2024 Ch Sociando-Mallet, Haut-Médoc

DUE OCT/NOV 2027

Attractive aromatics here, this has gentle smoke, grilled cedar and cloves, clear oak influence but one that is extremely well handled, adding a layer of interest and complexity over the soft berry fruits. Great job from Sociando in this challenging vintage, and fans of this wine will find plenty of estate typicity.

92 points janeanson.com

A blend of 57% Merlot and 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2024 Sociando-Mallet offers up aromas of cassis, plums and pencil shavings, followed by a medium-bodied, suave and lively palate with good depth and balance. It represents a very strong performance in this challenging vintage.

90-91 points robertparker.com

Château Sociando-Mallet 2024 (en primeur) is shaping up to be a classic in the estate’s long tradition of bold, structured, Cabernet-driven wines that overdeliver in quality and ageability, all without the burden of a classified growth price tag. Perched on the gravel-rich slopes of Saint-Seurin-de-Cadourne at the northern tip of the Haut-Médoc, this estate has built its reputation on making wines that rival their more aristocratic neighbours in Pauillac and Saint-Estèphe.

The 2024 vintage saw a relatively mild growing season with some early rain, followed by a long, dry stretch through summer. This allowed the estate’s old vines (some over 50 years) to ripen steadily, producing small, concentrated berries with thick skins and excellent phenolic ripeness. The final blend is likely to sit at around 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc, though exact figures may vary.

Winemaker Jean Gautreau’s legacy, bold structure, intensity, and longevity continues under the stewardship of his daughter Sylvie Gautreau, with winemaking that leans traditional: long macerations, full extraction, and aging in oak barrels (about 50–60% new). The 2024 wine reflects this approach beautifully.

In the glass (barrel sample), it’s deeply coloured and fragrant with blackcurrant, blackberry, cedar, crushed stone, and violets, alongside classic notes of pencil lead and dark tobacco. The palate is powerful but not heavy, it’s structured, with sinewy tannins, vibrant acidity, and a long, savoury finish layered with graphite and spice. There's less opulence than 2022, but more balance, energy, and classic Médoc character.

Food pairing: Ribeye with rosemary salt, roast duck with blackberry sauce, lentil and mushroom shepherd’s pie, or hard cheeses like aged Salers or Mimolette.

Cellar potential: 2030–2050+. This is a wine that begs for time and will evolve beautifully over two decades or more, developing cigar box, truffle and ironstone complexity.