit cloudy; wonderful nose with green eucalyptus, olive, wonderful red and black fruits, fresh nose; palate is full bodied, wonderfully integrated tannins, fresh red fruit, great acidity and balance; medium-long finish. Superb. 93-95
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The last comment is very valid. Decanted for 3 hours plus, complex and deep rooted nose, black fruit and dry palate, moderate acidity and tannin. The cork did not look pristine but the wine is fantastic value at the £ 14 per bottle I paid in 2004. The French rate this vineyard very highly, Parker much less so. I agree their wine generally needs 15 years before it flourishes but if you have the time it will be well invested.
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Fantastic wine. The nose is absolutely enthralling with cedar, charcoal, leather, and soft spices. The palate is equally compelling with soft, perfectly balanced velvety tanins. Served for easter dinner with lamb - perfect combination. In my view, this is the most under-rated and best value wine in Bordeaux today, provided you have the patience to wait 15+ years. Significantly better than recent wines I've had from Lynch-Bages or Montrose. Ready to drink, but could hold. 93-94
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Dégusté cet après midi. Bouteille épaulée 3 heures. Bouchon entamé 25% Robe : noire, profonde, très peu évoluée. de belles larmes s'écoulent le long des parois Nez : de mémoire, très agréable, mine de crayon, à peine un peu de poivron. Puis, sur les fruits noirs la mure, la framboise. en bouche : c'est plus long que large, les tanins sont fondus,gouleyant, très belle longueur Tout le monde a très bien apprécié Très bien
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Excellent for the money, herbal cedar opulent nose, consistent palate with slightly imbalanced grainy and acidity spikes. Should improve in a year or two.
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From Simon. Flashback...Fainting ruby color, pleasing nose gives hint to a well banaced and thoroughly aged vintage. Good depth and structure on the palate, medium body w/ smooth rolloff. Leaves one wanting for more.
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Classically enjoyable and very drinkable. Much the same as the last time around but the fruit is flagging a bit. Very much coal and cedar; some pencil. Not the ripest year, but not too much green. These should be drunk now.
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A bit of a bruiser - does not have the energy or interest that I found in the 1998. Very masculine and dark. Fine with a full flavored dish but not special. (87)
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Drinking very nicely now. Expressive nose, abundant fruit. The green streak of earlier bottles has dissipated. Plum and currants, leather, iron and spice.
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Still young but can be drunk. Better nose than mouth, where it is a bit hollow in the medium. Nose speaks of Bordeaux, everything is in balance and there is some fruit still. Easy drinker, better with food where you feel less the whole in the middle of the wine. I would drink more if it was not my only bottle.
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Had the chance during a big event to taste from a 18 liter bottle. Decanted in many decanters for about 4 - 6 hours. Perfect H.Medoc ! Still young , but very good drinkable. Was a big experience. This event happened at Hotel Krone in Lech. Austria.
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Earthy nose, plum and leather. Plum and cassis on the palate, graphite, iron, leather, spice. Exceptional balance with the tannins very well integrated. Uplifting finish. A lively, refreshing Bordeaux, drinking very well right now.
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A lively and stylish wine displaying a garnet appearance, ruby rim, and an alluring bouquet. Mature and singed at first, followed by aromas of black, blue, and purple fruit accenting sweet notes of forest berries, grape Jolly Ranchers, incense, graphite, and a hint of meat. The mid-to-full bodied palate is concentrated, with lots of damson fruit, sandalwood, and balsamic vinegar flavors, good middle acidity, and great purity of fruit on the long spice-driven finish. Has a ways to go before it starts slowing down. Just a fantastic wine from an underrated producer.
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At first, all cassis and oak on the nose with a palate of cedar and pencil. But with time in the decanter, biscuit, caramel. Not the biggest wine for Sociando, but - as always - one with terroir and a beautiful reflection of the vintage.
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A cuvee speciale that is a blend of 15 best barrels out of 60. Looks much younger than its age. It is amazing how fresh the fruit still is and how much is still left after more than a decade, which are the two indications for me of the longevity of the wine. On the nose, dark fruit such as bumble, black cherry, baking spice, vanilla, touch of oak. On the palate, velvety tannins, medium plus finish and acidity. Impressive. Easily lasts for another decade and should pick up more tertiary characters along the way.
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A pretty garnet - all purple is gone. Robust, earthy Cabernet nose. Full and masculine. Palate is mostly resolved though some tannin lurks in the background. Chunky, full attack that falls off rather quickly on the finish. Good but lacks charm and real depth. Still solid. (88)
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Sociando-Mallet vertical (Brussels): Very nice on the nose, very balanced, still some tannins and oak to resolve and. Classical old school Bordeaux! Will improve!
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Drank over two nights, and on the second day this was showing just a notch better than the previous two bottles (see earlier notes). Upon opening with a rather strong green note, the wine takes some time in the decanter to integrate and also gains overall weight. Great pleasure on the second day given a perfect balance with a surprising Margaux like sweetness, and a medium plus finish. Interestingly, both 99er Bdx I have been drinking recently (the Sociando and the 99 Giscours) would be my absolute top QPR picks in this lower / mid-price Bdx segment, and are way better than what you would expect given the rather ordinary reputation of the vintage.
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Two hour decant. Strong dark fruits, conentrated by not overpowering. Tobacco, cola, iron secondary, with a prominent green streak. Cherry and cedar on the medium length finish. Well integrated tannins, nicely balanced. Still quiet youthful. Paired with herbed prime rib for Christmas dinner.
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Deep ruby / garnet color. Classic S-M – stones and black fruit in abundance with just a touch of green elements. Wine tastes exactly how it smells. Has real power – more than many from the vintage. Just entering the maturity plateau – has many years left. A rough and tumble Bordeaux – has its place in a cellar – just don’t expect elegance or grace. (90)
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Lovely aged B'x. Deep, dark fruits yet well-balanced and integrated. Black cherry, hint of liquorice, leather and wood. Strong fruit yet also restrained, good colour and balanced on the palate if a tad thin on the mid. Lacks a little on the acidity and freshness. More brooding than smoothness. Very nice in a relaxed mellow way. Give a 2 hour decant and don't worry if you decant before that even.
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This claret is showing as much more resolved than the 2001s in the flight before, showing tons of typicity and drinking effortlessly on this night. Easily beats the '99 Dominus alongside it, for my palate.
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Poured half of a bottle into a decanter and drank over 2h. As described in my earlier note this is a nice honest, Cab dominated Bdx which is drinking very well now. However unlike the first bottle from this case, this one shows a fairly strong green streak. I don't mind, this is Sociando Mallet after all, and the green makes it stand out among its peers and ads some freshness in my eyes, but certainly not to everbody's taste (90)
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Quick note; very well balanced, pencil lead and dark muddled fruit on the nose. Integrated soft tannins, balanced acidity, red and black fruit with minor secondary's of graphite and tobacco, fading a bit since the last bottle, but still an elegant wine, drink up..
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Pnp. Dark garnet with only slight lightening at the rim. This wine has a very nice balance with some barnyard, scorched earth, a bit of cafe au lait, cedar and dark fruit. The wine has a very soft texture, without being overly polished, and still has some fine tannins on the palate. Medium finish. My first Sociando, and while I cannot detect any of the greeness the producer is known for, it is indeed a very good QPR Bordeaux.
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Dark red, rather opaque colour, just a little lighter at the edges. Really a classical nose of a relatively mature Bordeaux with dark plum, blackcurrants, dark cherries, earth cellar, herbs, spices, with a hint of barnyard, leather, pencil shavings and tar. Slightly more than medium bodied, again blackcurrants, dark cherries and dark plums, well integrated and slightly softened but still noticeable tannin, good acidity, slightly spicy, with a rather long and well-balanced aftertaste. A very good effort for a vintage that tends to be "average". A bit of an old-style Bordeaux - in the very best sense of the word (well poised and not overextracted, overoaked or overalcoholic) - that has come into its drinking window, but one that will effortlessly last another 10 years.
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Abundant fruit and aromas of wet earth, tobacco, spices, and a bit of chocolate. Really fresh and juicy on the palate, with a medium finish and no hard edges. Maybe not as complex as one would hope, but very good nonetheless.
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When corona forces you to work at home (March 28, 2020) than you go cleaning, so I found this tasting note. Fresh bouquet with anise; the taste is like the '98 but a bit leaner, lighter, however balanced.
At first the Sociando appeared far more accessible, silkier, rounder and maybe a more “sweet” than the others. I got flavours of chocolate, cappuccino, dark berries, ketchup, a hint of cola and a variety of warm indescribable feelings. Its style was straight, a bit warm and cosy, pretty elegant with certain freshness and almost quaffable. Later more rigid and more butch flavours like white and black pepper combined with wilder spicy components. Impressive Medoc without a lot of potential to improve. Drink up! I say!
