Château de Sociando-Mallet

Château de Sociando-Mallet, whose history can be traced back to 1633, has truly developed over the past 40 years. Located in the commune of Saint-Seurin-de-Cadourne in the Haut Médoc, it was purchased in 1969 by Jean Gautreau, who fell in love with this magnificent property overlooking the Gironde estuary, despite its poor condition and partial neglect at the time. Passionate and visionary, he then devoted himself entirely to reviving the estate, renovating the buildings, constructing a winery and improving the mix of grape varieties planted.

In just a few years, he revealed the magnificent potential of this property. Although it is neither a classified growth nor a cru bourgeois, it is now readily compared with the best second- and third-growth wines of the Médoc. The estate benefits from an exceptional terroir, often likened to that of the vineyards of Saint Estèphe. Starting with 5 hectares and expanding over time to 95 hectares, its vines are planted in well-drained gravel soils over a clay subsoil that provides the freshness conducive to great wines. The plantings comprise 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc.

Careful selection during harvest is followed by relatively lengthy aging, making the wines of Domaine Sociando-Mallet suitable for long-term cellaring: they can develop gracefully over 10 to 25 years. Considered by some experts to be among the most age-worthy unclassified wines of the Médoc, they are “wines with an inky black color, extremely concentrated and full-bodied, with powerful tannins that coat the palate” (Robert Parker).

It is also a wine that can be enjoyed in its youth, as Sociando Mallet 2011 can today. This has enabled it to outperform Médoc first- and second-growth wines in blind tastings held by the Grand Jury Européen.

Nearly 500,000 bottles are produced each year, divided between the flagship wine and the second cuvée, “La Demoiselle de Sociando-Mallet,” made from the estate’s younger vines. These wines are a dependable choice, consistently appreciated by enthusiasts. The estate’s motto sums it up perfectly: “Neither classified nor Bourgeois… simply Sociando Mallet”….

– Great vintage: 1990, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2010, 2011, 2014

– Good vintage: 1975, 1982, 1989, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013

– Lesser vintage: 1988, 1992, 1993, 1997