Chateau Sociando Mallet 2001

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "This Haut-Medoc performed spectacularly on the two occasions I tasted it from bottle, even eclipsing its impressive showing from cask. It looks to be every bit as powerful as the 2000 ... not an easy achievement. A fabulous sleeper of the vintage, it tastes more like a first-growth than an unclassified offering. Its inky/blue/purple color is accompanied by a spectacular bouquet of lead pencil shavings, ink, blackberries, cedar, and earth. Full-bodied, with terrific texture, fabulous concentration, and moderately high tannin, this massive, atypical 2001 must be tasted to be believed. A brilliant achievement! Anticipated maturity: 2008-2020+."

WEINWISSER: "Sehr tiefes, dunkles Weinrot, Granatschimmer. Warmes, reifendes Bouquet, Cabernet-Touch an einen ziemlich grossen Pauillac erinnernd, dabei Trüffelnoten im Untergrund zeigend, warm, pflaumig mit diversen Gewürzen. Fester Gaumen, fleischig, immer noch Rückhalt bietend, pfeffriges Extrakt, viel Rasse aufweisend, ab jetzt für rund zehn Jahre weiteren Genuss bietend."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "This concentrated, full bodied, classically styled, tannic wine serves up a big helping of blackberry, cassis, fresh herbs, tobacco, leaf and earth, along with the structure to age and develop for years. This is one of the few Left Bank wines from this vintage that can use more bottle age."