Château Sociando-Mallet Haut Médoc - 2019

75 cl

James Suckling: 95 points

Yves Beck: 95 points

Alcohol content: 13.5% vol.

Grape varieties: 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 55% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc

Vinification:

18 months in exclusively new barriques

Tasting note:

Notes of plums, blueberries and blackcurrant accompanied by white flowers, steaming earth and subtle oak.

The Château Sociando-Mallet is one of Bordeaux’s most renowned and distinctive estates, which, despite lacking an official classification, consistently produces wine of a quality on a par with that of a Cru Classé acts.

The estate is situated in the northern Médoc.

Parish: Located in Saint-Seurin-de-Cadourne, directly to the north of the famous Saint-Estèphe appellation.

Floor: The vines are planted on a prime gravelly hilltop with deep subsoil consisting of clay and limestone.

Distinctive feature: The vineyards are situated right on the banks of the Gironde. The water reflects the sunlight and protects the vines from extreme frost or heat shocks. Furthermore, the soil ensures perfect drainage when it rains, whilst at the same time retaining sufficient moisture for the dry months

The vineyard is privately owned by a family.

Jean Gautreau: The visionary wine merchant purchased the then-dilapidated estate in 1969 for just 250,000 francs. Over the decades, he built the estate into a world-renowned icon and steadfastly refused to sell the château for the Cru Bourgeois-classification, as he wanted his wine to speak for itself.

Sylvie Gautreau: In 2015, Jean’s daughter took over the day-to-day running of the business. Following her father’s death in 2019, she continues to run the winery in exactly the same spirit of uncompromising commitment to quality.

Among Bordeaux enthusiasts, Sociando-Mallet is regarded as the „classic par excellence“.

The grape varieties: The approximately 66 to 85 hectares of vineyards are planted almost equally with Cabernet Sauvignon (approx. 54%) and Merlot (approx. 45%) in the vineyard, supplemented by tiny proportions of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.

The style: Uncompromising, traditional and exceptionally long-lasting. This wine is not made for quick, trendy consumption. It is deep and dark, powerful, well-structured and has a firm tannic framework, which is largely characterised by the Cabernet Sauvignon.

The aroma: The nose is dominated by intense dark fruits such as blackcurrant and blackberries, paired with a cool, unmistakable minerality (graphite, chalk) and perfectly integrated fine wood. [

Drinking maturity: In its youth, the wine often comes across as impetuous, masculine and „virile“. It often requires a few years’ cellaring, but then rewards those who are patient with magnificent balance, silky richness and a freshness that endures for decades.