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Sociando Mallet 2016

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Haut Médoc
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyCabernet Sauvignon

This Northern Medoc property of 57 hectares has been making wine of classed growth quality for many years. Always matured in 100% new oak, the blend is usually around 50:50 Cabernet and Merlot.

View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Château Sociando-Mallet

Label

Tasting Notes

Dark-berry and currant aromas with hints of spice. Medium body, firm and chewy tannins and a fresh and clean finish. Shows focus and seriousness for the appellation, as is usual from this producer. Better after 2022.

94
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, February 2019

Inky black in colour, with a beautiful graphite and black fruit nose. This is undoubtedly a great Sociando this year, with precise yet juicy graphite and black fruits on the palate, from a fairly even blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon with a touch of Cabernet Franc too.

Drinking Window 2023 - 2040

92
Jane Anson, Decanter.com, April 2017

Very dark glowing crimson. Great graphite nose. Some rich meatiness. Very much pushed up the ripeness scale. Seems richer than I remember it but it's clearly very ambitious. Thick and sweet. Not really my style but it will over-deliver to those who are still looking for a wine from the 1990s! Drying end.
Drink 2024-2040

16.5
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2017

The nose is fresh and firm and the start of the palate bright. Mid sweetness the fruit feels ripe firmer and fresher at the back the finish is quite tight. 2025-36

86/89
Derek Smedley MW, DerekSmedleyMW.co.uk, April 2017
Read more tasting notes...

The 2016 Sociando-Mallet has a refulgent purple/black color. It has a very intense and rich, you might say "ambitious" bouquet with layers of small black cherries, blueberry and a touch of sloes, less tertiary than previous vintages and certainly more opulent. The palate is medium-bodied with juicy ripe tannin that almost disguise the firm structure underneath. I admire the completeness of this Sociando-Mallet, the neatly embroidered new oak and the freshness on the finish. The 2015 Sociando-Mallet did not fire on all cylinders last year, but this 2016 is totally convincing. It comes highly recommended as one of the best wines produced at this estate in the northern Médoc. This is an outstanding wine from Mon. Gartreau. Drink 2022 - 2045.

92/94
Neal Martin, Wine Advocate (230), April 2017

Tight and chewy yet polished and beautiful. Medium to full body, a pretty core of fruit within the center palate and a flavorful finish. Better than 2015 and on the same level as the excellent 2014.

93/94
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, March 2017
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.