1990 Château Sociando-Mallet
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Tasting notes
The nose is a little less pure and focused than the 1986, but it is welcoming, with softened tannins, smoked earth, cigar, campfire, plenty of grilled blackberry noes, it is unfussy with poise and finesse, with the mouthwatering finish that take you away from tasting a wine and makes you want to drink it. Suggest enjoying soon to really benefit from this gorgeous caress of tannins. Unfiltered and unfined, harvest September 13 to October 2. At this point they were putting it into 80% new oak, and had 50ha in production. Michel-Bernard Couasnon consultant.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Neal Martin, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Now at over 30 years after the vintage, the 1990 Château Sociando-Mallet delivers everything you could want from a mature, impeccably made, classic Haut-Médoc. From vines just north of Saint-Estèphe, it has a regal profile with ripe dark fruits, leafy tobacco, iron, damp earth, and saddle leather nuances. These carry to a medium-bodied, elegant wine revealing resolved tannins, a focused, silky, lively mouthfeel, and a great finish. With very little bricking yet certainly a lighter rim, it's unquestionably fully mature, and I don't see any upside to holding bottles, but I have no doubt it will have a gradual evolution going forward for at least another decade. You could put this in a blind tasting with some top Grand Cru Classé and it would do more than fine.
Now at over 30 years after the vintage, the 1990 Château Sociando-Mallet delivers everything you could want from a mature, impeccably made, classic Haut-Médoc. From vines just north of Saint-Estèphe, it has a regal profile with ripe dark fruits, leafy tobacco, iron, damp earth, and saddle leather nuances. These carry to a medium-bodied, elegant wine revealing resolved tannins, a focused, silky, lively mouthfeel, and a great finish. With very little bricking yet certainly a lighter rim, it's unquestionably fully mature, and I don't see any upside to holding bottles, but I have no doubt it will have a gradual evolution going forward for at least another decade. You could put this in a blind tasting with some top Grand Cru Classé and it would do more than fine.
Clean and sleek. Polished tannins and very refreshing though without enormous hidden depths. Quite straightforward. But brisk and fun. (JR)