Sociando-Mallet - Haut-Médoc 2022

Wine Advocate

93

byWilliam Kelleythe3/7/2025

The 2022 Sociando-Mallet is a beauty, wafting from the glass with aromas of cassis, plums, pencil shavings, espresso roast, licorice and violets. Medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, it's velvety and layered, with powdery tannins and a long, penetrating finish. It's a blend of 63% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc. As I wrote en primeur, readers who remember how this estate acquitted itself in years such as 2003 and 1990 will not be surprised by its quality in 2022.

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

94

byJane Ansonthe3/7/2025

Heavy on the spice, a ton of concentration, even in a vintage like 2022 with its natural exuberance. They build this wine with an eye on the long term, and even after En Primeur it underlines that character of dark fruits, big tannins, slate scrape, espresso and a natural unfussy confidence. Sylvie Gautreau owner.

Yvesbeck.wine

96

byYves Beckthe2/25/2025

63% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc La fraîcheur et la profondeur de Sociando-Mallet sont perceptibles d'entrées, sans long discours, avec une terrifiante (ou extraordinaire) efficacité ! Le vin crée la symbiose entre végétal, fruit, épices, maturité et menthe poivrée. Dense et élégant en attaque, le vin ne cherche pas la largeur ou l'opulence, il opte pour ce que l'on connait de lui : aller droit au but en prenant le plus de gens avec lui tellement il est enthousiasmant, authentique et doté de tannins qui le mèneront très loin. Il faudra juste quelque peu patienter. Un vin d'auteur, d'endroit, de vie, d'avenir. Jean doit jubiler et être fier de Sociando. Bravo à toute l'équipe. 2029-2048 96/100

Vinous

90,5

byNeal Martinthe2/12/2025

The 2022 Sociando-Mallet presents an intense nose with touches of seaweed infusing the black fruit, though it's not as refined as it was from barrel. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins and plenty of mocha-tinged black fruit, but it loses some precision on the slightly rustic finish. Hopefully, this will improve with bottle age as this estate usually does.

Jamessuckling.com

95

byJames Sucklingthe2/3/2025

This wine is impressive and vertically structured, with quality tannins in very good quantities. Pencil shavings, graphite, minerals, cassis, paprika and fresh blackberries. Compact, dusty and full-bodied, with a tight and lengthy finish. This shows excellent potential for aging. For Haut-Medoc, this is often a smart buy. 63% merlot, 35% cabernet sauvignon and 2% cabernet franc. Drink from 2028 and in the next 15 years, if not longer.

Vinous

89

byAntonio Gallonithe1/28/2025

The 2022 Sociando-Mallet is a potent, brooding wine. It shows plenty of intensity, but the tannins are overpowering. I am not sure the 2022 will ever be fully in balance, as the elements are disjointed today.

Wine Maniacs

94-95

byLin Liuthe5/30/2023

Decanter.com

92

byGeorgina Hindlethe5/25/2023

Intensely fragrant on the nose, richly concentrated black fruits and cool freshness. Mouthwatering acidity adds to quite cool blue fruits with graphite edges giving more freshness than fruit concentration which is nice. Tannins are well integrated, present but supportive and not overwhelming. Keeps a sleek frame and intention from start to finish. A really appealing wine that feels well worked, but still with density and minerality. Harvest 7-23 September. Yield of 22hl/ha. Ageing in French oak for 12 months, 85% new.

Vinous

91-93

byNeal Martinthe5/17/2023

The 2022 Sociando-Mallet was picked 7-23 September at just 22hL/ha. This is very concentrated and quite opulent on the nose, bit of a bravura bouquet, layers of black cherry, Christmas cake and light undergrowth scents. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins. Quite fresh, grippy in the mouth, my only quibble is that it feels a tad abrupt on the finish. Barrel maturation should address that.

The Vintage Journal

93-94

byAndrew Caillard MWthe5/17/2023

Deep crimson. Intense dark cherry, dark plm, blackcurrant aromas with touch of carob. Richly flavoured and chocolaty textures with pure dark cherry, cassis flavours and fine loosknit supple tannins.. Slinky firm and minerally. This should develop very well. (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc

matthewjukes.com

18

byMatthew Jukesthe5/15/2023

Yvesbeck.wine

95-96

byYves Beckthe5/10/2023

Le bouquet de Sociando révèle de nombreuses facettes avec par exemple des nuances de menthe poivrée, de baies noires et d'eucalyptus. Le vin affiche une puissance respectable en bouche grâce à des tannins précis, légèrement austères. Un Sociando de structure qui affiche de bien belles ambitions. Il est d'une rare puissance, mais il ne s'agit guère d'une puissance exubérante, elle est soutenue, mais subtile et idéalement couplée au tempérament de la structure acide. Il aura besoin de temps pour s'épanouir, mais les jalons pour un grand Sociando sont posés…

Bettane & Desseauve

93-94

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/10/2023

Superbe réussite dans ce millésime qui impressionne notre équipe. Raffinement de parfum, profondeur de saveurs et tannin élégant, tout est en place pour donner un grand sociando d'ici une dizaine d'années.

Vinous

88-90

byAntonio Gallonithe5/9/2023

The 2022 Sociando-Mallet is a bit hard to read today. I very much admire the dynamic energy, which Sociando has in spades, but at the same time the tannins show some edginess that will need to resolve. Élevage will be critical, but it may not be enough to compensate for a vintage with hail damage and yields of just 21.5 hectoliters per hectare. Drinking window : 2025-2034

The Wine Cellar Insider

93-95

byJeff Levethe5/5/2023

Blackberries, black currants, flowers, cedar, mint, and tobacco fill the nose. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, concentrated, deep, and packed with layers of chalky, ripe, red fruits, spice, herb and cigar wrappers. This is among the best vintages of Sociando Mallet I have ever tasted. Drink from 2027-2050.

Wine Advocate

92-94

byWilliam Kelleythe5/2/2023

Aromas of dark berries and plums mingled with hints of mint, violets and licorice introduce the 2022 Sociando-Mallet, a medium to full-bodied, supple and lively wine that's deep, fleshy and seamless, with powdery tannins that assert themselves with promising youthful grip on the finish. It's a blend of 63% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc. Readers who remember how this estate acquitted itself in years such as 2003 and 1990 will not be surprised by its quality in 2022.