Château Sociando-Mallet Haut-Médoc 2015

Bold and beautifully old-school, this is proper, grown-up claret with real grip and depth. Layers of blackberry, pencil shavings, and a touch of cigar box unfold across a powerful yet finely balanced frame. There’s plenty of structure here, but also a lovely ripeness from the warm 2015 vintage. Ideal for hearty autumn dishes. Think roast beef, game, or just good company on a chilly evening by the fire.

Sociando-Mallet sits on a prized gravel outcrop overlooking the Gironde, north of Saint-Estèphe. Jean Gautreau’s estate has long punched above its cru bourgeois status, crafting wines of real distinction and ageing potential that often outshine classed growths.

93 points – Neal Martin (Vinous): “Fresh, energetic and beautifully defined. A superb Sociando with classic Médoc restraint and impressive persistence.”