Château Sociando-Mallet Haut-Médoc 2018
- ws90-93
- v93
Category | Red Wine |
Varietals | |
Brand | Château Sociando-Mallet |
Origin | France, Bordeaux, Haut-Médoc |
Château Sociando-Mallet first came into existence in 1633 when a Basque nobleman, Sossiondo, started the estate. Over the next 300 years, Sociando changed ownership a number of times, with some owners taking great care of the vineyard and wines, and others who did not. In 1969, Jean Gautreau purchased the dilapidated estate, and succeeded in turning around its fortunes and making it one of the top wines in the Haut-Médoc.
The vineyards of Sociando-Mallet are planted to 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc on Günz gravel over clay-limestone soil, which regulates water supply and helps to deliver incredible richness and ripeness to the Merlot. All grapes are fermented with native yeasts in temperature-controlled steel and concrete vats. After fermentation, the wine is aged for 12 months in 100% new oak barrels, then a further 6 months in tank before bottling. The wines of Sociando-Mallet are some of the most consistent, pleasurable and easy to drink wines in the Haut-Médoc.
Wine Spectator
- ws90-93
Offers a good dose of currant and blackberry paste flavors, coated with tobacco and tar details. Shows more guts than polish, but solid nonetheless. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. (Barrel Tasting)
Vinous
- v93
The 2018 Sociando Mallet, which comes wrapped in a resplendent 50th-anniversary label to celebrate the late Jean Gautreau's acquisition of the estate, takes some time to really coalesce on the nose, eventually revealing boysenberry and mulberry scents and cedar and light earthy aromas. The palate is medium- bodied with supple tannins that belie the concentration of this Sociando-Mallet. Very cohesive, it delivers plenty of red fruit mixed with sous-bois and tobacco, though there is just a little more dryness on the finish than I was expecting. Give it 3-5 years in bottle if you can.