Château Sociando-Mallet - Haut-Médoc 2021

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:

The intense color is matched by an equally expressive nose, with cheerful notes of fresh blackcurrant and red fruit, underlined by oak. Aging has nicely refined the tannins and softened the round, dense, voluminous body, which takes care to express the fruit. Concentrated, with good acidity, its future is bright. 2027-2034

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 wine:

Sociando-Mallet 2021 has developed well in bottle, offering dark berry and blackcurrant aromas mingled with notes of cigar wrapper and pencil lead. Medium- to full-bodied, fleshy and seamless, with impressive concentration for the vintage, soft tannins, integrated acids and a penetrating finish. 2025-2041

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" 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:

Nose of mocha, terracotta, graphite and black fruit. Elegant and firm on the palate, compact and concentrated, with medium body and very fine, polished tannins. Good balance and length. Drink from 2025.

Terre de Vins

About the wine:

Deep and complex, with a certain density, Sociando plays in its usual register of noble classicism, without exuberance. Everything is in place, well centered around a straightforward, sapid juice, balanced by a beautiful freshness and a racy grain of tannin. No cheating, no bluster, this is a wine that's right on the money, right for the vintage.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

From the very first scent, finesse and complexity form the wine's common thread! Sociando is inviting but also conquering, respectively energetic and charming. With good density, the wine has muscle thanks to a juicy acid structure, while the tannins provide a little width. A great success! 2027-2046

Falstaff

About the wine:

Dark ruby core, violet highlights, subtle lightening around the edges. Nose of ripe plums, candied blackberries and candied orange peel. The palate offers fine herbaceous spice, concentrated black cherries, fresh acidity, integrated tannins and an elegantly long, mineral finish. A perfect match for any dish.