Château Sociando-Mallet - Haut-Médoc 2012

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

The nose offers black fruit aromas with a fresh character and spicy notes. On the palate, it is dense, straightforward, and taut, with a lovely finish, all punctuated by beautiful tannins!

About the estate:

A leading figure in the Médoc, Jean Gautreau is one of the architects of the region’s wine revival. Respected by his peers, he has elevated Sociando-Mallet to the status of a cru classé, significantly expanding the vineyard since his purchase in 1969. Today, of the estate’s 85 hectares, about 50 are of third- or even second-growth quality. Assisted by his daughter, Jean Gautreau is one of the few owners who personally oversees the winemaking process. These are benchmark wines, with an inimitable character and identity. True to their Médoc heritage, they always exhibit great finesse. The estate now features a guesthouse, Villa Sociando, located at the Port de la Maréchale, 3 kilometers from the estate.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

2010, 2011, 2012—a fine series of Favorites the estate, which once again offers a superb wine, perfectly characterized by its quintessential Médoc finesse. The bouquet harmoniously blends smoky notes, coffee, and fresh fruit (blackcurrant). On the palate, we find the same complexity and a beautiful progression of fruity and spicy flavors. The tannic structure is both soft and silky, refined and tight, and the finish is long and elegant. Fruit, body, structure, terroir—it has it all. 2018–2025

About the estate:

In the 17th century, it was a noble estate belonging to a Basque family, the Sossiandos. Confiscated during the Revolution, it passed through the hands of several owners. At the end of the last century, Jean Gautreau recognized its potential. A wine broker at Miailhe, he founded his own company in the late 1950s to sell wines in the Benelux countries. A client commissioned him to find an estate with excellent terroir. He discovered Sociando-Mallet: overlooking the estuary, a superb hill of gravel on a clay subsoil. Since the client did not follow through, he purchased it for himself in 1969, restructured it, expanded it (originally 5 ha, now 82), and built a winery. Although unclassified, it is one of the appellation’s leading estates, now run by Sylvie, the daughter of Jean Gautreau, who passed away in 2019.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

Once again, owner Jean Gautreau has made a strong impression with a magnificent blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc. Wonderfully smooth, ripe tannins seem to be a hallmark of this great terroir just north of Château Montrose in Saint-Estèphe. A beautiful deep ruby-purple color, decent acidity, a medium- to full-bodied palate, and astonishing fruit place this wine among the best classified growths of the Médoc—even though it has never been classified. Go figure. Smoother than I would have expected (I’ve been drinking and buying this wine since the mid-1970s), this wine will continue to age magnificently for 10 to 15 years or more.

About the estate:

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 holds up well and is perfect for drinking now, a testament to the vintage’s fine potential—which we have no doubt about. The tannins are well-integrated and possess a lovely charm. A wine of moderate intensity.

About the estate:

Sociando-Mallet is a well-known brand that has won the hearts of true wine lovers. Many vintages from this lovely estate in the northern Médoc are on par with very good classified growths. Jean Gautreau, who spent half a century building Sociando-Mallet, passed away in late 2019, passing the torch to his daughter Sylvie. Widely available in France and Belgium, the wine remains a safe bet and, above all, offers consistently excellent value for the price. A major replanting project was launched about ten years ago, leading the estate to produce wines with a greater emphasis on Merlot. These wines have more roundness, but perhaps less character. We no longer quite find the magical brilliance of the 1982, 1990, or 1996 vintages, which remain benchmarks.

James Suckling

About the wine:

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

Le Figaro vins

About the wine:

In 2012, Sociando produced a dense, concentrated wine, firmly rooted in its Cabernet grapes but nicely softened by the Merlot, with a lovely, fairly supple finish of blackberry. Between 2016 and 2027

Yves Beck

About the wine:

Garnet red with purple highlights. An expressive bouquet revealing spicy notes with hints of cinnamon and black pepper. Beautiful fruit intensity. On the palate, the wine is elegant, delicious, and flavorful. It is pleasantly balanced and perfectly approachable. A wine that can be enjoyed now and has aging potential. Now – 2028