Sociando Mallet 2002

A striking minerality, copious quantities of black currants and plums, along with some dried herbs jump from the glass of this tannic, structured, somewhat severe but large-scaled, muscular wine that oozes testosterone. Virile, structured, and perhaps too tannic for its own good, but impressively built, pure, and a wine to admire (rather than possibly enjoy), this large-scaled 2002 requires 7-10 years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2025+?.

One of the cru bourgeois estates that always performs at classified growth quality levels, Sociando Mallet has, for 20 years, been the insider’s choice for top quality wine that will easily withstand two decades of cellaring. Bottles of the 1970, 1975, and 1982 from my cellar are still youthful and evolving!

Tasted blind at Farr's 2002 Bordeaux tasting. This is very earthy, herbaceous and leafy on the nose, but there is a sense of vigour and clarity that redeems it, developing some attractive melted tar and graphite aromas with time. Tannic palate, masculine, earthy and surly, but good fruit intensity and the austere finish would marry with food nicely. Tasted October 2009.

Drink 2011-16 Scented and leafy. Angular and a bit gawky but at least it's not tarty!

This is a stern, broodingly backward yet promisingly concentrated, classic, uncompromising effort with a saturated purple color as well as notes of minerals, creme de cassis, cherries, and crushed stones. Dense, medium to full-bodied, excruciatingly tannic and backward, it should not be touched for the next decade, after which it will live for 25 years. It appears to be a modern day clone of the 1975.