Chateau Sociando-Mallet Haut-Medoc 2017

Château Sociando-Mallet is in the commune of Saint-Seurin-de-Cadourne, ten kilometres north of Pauillac, in the Haut-Médoc appellation.

A document dating from March 1633 refers to land here belonging to an aristocrat of Basque origin named Sociondo. A member of his family was Bishop of Bayonne.

Jean Gautreau, born in April 1927 in Lesparre to a family outside the wine industry, was an accomplished athlete who excelled in football and tennis, reaching the Roland Garros Juniors semi-finals at 18.

After serving in the military in Morocco, he returned to Lesparre and began working for the brokerage firm Miailhe in 1948 during a tough period for Bordeaux's wine trade.

Recognizing significant sales potential, particularly in Africa, he became an independent broker in 1950.

By January 1, 1957, he established his own négociant firm, capitalizing on rising Bordeaux prices and successfully selling quality wines to clients in Belgium and the Netherlands while introducing mobile bottling units for château-bottled wines.

Jean Gautreau discovered Sociando-Mallet in the village of Saint-Seurin-de-Cadourne in 1969 when looking for a wine estate to buy on behalf of a Belgian client.

It was love at first sight, despite the fact that the property was in a sorry state.

However, the terroir was excellent and the domain afforded a magnificent view overlooking the Gironde Estuary.

Jean Gautreau immediately decided to acquire it for himself for 250,000 French francs.

There were only 5 hectares of vines at the time.

Sociando-Mallet's extraordinary terroir, consisting of Günz gravel with clay subsoil, is propitious to growing excellent Cabernet Sauvignon and producing wines with wonderful freshness.

Jean Gautreau expanded the vineyard year after year by buying vines from his neighbours.

Today, the property is comprised of 83 hectares producing nearly 450,000 bottles a year of Château Sociando-Mallet and the second wine, Demoiselle de Sociando-Mallet.

Château Sociando-Mallet produces full-bodied wines with a deep, dark colour.

Their complex bouquet is usually dominated by black fruit aromas with a touch of minerality and well-integrated, elegant oak.

Often somewhat "virile" when young, the wines gain in balance and complexity with age. They are fresh, straightforward, and have a wonderful length.

Château Sociando-Mallet has always been a wine with great ageing potential.

A wine to be enjoyed even after 30 years in great vintages.

"This shows focus and brightness for a 2017 with firm and silky tannins and a vivid character. Fine and polished texture. Beautiful. Close to the 2015."

91-92/100 James Suckling

"Piquant red fruits with a firm wall of tannins greet you in the mouth. This OG, classic wine is going to need cellaring before it's able to be enjoyed."

90/100 The Wine Cellar insider

"Inky crimson with black core. Dusty cassis nose. Leafy on the palate, juicy and fresh but could do with a little more flesh in the middle. Very firm grip on the finish. Dark and savoury aftertaste. Drink 2027-2034"

16/20 Jancis Robinson

"The 2017 Sociando Mallet has a quite a high-toned bouquet with macerated black cherries, boysenberry jam and top end violet scents. This is a more showy Sociando than of late.

The palate is medium bodied with soft tannin, moderate depth, a more refined wine than I was expecting with a smooth, supple blackberry and bilberry finish laced with white pepper. There is a word I never expected to use for Sociando Mallet…gentle. Drinking window: 2022-2036"

90-92/100 Neal Martin