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Nice aromatics. Good flavor profile of ripe fruit with a bit of smoky character, plum, & cassis. It's a little hollow in the midpalate, which detracts from this wine. Finishes nicely, no hard edges, tannins are soft. Drink now.
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Paars, bijna zwart van kleur, aan de rand iets verkleurend naar oranje. Zwart fruit, mandarijntjes, mineralen en rook in de geur, evenals groene paprika. In de smaak gestoofd fruit, mist concentratie. Mediumlange afdronk met behoorlijke tannines, doet nog erg jong aan. Een mindere Sociando.
Dubbel gedecanteerd en na 1 dag: duidelijk verbeterd, eleganter en soepel.
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popped and poured. very intense and pleasant nose, with blackberries, blueberries, tobacco, leather and mint. medium bodied, fuity and cedary in the mouth, with good acidity to cut through the food. not the densest, but nevertheless excellent.
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quite supple, showing the scents of iron and ripe fruit, on the palate, lovely texture, full and fleshy, with gentle tannins still fading and giving a nice supporting layer, and fresh acidity
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Intense dark berry fruit on the nose, nice balanced spice and integrated oak character, slightly smoky. Palate a bit muddled, not much definition or finesse, and only moderate length, but balanced acidity and mature tannic mouthfeel. Highly drinkable, moderately rich, full-bodied style of Bordeaux. Pair with richly stewed red meat e.g. braised shoulder of lamb.
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Served at my b-day steak dinner. next to cali and italian cabs. This is OK, good color, good nose. The palate dies a littel soon and certainly this was very different than the cali cal (Chalk Hill 04) which we had to start. great elegance though, was a fun comparison and you got people's favorites to show. the old world eople stuck with the bordeaux and the new world people really liked the chalk hill (which I liked best in comparison.
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Mature fruit, oak and some smoke on the nose. Good taste but slightly green. With time in the glass the wine clearly improved, toffee notes started shoing and the greenness decrased. Lots of red berries. Relatively good balance. Definitely worth its price.
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With Hamburger. Beautiful dark color, still very fresh (real Sociando). Good nose but I wasnt impressed by the wine at all. maybe in sleepy phase?? Good wine but not stand-out bordeaux and SM.
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The second bottle I had this year. Nearly as good as the first one. Would decant my next bottle at least 3 hours next time because this wine just keeps on building up in the glass and the bottle is empty far too early.
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Light-medium garnet, fades slowly to orange. Alcohol shows on the even after aeration, aside that the nose is nice and complex with cassis, cedar, leather and herbal notes. Medium-bodied and round on the palate, the balance holds to the end, good length. A relatively 'easy' wine. Could evolve further in short term cellaring. 91+
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Some volatile character (even after decanting) on the nose with notes of cassis and cherry fruit, animality, liquorice, chocolate, mushrooms, clove and cedar. Over time strenghtening mocha. Medium bodied with balanced structure of carrying acidity and integrated tannins. Vibrant fruit, bitter herbals, tobacco and mocha. Good length. Attractive wine and drinking well at the moment.
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decanted a few hours. deep red, not evolved on the rim. nose of blackcurrant, cedar, blackberry. tannins receding, middle weight, very juicy, tobacco and cedar, long finish. gets better in the glass: still on its way up but very good already now.
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This bottle far exceeded my expectations. Thought it would be thin and tannic but was not at all. Decanted for about an hour then drank preparing and eating a dinner of skirt steak. The wine had a smooth almost velvety feel on the palate with well developed dark fruits of blackberries, blueberries and black cherry. The fruit was fully expressed and the tannins smoothly integrated providing a strong backbone and foundation. Everything one would want and expect in a mature Bordeaux. Wished I had more as it compared quite favorably to a recently consumed 1990 Mouton Rothschild.
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This wine is driving me crazy. Yesterday the wine was shy, also severe, with a good taste and matching spicy rice, but that was it. Today after a long day in the fridge the development was very impressive. A deep, even infantile, colour (like a 2005) and a sleek taste with vanille to a robust taste with red, ripe, pungent fruit; a foursquare round wine (make your own impression!). The mid- and aftertaste show concentration and balance. Why the crazyness? 'That's because every sip is slightly different. Fortunately a modest vintage, so you can enjoy this wine really soon? Yes, have your bottle now, but I think that the Startrek crew can take this wine to a Alpha Quadrant journey and returns with the last remaining bottles in pristine condition. Why 'only' 92 points? That's because this wine is terrific, but misses the elegance of most Médoc Grand Cru Classé wines.
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Opened up after about 2 hours in the decanter and got better and better with every minute. Full bodied Bordeaux with a great bouquet of berries. Having a bottle of 2001 Sarget de Gruaud-Larose before and a 2004 Chateau Chauvin afterwards, the 1999 Sociando-Mallet was my favourite wine that evening. Perfectly drinkable now but should last at least for the next 5-10 years!
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Dark blood-red but no ageing. A very fruity nose ith stewed fruit, mint and plums. It has a spicy, fruity palate which is full and has god length. Lovely drink.
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Smooth and very drinkebale. Not very many tannines, but still adequatly present to give it such a typical (haut)medoc flavour. Some fruit and some "dark" overtones hintign at sandlewood an chocolate. I Liked it very much. A wine te be tasted with ïntelligence"
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4th Chicago Steak Out (Otis' house): Tasted blind at the 4th Chicago Steak Out. Finished tied for 9th among the 18 wines. I liked it less. This was not showing well and was closed in my opinion. It had a slight moldiness to the little fruit that was showing. Moderate to light tannins. Give this time. 85 points
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Steak Out (Otis'): Label: colt. Garnet color. Aromas of dark fruit, forest floor/damp earth, and a subtle whiff of brett. Well-balanced, with good fruit and acidity. Dark fruit, sandalwood, and earth flavors on the palate. My #5 overall wotn. 92+ pts.
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It's reached full maturity now...this wine has unbelievable melted together like two lovers in action...incredible wine...it is very classicly made very old school and because it is well made I love it...Jean Gautreau does the thing he believes in and he does it very well...because 1999 is ready to drink now we realize that sociando never must be drunk before 10 years of age...when you taste this you now why sociando can compete with the big guys...www.everyoneweb.com/chateaujochen
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Tasted two weeks ago. Maybe this wine is a little too young. A lot of fruit is still wristling with ripe notes. I gave the wine several hours in the carafe, but I think the wine needs longer at the moment. Still a very lovely bottle with a strong mid palet and a round aftertaste, but not (yet?) at the same level as Lynch-Bages. For me 1999 is very often a lovely year for Bordeaux.
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My limited previous experiences with Sociando included tastings of the 2003 and 2004, which I found had a green bellpepper taste that didn't please me much. But to my surprise, their 1999 is beautiful wine. Color is still very dark, nose is very serious, classic left bank Bordeaux : cassis, crème de mûre, a little bit of cedar and pencil shavings. The wine is on the fuller bodied side, but with silky tannins and a gorgeous palette of black fruit and minerals. Make sure you open the wine 1h ahead of time and, over all, that you serve it at the right temperature (15-16C) because it provided much more pleasure at that temp than when it got warmer.
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This has become fully mature...upon opening the green taste(just a little bit)which is tipical sociando I guess...I like that funky green herby taste of sociando...Incredibly smooth which all 1999 bordeaux wines are right now...very enjoyable wine...I think I have 3 bottles left...www.everyoneweb.com/chateaujochen
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Deep full red. Looks rich, no ageing. Subdued nose. some smoke, dark fruits in the background.Good fruit but it ends with a strange dry edge - bitter. But once its been open for a while - 2hrs - it is a delicious fruit driven beastie. Next day it has developed a plummy nose. The finsih still has that dry, bitter edge but it seems more in place now.
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Purple plum in color with a fine nose of earth, cassis and some floral elements. Sweet and soft on the palate with plum and rasberry notes. Ready to drink with no tannins which I attribute to the vintage. Pop, pour and enjoy.
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Color turning maroon, pale transparent ruby, pale at the rim. With air, tobacco and raspberry nose, raspberry jam palate, balanced tannins, decent finish. This is decent Medoc but it is no 2003!
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Opened, decanted, and sipped over several hours. Noted continued improvement (about the 3 hour point this got going). Nice dark ruby color to the edges. Nose is primarily earthy with plum notes. Medium bodied, ripe plum, cedar, sour cherry and earthy notes on the palate. Very nice, with noticeable, but smooth, tannins. Good structure, nice lingering finish. Good value at $28.
