WTN: I'd rather be a hammer than a nail? (Bordeaux, Cali Pinot)

[David M. Bueker]

Two diametrically opposed wines...

2001 Chateau Sociando Mallet (Haut Medoc)
Some reports had indicated this might be drinking well. Uh...no. It's still closed and monolithic, but there's a big core waiting to come out. Nothing green here, but all the strength that is traditional of Sociando is just coiled up and waiting for the right moment to strike. Balance is very good, and I expect fine things in another 5-7 years.

2003 Loring Wine Company Naylor Dry Hole Vineyard
Classic Loring puppy dog wine. Friendly and exuberant, but this one has a few teeth. Cherry, raspberry and earthy tones, with some slightly astringent tannins. Big finish of fruit and oak though. Perhaps another year in the cellar would have done this good, but no matter. Still fun to drink, and perhaps even a little more enjoyable for having some additional structure.

The Loring was the more enjoyable drink at the time, but in the long run I would rather have the Sociando.

Thanks for the notes, David. I've been waffling on the '01 Sociando (only because there are so many other wines on my List) but it sounds worth getting.

Any recent read on the '95 Sociando?

[David M. Bueker]

I don't own any of the '95 Bill. Based on other '95s I have had I would not touch one yet.

The 1983 should be drinking well:
12/1/2002: A bottle 4/01 had seemed seemed fully mature, but even after 2 hours in the decanter this came across as still young with puckery tannin, good concentration of ripe (not sweet) cassis fruit, but somewhat lacking in complexity. Good with lamb but certainly overshadowed by the ‘70 Lynch-Bages. Leftovers the next day showed expansion of nose and palate suggesting room for improvement with time.

1986 (granted, it's a 1986) on 6/16/2006 had arrived at early maturity. Good wine.

I plan to open my first 1990 next year. You get the point. But that may just be my taste.

Charles

You get the point.

Point taken. Back under the pile they go. thanks for the datapoints.

Aesthete or Hedonist! The choice is yours!

(And sometimes you're really lucky, and don't have to choose...Dom Perignon, anyone?)