La Demoiselle de Sociando-Mallet Haut-Médoc 2022 - Second vin

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:

70% Merlot in the château's second wine, with cherry, white pepper and roasted notes. A hint of menthol and freshness lighten a consistent mouthfeel, with lovely roundness and tannins that are still a tad catchy. A little ageing will loosen them up. 2027-2032

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 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-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:

Fresh aromas of spiced cherries, blackcurrants, minerals, olives and paprika. Juicy, medium-bodied palate with fine tannins. Pure, fruity, long finish. Good balance. Mineral rather than fleshy structure. Drink from 2026.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

The fruity intensity of the Demoiselle de Sociando bouquet is an obvious invitation to try the wine! Notes of blackcurrant and elderberry complemented by a touch of cinnamon make an irresistible argument. Pleasant sweetness on the palate, where the wine displays temperament without failing to underline its sapidity. I think this wine can be enjoyed in its youth, while emphasizing that it has respectable ageing potential. 2026-2037