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hello everybody!!!It seems I'm in the 99 bordeaux at the moment and they are all very nice to drink right now.This sociando keeps to improve every time I drink it...Seems like every 99 bordeaux is doing that and in the end this difficult vintage is giving some pleasure to drink...The sociando is IMHO not at its peak,but tonight its very classic old school bordeaux(cedar cherry oak soft tannins)maybe it could gain a little bit more fruit(maybe within 6 months) and then we have a 90 point very nice wine...I have also clos du marquis 1999 in my cellar and i think at the moment its a little bit better...
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Inky red/purple in color. Medium body with earthy bordeaux on the nose. Taste of plum, dried cherries and earth. Nice velvet tannins with a soft mid palate finish. Great QPR - will get more.
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I love this one. It's my Bordeaux staple. Very approachable despite its youth. Exhibits all the earthiness and other signature characteristics of a Bordeaux. If an inexperienced oenophile asks you what a Bordeaux tastes like, serve this. I just love it. I'm going to buy another case.
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I spalsh decanted this for only a half-hour or so, which was a mistake. The nose was wonderful when initially poured into the decanter, but then the wine disappeared - it gave almost nothing on both the nose and the palate. I saved most overnight in a covered decanter. It still had little to give the next AM. I think that this just shut-down hard and will reward several more years of cellaring.....i think.....
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Lighter, clear cherry in color. Nice signature earthy, chalky, bordeaux nose -- not a huge nose, but a nice mid-palate nose. We decanted the wine for 6 1/2 hours before opening, which really helped. By the last glass, this was a very open and full wine with a very nice texture on the tongue. Well balanced, with a hint of horse (in a good way), cherry earthiness, good acid, and balance. This wine is ready now. Its so nice to be able to enjoy a good bordeaux at such a young age. Very enjoyable. This paired wonderful with our Friday night crock-pot chicken, finger potatoes, shallots, garlic and shitake mushrooms. However, the wine paired the very best with my daughter's macaroni and cheese. The rich greasyness of the mac/cheese brought out the best in the depth of the wine. Odd, but true. Next time, skip the fancy meal, and pop open the mac/cheese and your favorite bordeaux. Cheers.
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Outstanding wine, and a great value. Notes of dried cherries, blackberries, tobacco leaf. Powerful aroma and full mouth feel. Although still a bit young for a Bordeaux, it is drinkable now. We did decant for a couple of hours before drinking. I picked up a lot of this wine, and l look forward to enjoying it for many years to come.
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1 hr. decant. Nose with graphite, cedar and creamy fruit and oak. Red fruit, oak and some earthiness on the palate with medium weight and a coarse tannic finish that is somewhat green. Gained weight with more time, needs some years (like 10).
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I knew this wine was a hit while I was decanting and caught the wonderful aroma. This was text-book Bordeaux, really the old-world style. The nose was full of graphite and raisans. Smooth, velvet finish but this had the backbone to last a few more years. Too bad I only purchased one bottle in 2005 for $28, a real value. A pleasure because my wife really enjoys good Bordeaux and she was captivated by this wine. I am nursing that last 1/2" in the glass as I write this note.
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This was the wine of the evening. Signature bordeaux nose -- very well structured -- nice chalky, wet leaf, and coffee ground taste. The nose was wonderful, and the wine was very open and accessible now. Thanks to James & Juli for sharing this wonderful treat.
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(From 375ml) This is what left bank Bordeaux is all about. Dark purple color in the glass. A fairly expressive nose of raspberries and minerals with a hint of herbs that I could sit and smell all night. Well balanced in the mouth with plenty of fruit to off set the mass of ripe tannins. Just needs a longer finish to be really great. From half bottle this wine is ready if you like a little tannins with your fruit, otherwise it could probably stand another few years in the cellar. Very enjoyable, on par with the 99 Lynch Bages I had about six weeks ago.
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Montreal Sociando Mallet tasting (Restaurant La Colombe): Deep ruby red, violet edges tending toward orange. Nose of underbrush, red fruits, cherries, blackberries, red meat, cloves and spices. Nice acidity and tannins, slightly bitter, moderate-plus finish with retro of fruits, meat and chocolate.
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Nice inner core of sweet fruit, followed by a broad herbal midpalate with dark dark base. Black currant, tobacco, burnt oak. Slightly hot finish, long and oaky. Lots of dark fruit with herbs. Typically Sociando, if a bit lighter than normal. Has the soy herbs of '99. Drinkable now and will improve, but will not be a very very long lasting wine. Nice but not spectacular. B
$25 Benchmark 1/06
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Purchased on sale at Mills for $21. Beautiful deep purple-black in color, nose showing lots of black fruits, cypruss cab notes, with merlot chocolate and some bramble notes. It was a bit tight on opening, but after a night in the fridge and some additional air it was really lovely. A mid-weight wine, and a bit thin in the middle, it was very pleasant drinking, with fine tanins, soft mouthfeel, and pronounced fruit. A high mid-80s range wine that is a very nice QPR at the sale price.
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Very enjoyable wine. Great earthy notes with blackberry, tobacco, cherry and pencil lead. Nice medium length finish and to me, a good deal of red fruit on the palate. Drying tannins. Drinkable now, but relatively tight. This will improve for a while.
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1999 Bordeaux Tasting (Cafe Caprice, Austin TX): This showed really well. Some commented that this was like the big bad brother of the Pichon Lalande. Cassis, pencil lead, leather, tobacco/cigar box, dark cherry, licorice, and blue/black fruit, as well as a hint of dried herbs. Lovely wine and the surprise of the evening. Still a puppy and bruiser, but will be very good when fully mature.
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Dark purple color. Red plum notes on the nose, followed by a bit of smoke, some leather, a slight bit of coffee. This became smoother with time, but a bit simpler on the palate and took on a very slight saline note on the nose. Medium to full body, this matches good density with a lightness that keeps the palate fresh. Half the bottle saved for tomorrow...
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Decanted for 30 minutes before dinner...should have been a lot longer (but not possible tonight). Color was an inky purple. Nose was surprisingly subdued. This baby is still sleeping! Slight cedary notes eventually waft upwards. On the palate, nice plum notes. Mid-palate still developing, but decent finish. Tannins still applying a grip, but not brutally so. Nevertheless, while enjoyable for a Bordeaux-lover, this one should rest for another 2-3 years in my opinion. Wow, still cannot get over the lack of nose! Once the nose opens up, this is worth another point or two.
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2/24/2024 - GAET Likes this wine: 93 Points
12.5%
Bouchon légèrement entamé.
Robe : une légère couleur brune apparait sur le disque.
Nez : Sur le tabac blond, l'humus, les champignons... Très bien
En bouche : les tanins sont fondus, le vin emplit bien la bouche. On a une bonne persistance aromatique.
Malheureusement c'était la dernière.
Excellent
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11/23/2023 - CarpeDiem! Likes this wine: 90 Points
Part of a 2020-1995 Verticale. Remarkable for a very challenging year. Silky and seducing, with port sweetness, tobacco, roast aromas and sweet spices. Some dilution in the finish shedding light on the difficult circumstances under which the wine was borne in a stormy year.
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8/5/2023 - Cliffen80 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very nice, perfect now
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6/8/2023 - dbkitc wrote: 90 Points
The last of a 6 pack might be my favorite. Rosey garnet color. Typical Sociando nose that’s filled with black and red fruit, swamp and licorice. Bold and upfront. The palate is mature, slightly rustic and fun. A chunky Bordeaux without much finesse - but one that brings much pleasure. Not going to get any better. (90)
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5/21/2023 - Monvigliero Likes this wine: 89 Points
Clearly in its twilight years but nonetheless very pleasant. Showed a beautiful evolution in the decanter and drank very gracefully, albeit a bit past its peak.
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1/17/2023 - stayhappy21 wrote: 90 Points
Brought this to Wah Lok (Carlton Hotel) for a wine dinner last night. Theme of the evening: wines from the Year of the Rabbit.
Decanted for 30 minutes before serving. A classic Bordeaux, aged for 24 years, delivers satisfaction and pleasure. Mature, with some complexity and ripe red fruits. Some cocoa, vanilla, and forest floor.
A wonderful wine.
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12/28/2022 - no leashes wrote: 90 Points
drinking very nicely with a quick decant.
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11/19/2022 - CarpeDiem! Likes this wine: 91 Points
Twentysomething months after the last one I remain a fan. In an otherwise mediocre vintage SM did very well, offering a sensual blend of sweet mature fruit, subtle cask aromas, caramel, plum and liquorice, chocolate and some earthy notes, ending in a nice phenolic finish. But do drink up now!
