Château Sociando-Mallet 2023

A textbook Sociando; gorgeous cassis fruit, the obligatory touch of bell pepper, cool in expression; taut palate, concentrated, fine-grained tannins, outstanding balance. Excellent!

Dark fruit, violet notes, black cherries and touches of liquorice. Supple and lively, really tangy and zesty, bright but not over the top, with such a creamy, chalky texture giving a soft grip. Generous yet controlled, I like the style; there’s concentration but it keeps such a cool blue-fruit edge that brings freshness, and the minerality doesn’t stick out at all. Expressive and elegant, but with body and something to really get your teeth into. Lovely suppleness, then it finally ends grippy and stony, with salinity lingering on the very long finish alongside mint, liquorice and clove. Characterful. I like this a lot. A stand-out wine and a top buy! 60% grand vin production. 8% press wine. pH 3.55. Ageing 12–14 months, 80% new oak.

The 2023 Sociando-Mallet has a more savoury, spicy nose with black fruit and a touch of saddle leather. Quite different, but attractive in its own way. The palate is medium-bodied with soft tannins, red and black fruit together with a slightly caramelly finish. An earlier-drinking Sociando.

Chewy black currants, blackberries, herbs, cedar, and tobacco show easily. The palate is juicy, sweet, and chewy. The fruits are sweet, bright, and fresh, with lift, concentration, and energy in the fruit-filled, chalky finish. Drink from 2029-2055. 92-94 pts.

Deep dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, delicate edge brightening. Ripe heart cherry, red berry undertones, delicate herbal savouriness, a hint of orange zest. Lean profile, red forest berries, vivid tannins, mineral, delicately leafy on the finish, salty aftertaste, still needs time.

Intense blueberry bouquet, beguiling violet perfume, blackberry jelly and refined cassis spice. On the straightforward palate, a tightly knit tannic frame and compact body, dense and precise. In the concentrated, long finish, black-berry contours, blueberry juice, dark graphite and a powdery astringency, with a potential rating.

Silky and richly fruited plum colour with a rim of vibrant violet that inspires confidence in its ageing potential. This is gorgeous, really captures the spirit of the vintage on the Left Bank, where you have a ton of ripe Cabernet that is savoury, concentrated, and brimming with energetic cassis, sage, and pencil shavings. Brilliant. A buy.

Score: 88–90. Elegant as a dandy, with heady notes of black fruits and tar, the nose opts for refinement. The palate is very smooth and soft, with notes of ripe fruit before a finish on mocha and blond tobacco.

The nose intrigues but the palate reassures, smooth and juicy. The substance is full-bodied and well-supported. The tannins are elegant, melting into a silky texture. The tasting concludes with finesse on refreshing menthol and lingering spices. The potential is there, just waiting to unfold.