Chateau Sociando Mallet 2003, Haut-Medoc, France Flank Both the 1988 Barolos are

Both the 1988 Barolos are more tannic than the Barbarescos

over the past five years

The right amount of fat and the high degree of marbling typical of the Angus breed result in the balance for the perfect meat

makes jumbo crab meat a cherished ingredient in upscale restaurants and home kitchens

smoked meats and rich spices that are framed by a nicely integrated application of new oak and strongly recall the wines of the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti

Chateau Sociando Mallet 2003, Haut-Medoc, France Flank Both the 1988 Barolos areThe 2003 Sociando Mallet is drinking brilliantly, wafting from the glass with a deep bouquet of blackberry and cassis mingled with hints of loamy soil, cigar box and pencil shavings. Medium to full bodied, layered and muscular, with a deep core of fruit, impressively lively acids and ample reserves of rich, powdery tannin, it is one of the real successes of the vintage. It's also one of the most youthful tasting 2003s you can find today.