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10/17/2022 - Goodwine4ever wrote: 92 Points
Encore une fois, Sociando nous en met plein la vue pour son appellation et son age. Cassis, sous-bois, herbacé, tannins présent mais bien intégré, longue finale, typique très bon bordeaux de 20 ans. c'est dans son prime et va tenir la route un autre 10 ans sans problème.
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1/6/2022 - Stefan75 Likes this wine: 91 Points
From Drag, in a very good window right now, some fruit left but all very nicely integrated, quite classic so definitely at or above expectations
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12/31/2021 - JChan wrote: 92 Points
Still fresh with ripe black fruits, alcohol is still there. Not expect still energtic for such fully matured wine. Blackcurrant intermixed with vanilla, drinking quite silky and balance. Very juicy and delicious.
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12/12/2021 - JChan wrote: 93 Points
Still very ripe dark fruits dominate, with coffee and cigar box and ripe dark fruits again. Long finish. Very good and delicious.
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11/22/2021 - dbkitc wrote: 88 Points
Solid, stern Bordeaux with a distinct mineral nature. Color is starting to turn ruby. The nose smells like a quarry - with some ripe plum and forest leaves mixed in. Masculine, firm and mature. Good but not exceptional depth. At peak. (88)
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4/17/2021 - Kyr Likes this wine: 91 Points
High inter-bottle variety - probably on the edge. I am going to consume all 1999 this year.
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3/28/2021 - Bernt Olav wrote: 92 Points
Min andre flaske på en drøy uke. Denne var litt mer fyldig og kompleks enn forrige. Dyp rød med svakt oransje kant. Klassisk aroma med preg av blyant, tobakk, espresso, paprika, sur-søt frukt, I munn er den medium+ fyldig, tilstedeværende og begynnende integrerte tanniner og tydelig syre. God lengde. Balansert. En skikkelig klassisk deilig moden Bordeaux som var perfekt følge til lammestek.
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10/13/2020 - thebonnydooner wrote: 91 Points
Not as great as the prior showing, but still nice earthy complete bordeaux. Good balance and complexity with a nice dark currant fruit profile. Went great with some steak. Would say drink up, but this was my last bottle.
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6/14/2020 - Kris G wrote:
A typical showing for Sociando-Mallet old style with lots of paprika from the Cabernet Sauvignon. Is going downhill.
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5/23/2020 - CarpeDiem! Likes this wine: 91 Points
Remarkably well kept 1999, a difficult year, but a real success for SM. Perhaps a bit less concentrated than in other years this bottle still boasts all Haut Médoc treats, filling your nose with subtle cask, caramel, plum and liquorice, adding chocolate, earthy notes in the mouth, finally yielding to a nice phenolic finish. But consider drinking up now.
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5/1/2020 - Anders Danielsen Lie Likes this wine: 91 Points
Frisk rød, sjenerøs og presis duft av cabernetfrukt, kaffe, seder, tobakk/sigar, blyant/leire, jordlige mineraltoner. Nydelig balanse hele veien, modne tanniner. Presence og nyanse. Ortodoks. 55 CS, 40 merlot, 5 CF. Mye vin og adresse for pengene
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3/28/2020 - Sheila62 wrote:
very good claret
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1/8/2020 - Nanda wrote: 89 Points
A friendly and charming vintage of Sociando. All the hallmarks that you'd expect with pronounced bell pepper and leafy notes in a slightly softer and less robust package. Yet its no slouch -- good fruit with nice juicy acidity. Tannins are just about fully resolved.
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4/11/2019 - becassine wrote:
So powerfully smelly!
So intense that the nose scene corked
To be open absolutely two hour before drinking
Will they taste it again tomorrow
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3/15/2019 - millesime66 wrote: 91 Points
Idem à la dernière bue il y a exactement 1 an.
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1/2/2019 - thebonnydooner wrote: 93 Points
Lovely wine. Bought en primeur and well worth the 17+ year wait! Nicely intense and powerful. Retains a nice core of currant, plum and cherry fruit. Notes of earth and leather as well as tobacco. Complex, mature yet fresh enough with nice acidity, mature soft tannins and a long tasty sweet finish. Overall this is a gorgeous mature Bordeaux that punches well above its weight. For a 1999 this is excellent.
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8/5/2018 - Nanda wrote: 91 Points
A fine vintage of Sociando where you get all of the classic flavors and in a more moderately concentrated package. Great herb and bell pepper notes throughout. Has very good, sweet fruit with just a little less richness/concentration than you get in the warmer years.
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7/20/2018 - CarpeDiem! Likes this wine: 93 Points
Each time I open a mature Sociando it confirms that it would deserve a classement, had it been around in 1855. Even more than the 95 (which we had at the same meal) it completely dwarfs other 99s. Dense, yet fresh nose of mature red berries, licorice, red fruit, cedar, plum, graphite, mentol. Medium to full bodied. Lots of sweetness but perfectly balanced, with mature red fruit, licorice, tobacco, chocolate, plum, balsamic notes, toast, menthol. Very expressive, inviting for much more. Could last annother 3 years.
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3/11/2018 - millesime66 wrote: 91 Points
Bu à la suite d'un Insigna (Phelps) du même millésime, il était beaucoup plus délicat, resté jeune à l'oeil, au nez (fruits noirs) mais aussi en bouche. Ses tannins très fins et son petit manque de concentration suggèrent de le boire sans plus attendre.
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12/10/2017 - Nutty08 wrote: 92 Points
This delivered just as expected. Mature, with resolving tannins and a soft palate. Nice aromatics with spice, tobacco, and mild herbal notes. Not particularly herbaceous at all, like some other vintages. Finish is strong, without adding further complexity. I don’t see this getting better, but it’s pretty damn good now.
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10/13/2017 - jayw Likes this wine:
Smells fresh and clean. Has a very pleasant underlying sweetness in contrast to the green bell pepper and secondary notes of tobacco, earth, and old cigar box. Fruit is fading. The last of a case.
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7/17/2017 - GAET Likes this wine: 94 Points
Bouchon entamé 20%
Robe : noire, profonde, très peu évoluée mais avec un léger disque orangée de belles larmes s'écoulent le long des parois
Nez : de mémoire, très agréable sur les fruits noirs la mure, la fraise. Puis viennent des arômes tertiaire de sous-bois, de havane; Des senteurs de cedre.
en bouche : c'est plus long que large, les tanins sont fondus, gouleyant, très belle longueur
Excellent
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5/27/2017 - jayw wrote:
Beef blood, iron and tobacco. Green and bitter, with just enough fruit to get away with it. Tannins fairly well integrated, but not enjoying this as much as previous bottles. Drink up.
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4/1/2017 - Derek Darth Taster wrote: 91 Points
Aunt Eugenia's Bday 2017. @Tableat7. 750ml bottle from Nic. Pop and poured.
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour. legs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of sweet earth, sweet spices, tobacco, graphite, slight perfumed capsicums. Developed.
On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium alcohol (12.5%), grippy high tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of blackcurrants, sweet black cherries, tobacco, graphite, sweet earth. Medium+ finish.
Very good quality. Nice. Time to drink up over next 3 years before this starts to decline. Tannins will outlast the fruit.
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3/8/2017 - DaleW wrote:
The ripe/Cali style of the vintage doesn’t overwhelm the green tobacco leaf/herbiness of the estate. Black currants, herbs/green, cocoa. Not complex but ready to go. B
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2/3/2017 - pavel_p Likes this wine: 90 Points
Poured into decanter and drank over 2h. Tight upon opening, the wine still needs about 30 min in the decanter to open up. Still a fairly dark garnet with a 3mm wide transparent rim. Increasingly dominated by tobacco notes this is still showing a good balance on the palate, however lacks the concentration and aromatic expressiveness of a truly great Bordeaux. Fairly short finish. A very nice wine especially this is not the easiest vintage but from my point of view these should be drunk now as this is on a slight downwards slope and I struggle to find my excitement for this wine from 4 years ago. 89-90
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1/31/2017 - Ivin wrote: 93 Points
Into my 3rd case.
Wow has this wine put on weight!
Beef blood, earth and that SM tobacco nose
Dark fruit, olives and even some raspberry crispness.
Plenty of power and structure but with elegant tannins.
Good finish.
My kind of wine!
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1/23/2017 - redders Likes this wine: 90 Points
Colour mid red still bright. Red fruit on nose , ripe some cedar. Lovely texture , ripe creamy fruit plenty of depth. Good length. Very good wine
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1/13/2017 - Nanda wrote: 91 Points
Another very good bottle of this ready-to-go vintage of Sociando. Beautiful medium-full nose of dried plum, mineral and a healthy dose of bell pepper and green herb. Medium bodied on the palate with good balance and medium concentration. Right it a prime drinking window and should hold for several years. Quite satisfying.
