Château Sociando Mallet, Haut Médoc, 2005
True to form, the 2005 Sociando is very dark in colour, almost black, but the freshness on the nose is a sign that this depth of colour is quite natural and unforced. Rich black fruits pervade in a very fine aromatic profile, while on the palate the fruit is brilliantly clear and pure, with an intense attack and lengthy persistence. There is a great balance of flavours, hints of minerality and silky smooth tannins; very impressive.
critic reviews
Vibrant colour, with attractive reflective quality, plenty of vivid fruits, spiced liqourice root and violet flowers on the opening, alongside dried herbs, bitter orange, cassis and loganberry. Mouthwatering on the finish, this is up there with one of the great vintages of the vertical - so effortless that it can be easy to miss how good it it. 45hl/h yield, 90ha in production, 100% new oak for ageing for 12 month, then 6 months in vat, 18 months in total. Michel-Bernard Couasnon consultant.
The 2005 Sociando-Mallet is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc picked between September 19 and October 6. It has a very well defined bouquet of red currant, cranberry and wild strawberry fruit; pressed white flowers emerge later, along with a hint of truffle. The medium-bodied palate shows wonderful definition, good cohesion and a touch of spice and black pepper. The tannins are very fine and focused, and the finish fans out wonderfully. I remember being impressed with this out of barrel, and 13 years later it is seriously fulfilling its potential. Tasted at the vertical tasting at Sociando-Mallet.
Its hard not to admire the brilliant Jean Gautreau, who has run this great terroir and estate (just to the north of St-Estephes Chateau Montrose) with meticulous perfection for decades. The 2005 is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc. Offering beautifully sweet creme de cassis and blueberries, this is concentrated essence of blue and black fruits, with some underlying minerality, a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, and stunning texture, length and purity. This is superb Sociando Mallet, with surprisingly sweet tannin, which is even more remarkable in this vintage of high and occasionally hard tannins. Give it another 4-5 years of cellaring, and drink it over the following 30 years.