Château Sociando-Mallet 2007

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

A wine with beautiful richness. Round, refined, and elegant. Refined tannins that are still present.

About the estate:

A leading figure in the Médoc, Jean Gautreau is one of the architects of the region’s wine renaissance. Respected by his peers, he has elevated Sociando-Mallet to the status of a classified growth, significantly expanding the vineyard since his purchase in 1969. Today, of the estate’s 85 hectares, some 50 meet the standards of a third- or even second-growth classified wine. 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. Medoc at their core, 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:

A superb gravel terroir overlooking the river, a diverse blend of grape varieties, and a meticulous and attentive owner: all these factors make Sociando the benchmark among the commune’s wines and one of the appellation’s greatest wines. The 2007 vintage is another remarkable success, with a rich bouquet blending fruit infused with brandy, forest floor, and toasted bread, and a palate that is round and supple on the attack, with tannins that will ensure it ages beautifully.

About the estate:

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

Guide des Vins Gault & Millau

About the wine:

A reliable choice, offering delightful aromas of ripe raspberries and fresh cherries, delicate and spicy oak notes, and a smooth texture. It also features soft tannins and a lovely finish.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the estate:

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

About the wine:

The 2007 vintage is currently delicious and full-bodied, with a softer character than usual.

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 top-tier 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 money. A major replanting project was initiated about ten years ago, forcing the estate to produce wines with a higher Merlot content. They possess more roundness, but likely less character. We no longer quite find the magical brilliance of the 1982, 1990, or 1996 vintages, which remain benchmarks.

James Suckling