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12/10/2016 - Nanda wrote: 90 Points
A terrific Bordeaux that is drinking wonderfully at the moment. The nose has that signature Sociando green herb and bell pepper note with plum and just a kiss of barrel spice. Medium bodied palate with modestly concentrated fruit (given the vintage). Nice balance. Should provide pleasure for 5-10 years.
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12/1/2016 - granikmw wrote:
Lovely wine. Integrated and developed but still with fresh fruit character. Harmonious tannic/acid structure; elegant if not concentrated; seamless segue to subtle, satisfying finish.
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6/12/2016 - cos82 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Purple plum in color with cherry and pencil on the nose. My kind of palate bursting with sweet black and red fruits, a touch of lead pencil and soft minerals. Really delicious!
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5/7/2016 - GAET Likes this wine: 90 Points
Toujours aussi bon, mais peut-être bu un peu trop frais.
Voir mes précédents commentaires.
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2/14/2016 - pavel_p Likes this wine: 90 Points
Slow ox'ed for 4 hours but wine needed some more time in the open bottle to show its best. Dark garnet almost to the rim. Initially plenty of dark berries, sous bois and a slight mustiness on the nose. Later the wine started to show spices and some secondary notes. On the mid palate a touch thin but still very good / enjoyable. Fine but sandy tannins. Finish rather short. Worked very well with steak and great QPR and great 1999. 90-91
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10/3/2015 - aagrawal wrote: 94 Points
Dinner with Friends (San Francisco, CA): Deep ruby but a bit cloudy; wonderful nose with green eucalyptus, olive, wonderful red and black fruits, fresh nose; palate is full bodied, wonderfully integrated tannins, fresh red fruit, great acidity and balance; medium-long finish. Superb. 93-95
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8/10/2015 - no leashes wrote: 90 Points
Very good red fruit, pencil lead, and a hint of earth. Smooth and well balanced, no rough edges.
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5/9/2015 - Ungifted Likes this wine: 91 Points
The last comment is very valid. Decanted for 3 hours plus, complex and deep rooted nose, black fruit and dry palate, moderate acidity and tannin. The cork did not look pristine but the wine is fantastic value at the £ 14 per bottle I paid in 2004. The French rate this vineyard very highly, Parker much less so. I agree their wine generally needs 15 years before it flourishes but if you have the time it will be well invested.
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4/5/2015 - henryd1 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Fantastic wine. The nose is absolutely enthralling with cedar, charcoal, leather, and soft spices. The palate is equally compelling with soft, perfectly balanced velvety tanins. Served for easter dinner with lamb - perfect combination. In my view, this is the most under-rated and best value wine in Bordeaux today, provided you have the patience to wait 15+ years. Significantly better than recent wines I've had from Lynch-Bages or Montrose. Ready to drink, but could hold. 93-94
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3/30/2015 - GAET Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dégusté cet après midi. Bouteille épaulée 3 heures.
Bouchon entamé 25%
Robe : noire, profonde, très peu évoluée. de belles larmes s'écoulent le long des parois
Nez : de mémoire, très agréable, mine de crayon, à peine un peu de poivron. Puis, sur les fruits noirs la mure, la framboise.
en bouche : c'est plus long que large, les tanins sont fondus,gouleyant, très belle longueur
Tout le monde a très bien apprécié
Très bien
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3/26/2015 - jskuek Likes this wine: 93 Points
Surprisingly, still need 1-2 hour decant to show its true beauty.
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2/6/2015 - yveslee Likes this wine: 87 Points
Excellent for the money, herbal cedar opulent nose, consistent palate with slightly imbalanced grainy and acidity spikes. Should improve in a year or two.
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1/21/2015 - yveslee Likes this wine:
From Simon.
Flashback...Fainting ruby color, pleasing nose gives hint to a well banaced and thoroughly aged vintage. Good depth and structure on the palate, medium body w/ smooth rolloff. Leaves one wanting for more.
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12/6/2014 - englishman's claret wrote: 92 Points
Classically enjoyable and very drinkable. Much the same as the last time around but the fruit is flagging a bit. Very much coal and cedar; some pencil. Not the ripest year, but not too much green. These should be drunk now.
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11/29/2014 - jayw Likes this wine:
Plum, cherry, earth. Well integrated tannins and very good balance.
drinking very well right now, with several years to go.
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10/20/2014 - dbkitc wrote: 87 Points
A bit of a bruiser - does not have the energy or interest that I found in the 1998. Very masculine and dark. Fine with a full flavored dish but not special. (87)
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10/11/2014 - jayw wrote:
Drinking very nicely now. Expressive nose, abundant fruit. The green streak of earlier bottles has dissipated. Plum and currants, leather, iron and spice.
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9/14/2014 - grenache lover Likes this wine: 89 Points
Still young but can be drunk. Better nose than mouth, where it is a bit hollow in the medium. Nose speaks of Bordeaux, everything is in balance and there is some fruit still. Easy drinker, better with food where you feel less the whole in the middle of the wine. I would drink more if it was not my only bottle.
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8/22/2014 - favorito Likes this wine: 91 Points
Had the chance during a big event to taste from a 18 liter bottle.
Decanted in many decanters for about 4 - 6 hours.
Perfect H.Medoc ! Still young , but very good drinkable.
Was a big experience.
This event happened at Hotel Krone in Lech. Austria.
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8/9/2014 - davidspieker wrote: 89 Points
Minimal dark fruit with graphite and leather. Nice balance with good integration and lengthy finish.
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8/7/2014 - mikekeane wrote:
Jean
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6/15/2014 - GAET Likes this wine: 93 Points
attaque franche, tanins bien fondus on retrouve les fruits noirs bien mûrs , un peu de cuir , assez complexe et bien équilibré
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12/25/2013 - jayw Likes this wine:
Earthy nose, plum and leather. Plum and cassis on the palate, graphite, iron, leather, spice. Exceptional balance with the tannins very well integrated. Uplifting finish. A lively, refreshing Bordeaux, drinking very well right now.
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11/25/2013 - PhDP Likes this wine:
Un profil avenant, presque souriant. Finale plus stricte. Je n'irais pas jusqu'à "vin de plaisir", mais c'est moins austère que dans mes souvenirs.
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11/21/2013 - Baron Slick wrote: 92 Points
A lively and stylish wine displaying a garnet appearance, ruby rim, and an alluring bouquet. Mature and singed at first, followed by aromas of black, blue, and purple fruit accenting sweet notes of forest berries, grape Jolly Ranchers, incense, graphite, and a hint of meat. The mid-to-full bodied palate is concentrated, with lots of damson fruit, sandalwood, and balsamic vinegar flavors, good middle acidity, and great purity of fruit on the long spice-driven finish. Has a ways to go before it starts slowing down. Just a fantastic wine from an underrated producer.
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11/13/2013 - englishman's claret wrote: 92 Points
At first, all cassis and oak on the nose with a palate of cedar and pencil. But with time in the decanter, biscuit, caramel. Not the biggest wine for Sociando, but - as always - one with terroir and a beautiful reflection of the vintage.
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7/22/2013 - ReneB wrote: 91 Points
Very round tannines, very drinkable, nice taste with soft red fruit.
Do not think that will improve much in the coming years
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6/25/2013 - Libiamo! Likes this wine: 92 Points
A cuvee speciale that is a blend of 15 best barrels out of 60. Looks much younger than its age. It is amazing how fresh the fruit still is and how much is still left after more than a decade, which are the two indications for me of the longevity of the wine. On the nose, dark fruit such as bumble, black cherry, baking spice, vanilla, touch of oak. On the palate, velvety tannins, medium plus finish and acidity. Impressive. Easily lasts for another decade and should pick up more tertiary characters along the way.
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5/13/2013 - dbkitc wrote: 88 Points
A pretty garnet - all purple is gone. Robust, earthy Cabernet nose. Full and masculine. Palate is mostly resolved though some tannin lurks in the background. Chunky, full attack that falls off rather quickly on the finish. Good but lacks charm and real depth. Still solid. (88)
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4/21/2013 - mikekeane wrote: 89 Points
Beau pour un 99. Pas trop evolue. Encore capable de se maintenir plusieurs annees.
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2/27/2013 - fbernard4 wrote: 88 Points
Nez légèrement animal, un peu cuir mais bien en bouche. Bonne finale.
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2/23/2013 - Bisty Likes this wine: 92 Points
Sociando-Mallet vertical (Brussels): Very nice on the nose, very balanced, still some tannins and oak to resolve and. Classical old school Bordeaux! Will improve!
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1/19/2013 - pavel_p Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank over two nights, and on the second day this was showing just a notch better than the previous two bottles (see earlier notes). Upon opening with a rather strong green note, the wine takes some time in the decanter to integrate and also gains overall weight. Great pleasure on the second day given a perfect balance with a surprising Margaux like sweetness, and a medium plus finish.
