Château de Sociando-Mallet

Château de Sociando-Mallet, traces of which can be found as far back as 1633, truly developed over the last 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 offering a breathtaking view over the Gironde estuary, which was then in very poor condition and partly neglected. This passionate and visionary man then devoted himself entirely to restoring the estate, renovating the buildings, constructing a wine cellar and improving the grape variety composition.

Within a few years, he revealed the magnificent potential of this property. It is not, however, part of the classified growths nor the crus bourgeois, yet it is now readily compared to the best second or third classified growths of the Médoc. Indeed, the estate benefits from an incredible terroir, often likened to that of the wines from the Saint Estèphe vineyard. Initially comprising 5 hectares and later extended over time to 95 hectares, the vines are planted on gravelly soils benefiting from excellent drainage over a clay subsoil that provides freshness, conducive to the greatest wines. The grape variety composition consists of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc.

At harvest time, selection is very rigorous, followed by a relatively long ageing process, making the wines of the Sociando-Mallet estate excellent candidates for long cellaring (capable of evolving with elegance over 10 to 25 years). Considered by some specialists as one of the most age-worthy unclassified wines of the Médoc, these are "wines with an ink-black colour, extremely concentrated and full-bodied, endowed with powerful tannins that coat the palate" (Robert Parker).

It is a wine that is also very approachable in its youth, like the Sociando Mallet 2011 today, which has allowed it to outperform, in blind tastings, first or second classified growths of the Médoc during the Grand Jury Européen tastings.

Each year, nearly 500,000 bottles are produced. They are divided between the first wine and the second label "La Demoiselle de Sociando-Mallet", made from the youngest vines on the estate. These wines are a safe bet, always highly appreciated by enthusiasts. The estate's motto sums it up perfectly: "Neither classified, nor Bourgeois… Sociando Mallet, quite simply"….

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

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

– Lesser vintage: 1988, 1992, 1993, 1997