Château Sociando-Mallet 2006

Special Price $37.95 Average US Price $59.00
In Stock   Usually ships in 2-5 days, weather permitting
Only 5 left
SKU
5244-2006
Estimate Fees

Other Vintages We Offer:

• Domaine: Château Sociando-Mallet
• Appellation: Haut Médoc
• Classification: Cru Bourgeois
• Origin: Left Bank, Bordeaux, France

Château Sociando-Mallet is considered one of the best kept secrets in Bordeaux.  This Crus Bourgeoise property has received endless praise from heavy-hitting wine critics such as Robert Parker who considers this estate to be “equal to many Classified Growths,” and a true hidden gem.  Château Sociando-Mallet has such a devout following in France alone, that bottles of this delightful property are a very special find in the international market.  There is no shortage of attention to detail to the vinification process of the wine at this estate, and the grand vin ages beautifully with time.  A must-know producer for any oenophile in search of a powerful wine that overdelivers on value.
 
Château Sociando-Mallet was founded by a Basque nobleman named Sossiando within the village of Saint-Seurin-de-Cadourne.  This portion of the Haut Médoc overlooks the Gironde estuary and has some impressive terroir of fine gravel and clay.  As was typical of the time, the estate was named Château Sossiando after its owner, but with time the estate’s name changed to the phonetic spelling of, “Sociando.” The property was confiscated during the turbulent time of the French Revolution and changed hands more than a few times.  Eventually, it was sold to a naval captain named Mallet, and he gave the estate the second portion of its name.  Château Sociando-Mallet experienced more than its fair share of ups and downs, and when it was purchased in 1969 by Jean Gautreau, a self-made négociant, the estate was in complete and utter disrepair.  Jean Gautreau had no experience working as a vigneron or owning any estates.  He earned his fortune as a négociant and an entrepreneur, providing bottling trucks to châteaux within Bordeaux.  At Jean Michel Cazes’ urging, Jean Gautreau took notice of Château Sociando-Mallet and made the decision to purchase the estate for 250,000 francs.
 
Jean Gautreau invested no shortage of funds, time, and meticulous care to revitalizing the estate to its former glory.  When he purchased Château Sociando-Mallet, only 7 hectares were under the vine.  After Jean Gautreau’s extensive work on the property, the estate now stands at an impressive 85-hectares.  Jean Gautreau spent his tenure expanding the vineyard, remodeling the estate, and renovating the winemaking facilities.  He replaced the old, defunct concrete vats with brand new, temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks to add a purity of fruit and freshness to the grand vin. 
 
The harvest and vinification processes at the vineyards are nothing short of impressive.  This 85-hectare vineyard that hosts plantings of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, is harvested entirely by hand by a team of 120 pickers.  The wine is vinified in a mixture of stainless steel and concrete tanks.  Interestingly enough, only native yeasts are allowed in this process and the wine ferments spontaneously, with minimal intervention on behalf of the winemaking team.  It is then aged in 100% New French Oak barrels – a rarity for Crus Bourgeoise estates – prior to being bottled.  The resulting wine is an incredibly rich, concentrated and long-lived wine, that rivals many Classified Growths.

Tasting Notes

"Classic aromas of black currants, graphite, powdered wet rocks, and earthy undertones compete with the intense black currant fruit present in this structured, medium to full-bodied, concentrated 2006. Always an over-achiever, Sociando Mallet is built for 20-30 years of longevity. The elegant, powerful, but backward 2006 requires patience. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2025." - Robert Parker Jr., The Wine Advocate (2/24/2009, Issue 181), Rating: 90, Drink: 2012 - 2025

 

More Information
Stock Status In Stock
Appellation Haut-Médoc
Vintage 2006
Brand Château Sociando-Mallet
Shipping Weight 3.000000

Footnotes on Futures, Pre-Arrivals, and potential US Tariffs: 

1. As of June 15, 2021, the US and the EU agreed to suspend tariffs resulting from the Boeing-Airbus aircraft trade disputes. Accordingly, such import taxes are now suspended for the next five years.

2. Futures are expected to be available for delivery two years after the sales (e.g., the 2022 vintage, sold in 2023, will be delivered in 2025 mostly, or 2026 if the producer ages the wine longer).

3. Pre-Arrivals are items currently stored in our Bordeaux cellar or in transit from France to the US. It usually takes 1-6 months for Pre-Arrivals to become available for delivery, depending on the stage of the import process.

4. Regarding futures and pre-arrivals, we cannot guarantee specific delivery dates, which factors beyond our control may impact. However, we will notify you once your wine arrives in our cellar.

5. While a buyer of Bordeaux wine futures locks in an allocation of the specified items, the final delivery of the purchased items from France to the US may be impacted by intervening and unforeseeable events. Despite our due diligence, additional costs or delays may be caused by such intervening and unforeseen events and "an irresistible, superhuman cause, or by the act of public enemies of the state of California or the United States."  In such circumstances, if a buyer does not accept unforeseeable costs or delays, the sole and exclusive remedy is a cancellation of the futures order concerned and a refund of the original purchase price. We are NOT liable for any lost profits on a canceled order.

© 2024 Laguna Cellar. All rights reserved. (888) 390-WINE | Drink Responsibly | End Drunk Driving