Château Sociando-Mallet - Haut-Médoc 2012

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

Fresh, black fruit nose with spicy notes. Dense, straightforward and taut on the palate, with good length, punctuated by fine tannins!

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:

2010, 2011, 2012, a fine series of Favorites for the domaine, which once again offers a superb wine, perfectly typified by its Médoc finesse. The bouquet harmoniously blends smokiness, coffee and fresh fruit (blackcurrant). On the palate, there's the same complexity and a beautiful progression of fruity and spicy flavors. The tannic structure is soft and silky, fine and tight, with a long, elegant finish. Fruit, substance, structure, terroir, it's all there. 2018-2025

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:

Once again, owner Jean Gautreau has struck hard with a magnificent blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. Wonderfully soft, ripe tannins seem to be a rule of thumb on this great terroir just north of Saint-Estèphe's Château Montrose. A beautiful deep ruby/purple color, decent acidity, medium to full-bodied mouthfeel and astonishing fruit place this wine in the middle of the Médoc's best crus classés, yet it's never been classified. Go figure. Smoother than I would have thought (I've been following and buying this wine since the mid-1970s), this wine will still age beautifully for 10-15+ years.

About the domain :

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

About the wine:

The château has chosen to present us with a 2012 that stands up well and is perfect to drink today, bearing witness to the cru's good potential - which we have no doubt about. The tannins are integrated and have a lovely charm. A semi-powerful wine.

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:

Intense aromas of red and black cherries with light floral notes. Full-bodied, with silky tannins, good acidity and a long, fruity finish. Polished tannins. Will open up. Even better in 2018.

Le Figaro vins

About the wine:

In 2012, Sociando produced a dense, concentrated wine, firmly anchored in its Cabernets, but well softened by the Merlot, with a lovely, supple blackberry finish. Between 2016 and 2027

Yves Beck

About the wine:

Garnet-red with purple highlights. Expressive bouquet revealing spicy notes with a hint of cinnamon and black pepper. Beautiful fruity intensity. On the palate, the wine is elegant, tasty and delicious. Pleasantly balanced and perfectly accessible. A wine that can be enjoyed now, with plenty of reserve. Now - 2028