La Demoiselle de Sociando-Mallet 2017

Tasting notes and serving suggestions for La Demoiselle de Sociando-Mallet 2017 from Château Sociando-Mallet

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a deep ruby-purple hue with garnet highlights, reflecting fine concentration.

Nose

The nose opens with delicate aromas of fresh red fruit, notably redcurrant and raspberry, alongside notes of cherry and blackcurrant. Mineral nuances of graphite and subtle spicy touches of nutmeg gradually enrich the bouquet, bringing complexity and elegance.

Palate

The attack is powerful and fruit-driven, revealing a compact, juicy structure. The palate offers lovely freshness supported by fine, delicate tannins at perfect ripeness. Both mineral and persistent, the finish extends the black-fruit aromas with vibrancy.

Food and wine pairings

This second wine is an ideal match for grilled or roasted red meats, lamb, duck, as well as game. It also pairs beautifully with characterful cheeses.

Serving and cellaring

La Demoiselle de Sociando-Mallet 2017 can be enjoyed now or cellared until around 2032. Decanting for one to two hours before serving will help open up the aromas. Serve at a temperature of 14 to 15°C.

A Haut-Médoc second wine combining freshness and elegance

The estate

Established in the mid-19th century, Château Sociando-Mallet is a benchmark Bordeaux estate, located in Saint-Seurin-de-Cadourne in AOC Haut-Médoc, on the Baleyron hill, an outstanding Médoc gravel terroir close to the estuary. In 2019, the estate covers 83 hectares. Today, ownership and management are overseen by Sylvie Gautreau, who took over operations in 2019.

The vineyard

La Demoiselle de Sociando-Mallet comes from parcels of young vines and terroirs where a shallow layer of gravel over limestone-clay gives the wine its distinctive character. Located on the Baleyron hill in Haut-Médoc, this gravel terroir near the estuary benefits from a privileged exposure. This cuvée is the estate’s second wine.

The vintage

The 2017 vintage began with a mild winter followed by a contrasting spring. While the even flowering suggested excellent quality, the instability observed from July onward led to significant vegetative growth. Conditions in late August and September nonetheless allowed ripeness to be fine-tuned, resulting in harvesting under sunny weather and grapes of fine generosity and remarkable balance.

Vinification and aging

Following hand-harvesting and sorting on a table, La Demoiselle de Sociando-Mallet 2017 is vinified in temperature-controlled tanks, combining stainless steel and concrete. Malolactic fermentation takes place in tank. Aging is carried out partly in barrels, with only 25% new oak, the remainder staying in stainless-steel tanks. This approach preserves the wine’s fruity expression while bringing structure and complexity. Total aging lasts around 18 months before bottling.

Grape varieties

Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc