Chateau Haut-Sociondo, Premier Cotes de Blaye, 2005
Lighter, medium colored Bordeaux. An herbal syled wine, with the usual blackcurrants and herbs, bitter dust on the end. Drinking very well right now out of the gate, but 1-2 years on this will give this a little development (not a lot of complexity here, but it will better integrate). At $7 per 375ml, who's to complain?! B+
Chateau Caronne Ste. Gemme, Haut Medoc, 2003
[From another half bottle - $8 Gimme some gemme! said the sparkster. This is deeper colored than the preceeding wine, with a more deeply scented, almost Californian nose of blackberries, dark currants, and spicy woodsmoke. Dark sweet fruit here and a candied-apple finish. Good, if young. Needs 4-6 years. B+ also, with the cellar nod going to this.