Cellars of Sociando Mallet in April 2019
Sociando Mallet is situated in the village of Saint-Seurin-de-Cadourne, less than five kilometers north of Saint Estephe and outside its appellation. This property bears the appellation Haut-Medoc and is 120 ha big, of which 88 ha are in production. The soil here is gravel on a deep bed of clay and limestone. This is a typical soil condition for Saint-Estephe properties. The microclimate here is perfect, as Sociando Mallet overlooks Gironde river banks, which assures no significant temperature fluctuation and protection from frost.
The vineyard here is planted with 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 54% Merlot, and 4% Cabernet Franc. Vines are 35 years old on average. The soil here favors Cabernet Sauvignon particularly.
Sociando-Mallet's fame began in 1969, when Jean Gautreau became fascinated by the soil, so perfect for Cabernet Sauvignon, and acquired it. He started with only 5 ha and inadequate technical facilities. Over the years, he expanded the vineyard by buying from neighbors and modernized the whole operation. His daughter, Sylvie, now runs the property with the appointed property manager, Francois Hugueniot, and sales manager, Jeanne Mespoulede.
Sociando Mallet has a large following among wine lovers thanks to its distinctive style and affordable prices. From time to time, it can challenge several Cru Classes in Margaux, St. Julien, Pauillac, and Saint-Estephe.
For sure, it's a wine you should try when you are in Bordeaux.
Vertical of Sociando Mallet in April 2019
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2024 SOCIANDO MALLET (barrel sample) 91p
Tasted in October 2025. 57% Cabernet Sauvignon and 43% Merlot, 13% alcohol. Spicy blackcurrants on the nose, sappy and well-knit on the palate. Lightly textured. It’s a gentle version of the wine from this property with subtlety and delicate tannins. It will be a perfect restaurant wine to enjoy after bottling.
2023 SOCIANDO MALLET 94-95p
Tasted in October 2025. 50% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 7% Cabernet Franc, 14% alcohol. It catches your attention from the very beginning. There is plenty of aromatic dark berries on the nose, and the palate is well-covered with creamy fruit, velvety tannins, and bright acidity. It’s a vibrant wine with great balance and grace. Remarkable stuff!
2022 SOCIANDO MALLET 94p
Tasted in October 2025. 63% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2% Cabernet Franc, 14% alcohol, 22 hl/ha. On the nose, there are strong aromas of black cherries and wild raspberries. The palate is lush, displaying a robust structure and concentrated flavors, with a persistent finish that carries a noticeable dryness. This wine needs considerable time to integrate fully. It’s a splendid effort.
2021 SOCIANDO MALLET 90p
Tasted in October 2025. 54% Merlot, 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2% Cabernet Franc, 13% alcohol. This is a nicely made wine, given the problems with weather conditions during the growing season. Yes, it’s a bit thin, but nicely built with good balance, soft tannins, and tasty fruit. This wine can be enjoyed quite early in its life.
2020 SOCIANDO MALLET 95p
Tasted twice - last time in October 2025. Consistent notes. 53% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 1% Cabernet Franc. 14% alcohol. Sublimely aromatic with dark berries and mint, creamy on the palate, more elegance than usual, great precision and focus, and excellent structure, depth, and complexity. It gives several classified growths in Haut Medoc run for their money.
2019 SOCIANDO MALLET (barrel sample) 95p
Tasted in June 2020.55% Merlot + 43% Cabernet Sauvignon + 2% Cabernet Franc. Deep nose and palate with tobacco leaves and cigar box scent, intermixed with creamy blackcurrants and blackberries. Very potent on the palate, with depth, a strong backbone, great complexity, and balance. Fat tannins and fat creamy finish. It matches every corner of the 2018 version and may show even better after bottling.
2018 SOCIANDO MALLET 95p
Tasted twice - last time in January 2021. Consistent motes. 55% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc. Black label instead of the usual white one to celebrate the 50th vintage made by Jean Gautreau. Densely aromatic with dark berries and some mint, creamy on the palate with a strong backbone, great precision and focus, dense and long, and excellent structure, depth, and complexity. As thrilling as from a barrel. It gives several classified growths a run for their money.
2018 CUVÉE JEAN GAUTREAU 95+p
Tasted in January 2021. 70 % Cabernet Sauvignon and 30 % Merlot. This wine is a unique selection of 15 barrels out of 60 produced in this vintage. After a 1-year stay in the barrel, the choice of these 15 barrels is made by the property's oenologist, Jean Gautreau (he passed away in November 2019), and his daughter, Sylvie Gautreau. This special cuvée has more Cabernet Sauvignon than Grand Vin and is intended to show another version of Grand Vin by mixing these 15 barrels. To avoid confusion between Grand Vin and this cuvée, the brown, taller bottle has a different neck shape. The wine itself, then? Very similar to Grand Vin, but tastes denser and fatter, with a bit more intense cigar-box and tobacco-leaf flavors. For sure, it's remarkably stupendous stuff!
2017 SOCIANDO MALLET 2017 (barrel sample) 91-92p
Tasted in April 2019. Silky texture, velvety fruit, silky tannin, elegance, and finesse. Lighter than in 2018 and 2016. A delicacy to enjoy.
2016 SOCIANDO MALLET 93-94p
It's a sensual wine with splendid concentration, complexity, structure, and length. Showing what this vintage is about! Tasted in April 2019.
2014 SOCIANDO MALLET 92p
Tasted in April 2019.. Meaty and sappy wine with splendid acidity and complexity. Firm finish. Very typical of the property and a classic cool-climate Bordeaux wine.
2013 SOCIANDO MALLET 87p
Tasted in April 2019. This wine, understandably, lacked some ripeness and had a bit of jammy fruit, given the troublesome weather conditions in this vintage. Light, round, and charming. Quick consumption is advised.
2012 SOCIANDO MALLET 89p
Very seductive and attractive wine with tasty, polished fruit and silky tannin. Smooth fruity finish. Tasted in April 2019. To enjoy now and ten years more.
1982 SOCIANDO MALLET 93p
Tasted in December 2007. Dense, black-red, and incredibly concentrated with glorious blackcurrant fruit, powerful tannins, a firm structure, and a long aftertaste. Awesome wine.