La Demoiselle de Sociando-Mallet Haut-Médoc 2020 - Second vin

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 at heart, 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 Demoiselle, the cru's second wine, has a brilliant red color, perfumed with fresh red fruit, plum and spicy oak. Freshness and fruit are preserved on the supple, velvety palate, with rounded tannins. A fine way to wait for a great wine. 2026-2030

About the domain :

In the 17th century, it was a noble land belonging to a Basque family, the Sossiando. 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 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.

James Suckling

About the wine :

A medium-bodied red with black fruits and notes of walnut, spicy chocolate and cedar. Firm, polished tannic structure and velvety mouthfeel. Persistent, chalky finish. Best from 2024.

Yves Beck

About the wine :

Intense bouquet combining freshness, fruit and breeding. Inviting notes of blackcurrant and mint. On the palate, the wine is dense, full-bodied and well supported by its tannins. Temperamental, with a lively structure and a persistent fruity expression on the finish. A delicious, crisp, racy wine. 2024-2033

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About the wine :

Delicate, round, lush, fruity and polished, the wine is straightforward, medium-bodied and already expressive with its notes of black red fruit, spice and tobacco. To be enjoyed while waiting for the Grand Vin to develop.