Interestingly, both 99er Bdx I have been drinking recently (the Sociando and the 99 Giscours) would be my absolute top QPR picks in this lower / mid-price Bdx segment, and are way better than what you would expect given the rather ordinary reputation of the vintage.
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12/25/2012 - jayw Likes this wine:
Two hour decant. Strong dark fruits, conentrated by not overpowering. Tobacco, cola, iron secondary, with a prominent green streak. Cherry and cedar on the medium length finish. Well integrated tannins, nicely balanced. Still quiet youthful. Paired with herbed prime rib for Christmas dinner.
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12/20/2012 - dbkitc wrote: 90 Points
Deep ruby / garnet color. Classic S-M – stones and black fruit in abundance with just a touch of green elements. Wine tastes exactly how it smells. Has real power – more than many from the vintage. Just entering the maturity plateau – has many years left. A rough and tumble Bordeaux – has its place in a cellar – just don’t expect elegance or grace. (90)
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12/7/2012 - pmgsmith Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lovely aged B'x. Deep, dark fruits yet well-balanced and integrated. Black cherry, hint of liquorice, leather and wood. Strong fruit yet also restrained, good colour and balanced on the palate if a tad thin on the mid. Lacks a little on the acidity and freshness. More brooding than smoothness. Very nice in a relaxed mellow way. Give a 2 hour decant and don't worry if you decant before that even.
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12/5/2012 - amateurwino wrote:
This claret is showing as much more resolved than the 2001s in the flight before, showing tons of typicity and drinking effortlessly on this night. Easily beats the '99 Dominus alongside it, for my palate.
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11/17/2012 - Perthor01 wrote: 90 Points
Good Bordeaux
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10/25/2012 - pavel_p wrote:
Poured half of a bottle into a decanter and drank over 2h. As described in my earlier note this is a nice honest, Cab dominated Bdx which is drinking very well now. However unlike the first bottle from this case, this one shows a fairly strong green streak. I don't mind, this is Sociando Mallet after all, and the green makes it stand out among its peers and ads some freshness in my eyes, but certainly not to everbody's taste (90)
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8/5/2012 - -Tim- wrote: 91 Points
Great bottle! Consistent with my tasting notes from 2010.
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7/13/2012 - Bill Bucklew wrote: 90 Points
Quick note; very well balanced, pencil lead and dark muddled fruit on the nose. Integrated soft tannins, balanced acidity, red and black fruit with minor secondary's of graphite and tobacco, fading a bit since the last bottle, but still an elegant wine, drink up..
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7/10/2012 - pavel_p wrote: 91 Points
Pnp. Dark garnet with only slight lightening at the rim. This wine has a very nice balance with some barnyard, scorched earth, a bit of cafe au lait, cedar and dark fruit. The wine has a very soft texture, without being overly polished, and still has some fine tannins on the palate. Medium finish. My first Sociando, and while I cannot detect any of the greeness the producer is known for, it is indeed a very good QPR Bordeaux.
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6/19/2012 - Vintomas wrote: 90 Points
Dark red, rather opaque colour, just a little lighter at the edges. Really a classical nose of a relatively mature Bordeaux with dark plum, blackcurrants, dark cherries, earth cellar, herbs, spices, with a hint of barnyard, leather, pencil shavings and tar. Slightly more than medium bodied, again blackcurrants, dark cherries and dark plums, well integrated and slightly softened but still noticeable tannin, good acidity, slightly spicy, with a rather long and well-balanced aftertaste. A very good effort for a vintage that tends to be "average". A bit of an old-style Bordeaux - in the very best sense of the word (well poised and not overextracted, overoaked or overalcoholic) - that has come into its drinking window, but one that will effortlessly last another 10 years.
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6/4/2012 - Maestro wrote: 90 Points
Abundant fruit and aromas of wet earth, tobacco, spices, and a bit of chocolate. Really fresh and juicy on the palate, with a medium finish and no hard edges. Maybe not as complex as one would hope, but very good nonetheless.
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6/2/2012 - no leashes wrote: 90 Points
Drinking very nicely, dark cherry, earth and mineral flavors. Medium bodied, nice dry finish.
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4/26/2012 - FransS wrote: 88 Points
When corona forces you to work at home (March 28, 2020) than you go cleaning, so I found this tasting note. Fresh bouquet with anise; the taste is like the '98 but a bit leaner, lighter, however balanced.
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3/13/2012 - MichielV wrote: 89 Points
served at helen's 50th - pretty good according to Karen Suber. she liked the bordeaux qualities next to all the american stuff we were serving
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1/12/2012 - krispi wrote: 92 Points
Impressive for a 1999!
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12/27/2011 - ReneB wrote:
Strakke klassieke bordeaux met straf begin en daarna stteds sappiger en fruitiger wordend
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12/11/2011 - Oh Dae-su wrote: 90 Points
At first the Sociando appeared far more accessible, silkier, rounder and maybe a more “sweet” than the others. I got flavours of chocolate, cappuccino, dark berries, ketchup, a hint of cola and a variety of warm indescribable feelings. Its style was straight, a bit warm and cosy, pretty elegant with certain freshness and almost quaffable. Later more rigid and more butch flavours like white and black pepper combined with wilder spicy components. Impressive Medoc without a lot of potential to improve. Drink up! I say!
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9/23/2011 - grossie wrote: 89 Points
Nice aromatics. Good flavor profile of ripe fruit with a bit of smoky character, plum, & cassis. It's a little hollow in the midpalate, which detracts from this wine. Finishes nicely, no hard edges, tannins are soft. Drink now.
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9/23/2011 - Strikermax wrote: 89 Points
Paars, bijna zwart van kleur, aan de rand iets verkleurend naar oranje. Zwart fruit, mandarijntjes, mineralen en rook in de geur, evenals groene paprika. In de smaak gestoofd fruit, mist concentratie.
Mediumlange afdronk met behoorlijke tannines, doet nog erg jong aan.
Een mindere Sociando.
Dubbel gedecanteerd en na 1 dag: duidelijk verbeterd, eleganter en soepel.
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7/31/2011 - elledeca wrote:
popped and poured. very intense and pleasant nose, with blackberries, blueberries, tobacco, leather and mint. medium bodied, fuity and cedary in the mouth, with good acidity to cut through the food. not the densest, but nevertheless excellent.
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7/29/2011 - Brett Pitt Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice left bank
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6/12/2011 - FastTrack wrote: 92 Points
quite supple, showing the scents of iron and ripe fruit, on the palate, lovely texture, full and fleshy, with gentle tannins still fading and giving a nice supporting layer, and fresh acidity
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5/23/2011 - MarkL wrote: 91 Points
Clear, Dark, Ruby. Young looking.
Vanilla and blackcurrant on the nose with a touch of cedar.
Dry, High acidity, medium tannins, fully bodied. long.
good quality. Like it, think that it will be better tomorrow after a night in the fridge.
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5/1/2011 - Carteran wrote: 89 Points
Intense dark berry fruit on the nose, nice balanced spice and integrated oak character, slightly smoky. Palate a bit muddled, not much definition or finesse, and only moderate length, but balanced acidity and mature tannic mouthfeel. Highly drinkable, moderately rich, full-bodied style of Bordeaux. Pair with richly stewed red meat e.g. braised shoulder of lamb.
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4/3/2011 - MichielV wrote: 90 Points
Served at my b-day steak dinner. next to cali and italian cabs. This is OK, good color, good nose. The palate dies a littel soon and certainly this was very different than the cali cal (Chalk Hill 04) which we had to start. great elegance though, was a fun comparison and you got people's favorites to show. the old world eople stuck with the bordeaux and the new world people really liked the chalk hill (which I liked best in comparison.
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3/30/2011 - mmh wrote: 91 Points
Mature fruit, oak and some smoke on the nose. Good taste but slightly green. With time in the glass the wine clearly improved, toffee notes started shoing and the greenness decrased. Lots of red berries. Relatively good balance. Definitely worth its price.
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1/9/2011 - MichielV wrote: 89 Points
With Hamburger. Beautiful dark color, still very fresh (real Sociando). Good nose but I wasnt impressed by the wine at all. maybe in sleepy phase?? Good wine but not stand-out bordeaux and SM.
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12/2/2010 - -Tim- wrote: 91 Points
The second bottle I had this year. Nearly as good as the first one. Would decant my next bottle at least 3 hours next time because this wine just keeps on building up in the glass and the bottle is empty far too early.
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11/6/2010 - G.O. wrote: 89 Points
Considerably better after 2 hours in decanter. Low acidity and increased bitterness.
