Château Sociando-Mallet - Haut-Médoc 2017

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

A key figure in the Médoc, Jean Gautreau is one of the architects of the revival of its crus. Respected by his peers, he has raised Sociando-Mallet to the level of a Classified Growth, greatly enlarging the vineyard since his purchase in 1969. Today, of the property's 85 hectares, some 50 are at the level of a third or even second cru classé. Assisted by his daughter, Jean Gautreau is one of the few owners to supervise the vinification himself. These are benchmark wines, with an inimitable feel and identity. Médoc wines to the core, they are always full of finesse. The estate now has a gîte, Villa Sociando, at Port de la Maréchale, 3 kilometers from the property.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

This vintage is one of Jean Gautreau's last. A fine expression of the appellation, it is an authentic wine for ageing, yet already very enjoyable. The bouquet is a harmonious blend of ripe fruit and wood, while the palate is full and long, with dense, well-coated tannins and fruity aromas. 2024 - 2030

About the domain :

In the 17th century, it was a noble land belonging to a Basque family, the Sossiando family. Confiscated during the French Revolution, it has had several owners. At the end of the last century, Jean Gautreau brought its potential to light. A broker with Miailhe, he set up his own company in the late 1950s to sell wines in the Benelux countries. A customer asked him to find an estate with a fine terroir. He discovered Sociando-Mallet: overlooking the estuary, a superb gravelly hilltop on a clay subsoil. When the customer didn't follow up, he bought it for himself in 1969, restructured it, enlarged it (originally 5 ha, now 82) and built a winery. Unclassified, it is one of the appellation's most important crus, now run by Sylvie, daughter of Jean Gautreau, who died in 2019.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the domain :

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

2017 is pleasant, fine, fresh and well-balanced. A fairly accessible Sociando.

About the domain :

Sociando-Mallet is a brand with a strong reputation that has captured the hearts of true wine-lovers. Many of the vintages from this lovely property in the northern Médoc are equivalent to very good crus classés. Jean Gautreau, who spent half a century building Sociando-Mallet, passed away at the end of 2019, leaving the torch to his daughter Sylvie. Widely distributed in France and Belgium, the cru remains a safe bet and, above all, always offers optimal value for money. A vast replanting project was initiated some ten years ago, forcing the cru to produce more "merlot-like" wines. They have more roundness, but probably less breed. We no longer find the magical brilliance of 1982, 1990 or 1996, which remain benchmarks.

Wine Enthusiast

About the wine:

Generous, well-crafted, fine tannin, a little lacking in the mid-palate compared with the greatest, but a fine style of Médoc wine. I recommend it!

James Suckling

About the wine:

Lovely freshness and brightness. Medium body with firm, juicy tannins. A little mellow now, but will only get better with a little bottle age. Excellent for the vintage. Best after 2021.

Le Figaro vins

About the wine:

Juicy, fruity, elegant, good length, supple tannins, good breed.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

So much plurality in Sociando's bouquet, where I perceive red berry notes, spices and a touch of mocha. Fruity attack, with good intensity. On the palate, the wine is marked by its fresh structure and tannins. The tannins have the substance needed to manage the liveliness of the structure but also to give fullness to the whole palate. Good aromatic intensity right from the start. Persistent, fruity finish. A very fine Sociando-Mallet. 2023-2034