Description
Château Sociando-Mallet generally produces full-bodied, dark and robust wines, as exemplified by this 1999 vintage. A wine of immense density and depth, it ranks among Bordeaux’s most prestigious wines. The bouquet is complex (black fruits, figs, spices), with a touch of minerality and subtle, well-integrated oak. After a few years, the wine gains in harmony and complexity. With its imposing tannic structure and full body, it needs around ten years to open up fully.
In the vineyard, in the cellar
Since the 17th century, Sociando-Mallet has occupied the Baleyron hill, one of the finest gravel terroirs in the Médoc. Located in the commune of Saint-Seurin-de-Cadourne, north of Pauillac, its vineyard overlooks the Gironde estuary, nestled in the curve of the river at this point.
The terroir of Sociando-Mallet consists of gravel dating from the Guntzian period, resting on a deep clay-limestone subsoil. It allows the Cabernet Sauvignons to ripen in excellent conditions and the Merlots to acquire depth and complexity, whilst perfectly regulating the vines’ water supply. This terroir is the soul of Sociando’s wines, to which they owe their complex structure, freshness and elegance.
The estate covers 120 hectares, 83 of which are vineyards, mostly situated to the east of the village of Saint-Seurin. The vineyard covers the superb Baleyron hilltop that surrounds the house and its farm buildings. This aspect provides optimal sunshine for the vines, which are also regularly ventilated due to the proximity of the estuary. The mass of water from the river and the nearby ocean moderates and regulates the climate by limiting temperature fluctuations.
The grape varieties consist of 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 54% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc. The vines are 35 years old on average.
The average planting density is 8,333 vines per hectare, corresponding to a row spacing of 1 metre and a spacing between vines of 1.2 metres. This high density increases the leaf area and competition between the vines, which promotes the production of grapes concentrated in tannins, sugars, colour and aromas.
(Source: Château Sociando-Mallet)
What to eat with a 1999 Sociando-Mallet?
- Game
- Tournedo Rossini
- Mushrooms: porcini, chanterelles…
- Truffle risotto
Some photos of the last available bottle of Château Sociando-Mallet 1999
