2023, Château Sociando Mallet, HAUT MÉDOC

Last Year EP $60.00-

Sociando-Mallet has long been a favourite of Bordeaux insiders, and it's easy to understand why. Occupying the same terrace of Gunzian gravel that one finds at estates such as Montrose, Léoville-Las Cases and Latour, and planted at a high density of 8,333 vines per hectare, it's located just to the north of Saint-Estèphe, right on the banks of the Gironde. 

The 2023 Sociando-Mallet is showing well, exhibiting aromas of cherries and cassis mingled with hints of pencil shavings and toasty new oak.  Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it's lively and classically structured, with sweet tannins, bright acids and a penetrating finish. The blend is 50% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc.
90-92 William Kelley, Wine Advocate.

Supple and lively, really tangy and zesty, bright but not over the top with such a creamy, chalky texture giving a soft grip. Expressive and elegant, but with body. Lovely suppleness with the salinity lingering on the very long finish with mint, liquorice and clove. Characterful. I like this a lot. A stand out wine and top buy!
94 Georgina Hindle Decanter.

The 2023 Sociando-Mallet is a deep, powerful wine. Black cherry, incense, blackberry, licorice and cloves add to an impression of somber gravitas. Unctuous and rich, the 2023 shows the natural intensity of the Merlot in this vintage. Sociando is pretty heady in this vintage.
89-91 Antonio Galloni.

The 2023 Sociando-Mallet has a cohesive and focused bouquet, classic Sociando in style. A touch of freshly tilled soil and cedar develops in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with red berry fruit and lightly spiced with black pepper and cedar. Nicely balanced on the finish, this should develop well in bottle. 2027-2039
89-91 Neal Martin.