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11/5/2010 - Solde wrote: 91 Points
Good powerful and complex nose. Some pencil shavings, cassis, vanilla, liqoirice and tar notes. Good structure and fruit. Good length. Tight tannins.
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11/5/2010 - Rubicante wrote: 91 Points
Light-medium garnet, fades slowly to orange. Alcohol shows on the even after aeration, aside that the nose is nice and complex with cassis, cedar, leather and herbal notes. Medium-bodied and round on the palate, the balance holds to the end, good length. A relatively 'easy' wine. Could evolve further in short term cellaring. 91+
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11/5/2010 - avp wrote:
Some volatile character (even after decanting) on the nose with notes of cassis and cherry fruit, animality, liquorice, chocolate, mushrooms, clove and cedar. Over time strenghtening mocha.
Medium bodied with balanced structure of carrying acidity and integrated tannins. Vibrant fruit, bitter herbals, tobacco and mocha. Good length.
Attractive wine and drinking well at the moment.
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8/29/2010 - elledeca wrote: 90 Points
decanted a few hours. deep red, not evolved on the rim. nose of blackcurrant, cedar, blackberry. tannins receding, middle weight, very juicy, tobacco and cedar, long finish. gets better in the glass: still on its way up but very good already now.
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8/12/2010 - mellison wrote: 93 Points
This bottle far exceeded my expectations. Thought it would be thin and tannic but was not at all. Decanted for about an hour then drank preparing and eating a dinner of skirt steak. The wine had a smooth almost velvety feel on the palate with well developed dark fruits of blackberries, blueberries and black cherry. The fruit was fully expressed and the tannins smoothly integrated providing a strong backbone and foundation. Everything one would want and expect in a mature Bordeaux. Wished I had more as it compared quite favorably to a recently consumed 1990 Mouton Rothschild.
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7/16/2010 - bretrooks wrote:
Austere and a little spicy, with subtle fruit hidden behind tobacco smoke, sandalwood, and damp earth. Nice, although a bit reserved for my taste.
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7/15/2010 - NavyGrog wrote: 91 Points
Wonderful juice. Bouquet of a much more expensive wine. Down to my last bottle of 2 cases. Dark fruits. Great stuff.
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4/17/2010 - NavyGrog wrote: 90 Points
Great bouquet. Still showing well.
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4/2/2010 - FransS wrote: 92 Points
This wine is driving me crazy. Yesterday the wine was shy, also severe, with a good taste and matching spicy rice, but that was it.
Today after a long day in the fridge the development was very impressive. A deep, even infantile, colour (like a 2005)
and a sleek taste with vanille to a robust taste with red, ripe, pungent fruit; a foursquare round wine (make your own impression!).
The mid- and aftertaste show concentration and balance. Why the crazyness? 'That's because every sip is slightly different.
Fortunately a modest vintage, so you can enjoy this wine really soon? Yes, have your bottle now, but I think that the Startrek crew
can take this wine to a Alpha Quadrant journey and returns with the last remaining bottles in pristine condition.
Why 'only' 92 points? That's because this wine is terrific, but misses the elegance of most Médoc Grand Cru Classé wines.
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3/20/2010 - -Tim- wrote: 93 Points
Opened up after about 2 hours in the decanter and got better and better with every minute. Full bodied Bordeaux with a great bouquet of berries. Having a bottle of 2001 Sarget de Gruaud-Larose before and a 2004 Chateau Chauvin afterwards, the 1999 Sociando-Mallet was my favourite wine that evening. Perfectly drinkable now but should last at least for the next 5-10 years!
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3/17/2010 - PhDP wrote:
Verticale de Sociando-Mallet (groupe du mercredi, Bruxelles, Belgium, chez PhDP): Nez opulent et solaire. Bouche dense, puissante, mais un peu lourde. Extraction marquée. Je l'ai pris pour le '90. 15 pour moi et 15,7 pour le groupe.
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11/20/2009 - A&C wrote: 92 Points
Lovely. Nice fruit. Open. Drinkable now. Yummy
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11/18/2009 - Olderbhoy wrote: 88 Points
Dark blood-red but no ageing. A very fruity nose ith stewed fruit, mint and plums. It has a spicy, fruity palate which is full and has god length. Lovely drink.
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10/11/2009 - ReneB wrote: 88 Points
Smooth and very drinkebale. Not very many tannines, but still adequatly present to give it such a typical (haut)medoc flavour. Some fruit and some "dark" overtones hintign at sandlewood an chocolate. I Liked it very much. A wine te be tasted with ïntelligence"
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7/6/2009 - Vino Me wrote: 85 Points
4th Chicago Steak Out (Otis' house): Tasted blind at the 4th Chicago Steak Out. Finished tied for 9th among the 18 wines. I liked it less. This was not showing well and was closed in my opinion. It had a slight moldiness to the little fruit that was showing. Moderate to light tannins. Give this time. 85 points
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7/3/2009 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
Steak Out (Otis'): Label: colt. Garnet color. Aromas of dark fruit, forest floor/damp earth, and a subtle whiff of brett. Well-balanced, with good fruit and acidity. Dark fruit, sandalwood, and earth flavors on the palate. My #5 overall wotn. 92+ pts.
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6/13/2009 - chateaujochen wrote: 93 Points
It's reached full maturity now...this wine has unbelievable melted together like two lovers in action...incredible wine...it is very classicly made very old school and because it is well made I love it...Jean Gautreau does the thing he believes in and he does it very well...because 1999 is ready to drink now we realize that sociando never must be drunk before 10 years of age...when you taste this you now why sociando can compete with the big guys...www.everyoneweb.com/chateaujochen
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5/22/2009 - krispi wrote: 92 Points
Very good. Complex, classic, slightly evolved bordeaux nose. Well-balanced and medium-bodied.
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5/9/2009 - MichelBesner wrote: 92 Points
Truly superb, nice, smooth and velvety tannins. Beautiful balance of fruit and leather/smokyness. Medium long finish.
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4/27/2009 - James B wrote: 93 Points
This is aging perfectly and showed beautifully tonight. Highly recommended.
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12/27/2008 - FransS wrote: 90 Points
Tasted two weeks ago. Maybe this wine is a little too young. A lot of fruit is still wristling with ripe notes. I gave the wine several hours in the carafe,
but I think the wine needs longer at the moment. Still a very lovely bottle with a strong mid palet and a round aftertaste, but not (yet?) at the same level as Lynch-Bages.
For me 1999 is very often a lovely year for Bordeaux.
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10/3/2008 - Brsed wrote: 90 Points
Full of tertiary flavors of cedar and earth. Nicely developed.
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9/9/2008 - pabernatchez wrote: 92 Points
My limited previous experiences with Sociando included tastings of the 2003 and 2004, which I found had a green bellpepper taste that didn't please me much. But to my surprise, their 1999 is beautiful wine. Color is still very dark, nose is very serious, classic left bank Bordeaux : cassis, crème de mûre, a little bit of cedar and pencil shavings. The wine is on the fuller bodied side, but with silky tannins and a gorgeous palette of black fruit and minerals. Make sure you open the wine 1h ahead of time and, over all, that you serve it at the right temperature (15-16C) because it provided much more pleasure at that temp than when it got warmer.
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8/16/2008 - chateaujochen wrote: 90 Points
This has become fully mature...upon opening the green taste(just a little bit)which is tipical sociando I guess...I like that funky green herby taste of sociando...Incredibly smooth which all 1999 bordeaux wines are right now...very enjoyable wine...I think I have 3 bottles left...www.everyoneweb.com/chateaujochen
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8/2/2008 - Olderbhoy wrote: 90 Points
Deep full red. Looks rich, no ageing. Subdued nose. some smoke, dark fruits in the background.Good fruit but it ends with a strange dry edge - bitter. But once its been open for a while - 2hrs - it is a delicious fruit driven beastie. Next day it has developed a plummy nose. The finsih still has that dry, bitter edge but it seems more in place now.
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4/6/2008 - KeithAkers wrote: 90 Points
nose: nice classic bordeaux nose of pencil shavings, black currants, tobacco, smoke tones, and toast
taste: nice earth driven flavors with pencil shavings, smoke tones, dark plum, and black currants
overall: a very quality bordeaux. nice classic profile with very good weight and feel. Very smooth attack and finish that lasts
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2/9/2008 - Brsed wrote: 89 Points
Quite good. Well balanced and stuctured.
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1/1/2008 - cos82 wrote: 91 Points
Purple plum in color with a fine nose of earth, cassis and some floral elements. Sweet and soft on the palate with plum and rasberry notes. Ready to drink with no tannins which I attribute to the vintage. Pop, pour and enjoy.
