Sociando-Mallet - Haut-Médoc 2023
The legacy of the Gautreau familyDefinitely one of the major brands in Bordeaux. Since the 60’s, Jean Gautreau, one of the key figures of Bordeaux viticulture, has embodied the property. A man of multiple careers, whose success was built on a series of visions he pretended were just common sense, Jean Gautreau was the true creator of Sociando Mallet as we know it today : a profound and authentic wine, with a sense of pride. Across 50 years, he meticulously added to the initial vineyard with the very best of adjacent terroirs.
Unclassifiable and yet at the top, Sociando is unique. Its wines resemble their creator : rooted, open, proud, emotional, vibrant, touching.
Jean Gautreau passed away in 2019. Sylvie, his daughter now presides over the destiny of Sociando.
The 82-hectare vineyard is located on a beautiful terroir, made of gravel slopes and hillsides. From the top, looking out to the south, you can see some other hills of the same type: the best places in Saint-Estèphe, Le Boscq, Calon Ségur, Tronquoy, Meyney, Montrose.
The 2023 vintageWeather conditions
The winter of 2023 was normal, followed by a spring that was hotter and more humid than average. The summer was mixed in its first part, then became very hot. The budbreak was uniform and on time, and the flowering went well starting on May 20th. The pressure from mildew was lower in the northern Médoc, and the terroirs allowed the vineyard to resist the heatwave. The véraison began in mid-July, and the grapes were numerous and of beautiful size. The harvest began on September 11th, with juicy and fruity Merlots and high-quality Cabernet Sauvignon thanks to stable weather conditions. The harvest ended on October 4th.
Tasting notes"The wine is well balanced, showing no excess, with a refreshing and delightfully succulent profile. This 2023 vintage will undoubtably be highly enjoyable in its youth, to be consumed whilst waiting for those vintages whose intensity necessitates a longer time in the cellar." François Hugueniot - Director