TN 1996 Sociando Mallet

[JCNorthway]

I believe the 1996 Sociando Mallet was the very first BWE WOTY, a popular choice as I recall. It was because of comments by members of this site that I ended up purchasing some 750's and a couple of mags from Table and Vine - the only wines I ever purchased from them.

Anyway, about the wine. At age 16 it is living up to that honor as BWE Wine of the Year. For a moderately priced wine (by 1996 standards), this has great character. I opened the bottle and decanted about two hours before serving it with New York strip steaks. It was a perfect match with the meat. It is showing a wonderful balance of still youthful fruit, evolving tannins and lots of minerals and earthiness. It was classic Bordeaux to me on this occasion. While it is quite enjoyable to drink now with a bit of exposure to the air, I think this will continue to be a lively and well-balanced wine for at least another 10 years. If you have multiple bottles of this wine, open and enjoy one now. But save your last one for a few more years.

[Comte Flaneur]

I bought three cases of this at £160 ib on the strength of Michel Bettane (I think it was him) rating it one of the top three wines of the vintage - well before BWE confirmed its greatness. I am only half way through the first case and very confident the rest will last for 20-30 years. Still on the upslope in my opinion

[AlexR]

Sociando Mallet is a true success story.

I've only visited once, and it's about time I renewed my acquaintance. Nic went there last week and perhaps he will post something here.

The estate went from being tiny to 74 hectares in the most recent Féret.

The château also makes a "Cuvée Jean Gautreau". I just bought a bottle of the 2005 to try down the line.
Sociando is now in the hands of Jean's daughter, Sylvie.

Like a couple of other successful châteaux, SM did not deign to be included in the most recent Cru Bourgeois classification.


Best regards,
Alex R.

[JimHow]

The 1996 Sociando Mallet is one of my favorites. It was indeed our first Wine of the Year twelve years ago. I like the 2009 Sociando.

[Jay Winton]

I also bought a case due to the enthusiam/enabling here. Glad to know it's still going strong.

[stefan]

I also find the '96 S-M very good for drinking now with steak. We'll probably drink most of rest of ours this decade.

[hautbrionlover]

The 1986 Sociando is also a lovely wine.

I noticed last weekend that i have a couple bottles of eachnof the 1989 and 1990. Does anyone have any comment to offer on those?

[Blanquito]

The 1990 is my favorite vintage of Sociando, though I've never had an '82. It's drinking well now with some air, but it will hold for a good while still.

I think I may have tried more vintages of S-M than any other Bordeaux: 85, 86, 88, 89, 90, 95, 96, 98, 00, 01, 02, 03, 04, and 05. My favorites in order: 90, 96, 03, 00. Many of the 80's Sociando I've tried were either flawed in some way (musty or dried up from poor storage) or were just too austere to get excited about, but then I've had to source most of my older Sociando via auction and I don't think these wines tend to get treated well (being *merely* a cru bourgeois).

[Chasse-Spleen]

The '03 Sociando is da bomb, IMO.

[Blanquito]

I have very high hopes for the 2003 SM, enough that I bought 2 cases!

[Comte Flaneur]

Back in the days we did a vertical in NYC and the quality was exceptional. By a whisker my wotn was the brilliant 1989 followed by the brutal 1986. The 2000 and 2003 showed well in an undeveloped way, but the group favourites were 1990 and 1982 served out of mag IIRC. The 1996 was nowhere but must have been an off bottle.

[Jay Winton]

patience is the order of the day with SM.