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.

Chateau Sociando-Mallet:

The terroir of Sociando-Mallet consists of Günz gravel over a deep layer of clay-limestone soil. This terroir perfectly regulates the water supply and allows the Cabernet Sauvignon to mature very well and the Merlot to gain depth and complexity. This terroir is the soul of Sociando. It gives the wine a complex structure, freshness and elegance.

The estate is mainly located to the east of the village of Saint-Seurin and covers a total of 120 hectares, 83 of which are planted with vines. The vines grow on the marvellous gravel hill of Baleyron around the house and the winery buildings. The sunshine is optimal and the breezes from the estuary ensure that the vines are well ventilated and healthy. The large volumes of water from the estuary and the nearby ocean ensure a temperate microclimate without major temperature fluctuations.

The grape varieties consist of 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 54% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc. The vines are on average 35 years old.

The average vine density is 8,333 vines per hectare. This corresponds to a distance of 1 metre between the rows of vines and a distance of 1.2 metres between the plants within a row. This high density increases the surface area of the leaf canopy and creates competition between the vines, which favours the production of grapes with a high tannin, sugar, colour and aroma content.