Sociando-Mallet Haut-Médoc 2010 375ml

95 points Jane Anson (Inside Bordeaux): "(55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc). Fennel, black chocolate, crushed roses, cassis, blackberry, will run and run, and is exceptional value, particularly in the context of the vintage. Tasted ex-retail, not ex-chateau. Harvest September 24 to October 12. 100% new oak for ageing, native yeast fermentation. One corked bottle, second tasted exceptional. A?lcohol 13.5%. Drink: 2024-2040. (9/20/24)"

94 points Chris Kissack (Winedoctor): "From a highly regarded property just outside the St Estèphe appellation, on one of the last true gravel croupes of the Médoc. Back in 2010 the property was under the control of the late Jean Gautreau (and family). At ten years of age it has a dark hue, richly pigmented, with a hint of raspberry crimson around the rim. The nose is classically straight and defined, very typical of the estate, with smoked black fruit aromatics, spiced with notes of black tea leaves, dried black olive and currants. This is followed by a quite beautiful palate, one rich in savoury fruit, with a ripe grip of tannins, tightly focused and lightly chalky. This grippy backbone supports the fruit, along with threads of black tea, truffle, herby sage and thyme. This is very good, and shows just why this is such a widely admired estate. Drink or hold. The declared alcohol is 13.5%. (Oct 2021)"

94 points (17/20) La Revue du Vin de France: "2010 has a long life ahead of it, and it may be a long time before it gives its all. The wine is tight, dense, with abundant ripe tannins. (2012)"

92 points Tim Atkin, MW.

91+ points Robert Parker: "A very classic wine for patient connoisseurs, Sociando Mallet makes no compromises and continues to produce one of the finest wines among non-classified estates in Haut-Medoc. Dense purple to the rim, the opaque purple-colored 2010 offers up notes of graphite, blueberry and black raspberry fruit, a hint of cassis, some licorice and wet rocks. Deep, full-bodied and almost excruciatingly tannic, this full-throttle, balls-to-the-wall style of wine needs at least 8-10 years of cellaring and should keep for three decades or more. Drink: 2021-2051. (2/27/13)"