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12/26/2007 - Ivin wrote: 89 Points
Tea, soy, and earth nose. Red fruit flavors, good finish. I had the 2003 yesterday which is much riper and bigger. This is good but will not be great.
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11/11/2007 - Ivin wrote: 89 Points
Color turning maroon, pale transparent ruby, pale at the rim. With air, tobacco and raspberry nose, raspberry jam palate, balanced tannins, decent finish. This is decent Medoc but it is no 2003!
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11/11/2007 - Grinder wrote: 90 Points
Opened, decanted, and sipped over several hours. Noted continued improvement (about the 3 hour point this got going). Nice dark ruby color to the edges. Nose is primarily earthy with plum notes. Medium bodied, ripe plum, cedar, sour cherry and earthy notes on the palate. Very nice, with noticeable, but smooth, tannins. Good structure, nice lingering finish. Good value at $28.
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10/13/2007 - chateaujochen wrote: 89 Points
hello everybody!!!It seems I'm in the 99 bordeaux at the moment and they are all very nice to drink right now.This sociando keeps to improve every time I drink it...Seems like every 99 bordeaux is doing that and in the end this difficult vintage is giving some pleasure to drink...The sociando is IMHO not at its peak,but tonight its very classic old school bordeaux(cedar cherry oak soft tannins)maybe it could gain a little bit more fruit(maybe within 6 months) and then we have a 90 point very nice wine...I have also clos du marquis 1999 in my cellar and i think at the moment its a little bit better...
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6/3/2007 - smahk wrote: 91 Points
Inky red/purple in color. Medium body with earthy bordeaux on the nose. Taste of plum, dried cherries and earth. Nice velvet tannins with a soft mid palate finish. Great QPR - will get more.
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5/31/2007 - James B wrote: 92 Points
I love this one. It's my Bordeaux staple. Very approachable despite its youth. Exhibits all the earthiness and other signature characteristics of a Bordeaux. If an inexperienced oenophile asks you what a Bordeaux tastes like, serve this. I just love it. I'm going to buy another case.
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4/28/2007 - KevinP wrote:
I spalsh decanted this for only a half-hour or so, which was a mistake. The nose was wonderful when initially poured into the decanter, but then the wine disappeared - it gave almost nothing on both the nose and the palate. I saved most overnight in a covered decanter. It still had little to give the next AM. I think that this just shut-down hard and will reward several more years of cellaring.....i think.....
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2/2/2007 - A&C wrote: 89 Points
Lighter, clear cherry in color. Nice signature earthy, chalky, bordeaux nose -- not a huge nose, but a nice mid-palate nose. We decanted the wine for 6 1/2 hours before opening, which really helped. By the last glass, this was a very open and full wine with a very nice texture on the tongue. Well balanced, with a hint of horse (in a good way), cherry earthiness, good acid, and balance. This wine is ready now. Its so nice to be able to enjoy a good bordeaux at such a young age. Very enjoyable. This paired wonderful with our Friday night crock-pot chicken, finger potatoes, shallots, garlic and shitake mushrooms. However, the wine paired the very best with my daughter's macaroni and cheese. The rich greasyness of the mac/cheese brought out the best in the depth of the wine. Odd, but true. Next time, skip the fancy meal, and pop open the mac/cheese and your favorite bordeaux. Cheers.
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1/21/2007 - James B wrote: 92 Points
Outstanding wine, and a great value. Notes of dried cherries, blackberries, tobacco leaf. Powerful aroma and full mouth feel. Although still a bit young for a Bordeaux, it is drinkable now. We did decant for a couple of hours before drinking. I picked up a lot of this wine, and l look forward to enjoying it for many years to come.
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11/30/2006 - joshbryer wrote:
1 hr. decant. Nose with graphite, cedar and creamy fruit and oak. Red fruit, oak and some earthiness on the palate with medium weight and a coarse tannic finish that is somewhat green. Gained weight with more time, needs some years (like 10).
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10/28/2006 - Arch57 wrote: 92 Points
I knew this wine was a hit while I was decanting and caught the wonderful aroma. This was text-book Bordeaux, really the old-world style. The nose was full of graphite and raisans. Smooth, velvet finish but this had the backbone to last a few more years. Too bad I only purchased one bottle in 2005 for $28, a real value. A pleasure because my wife really enjoys good Bordeaux and she was captivated by this wine. I am nursing that last 1/2" in the glass as I write this note.
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10/21/2006 - A&C wrote: 93 Points
This was the wine of the evening. Signature bordeaux nose -- very well structured -- nice chalky, wet leaf, and coffee ground taste. The nose was wonderful, and the wine was very open and accessible now. Thanks to James & Juli for sharing this wonderful treat.
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9/29/2006 - thijsseg wrote: 89 Points
good, not great
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9/12/2006 - DaleW wrote: 89 Points
Most open and accessible. Cassis overlaid with milk chocolate.
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8/1/2006 - mikecase00 wrote: 91 Points
(From 375ml) This is what left bank Bordeaux is all about. Dark purple color in the glass. A fairly expressive nose of raspberries and minerals with a hint of herbs that I could sit and smell all night. Well balanced in the mouth with plenty of fruit to off set the mass of ripe tannins. Just needs a longer finish to be really great. From half bottle this wine is ready if you like a little tannins with your fruit, otherwise it could probably stand another few years in the cellar. Very enjoyable, on par with the 99 Lynch Bages I had about six weeks ago.
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6/6/2006 - vinaigre wrote: 89 Points
Montreal Sociando Mallet tasting (Restaurant La Colombe): Deep ruby red, violet edges tending toward orange. Nose of underbrush, red fruits, cherries, blackberries, red meat, cloves and spices. Nice acidity and tannins, slightly bitter, moderate-plus finish with retro of fruits, meat and chocolate.
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4/29/2006 - Crae wrote: 88 Points
Very dark purple, somewhat subdued fruit with very soft tannins and a lingering finish. Aired for an hour but perhaps could have used more time.
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3/6/2006 - espia wrote:
Interesting wine. Friends loved it
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2/23/2006 - MRichman wrote:
Nice inner core of sweet fruit, followed by a broad herbal midpalate with dark dark base. Black currant, tobacco, burnt oak. Slightly hot finish, long and oaky. Lots of dark fruit with herbs. Typically Sociando, if a bit lighter than normal. Has the soy herbs of '99. Drinkable now and will improve, but will not be a very very long lasting wine. Nice but not spectacular.
B
$25 Benchmark 1/06
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11/15/2005 - Brad L wrote:
Very nice wine, somewhat closed, I would wait another 5 years.
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11/15/2005 - SteveHyde wrote:
Purchased on sale at Mills for $21. Beautiful deep purple-black in color, nose showing lots of black fruits, cypruss cab notes, with merlot chocolate and some bramble notes. It was a bit tight on opening, but after a night in the fridge and some additional air it was really lovely. A mid-weight wine, and a bit thin in the middle, it was very pleasant drinking, with fine tanins, soft mouthfeel, and pronounced fruit. A high mid-80s range wine that is a very nice QPR at the sale price.
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10/14/2005 - RJD wrote: 91 Points
Very enjoyable wine. Great earthy notes with blackberry, tobacco, cherry and pencil lead. Nice medium length finish and to me, a good deal of red fruit on the palate. Drying tannins. Drinkable now, but relatively tight. This will improve for a while.
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7/27/2005 - steffenpelz wrote: 91 Points
1999 Bordeaux Tasting (Cafe Caprice, Austin TX): This showed really well. Some commented that this was like the big bad brother of the Pichon Lalande. Cassis, pencil lead, leather, tobacco/cigar box, dark cherry, licorice, and blue/black fruit, as well as a hint of dried herbs. Lovely wine and the surprise of the evening. Still a puppy and bruiser, but will be very good when fully mature.
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2/20/2005 - RickG wrote:
Dark purple color. Red plum notes on the nose, followed by a bit of smoke, some leather, a slight bit of coffee. This became smoother with time, but a bit simpler on the palate and took on a very slight saline note on the nose. Medium to full body, this matches good density with a lightness that keeps the palate fresh. Half the bottle saved for tomorrow...
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2/14/2005 - DFC wrote: 89 Points
Decanted for 30 minutes before dinner...should have been a lot longer (but not possible tonight). Color was an inky purple. Nose was surprisingly subdued. This baby is still sleeping! Slight cedary notes eventually waft upwards. On the palate, nice plum notes. Mid-palate still developing, but decent finish. Tannins still applying a grip, but not brutally so. Nevertheless, while enjoyable for a Bordeaux-lover, this one should rest for another 2-3 years in my opinion. Wow, still cannot get over the lack of nose! Once the nose opens up, this is worth another point or two.
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