Chateau Sociando Mallet 1986

ANTONIO GALLONI: "The 1986 Sociando-Mallet was picked between September 30 and October 11 and is a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. It has a perfumed nose of potpourri, lavender, red fruit and a touch of wild fennel. It does not quite have the bucolic charm of the 1985, but it is still respectable. The fresh palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, a ferrous midpalate and impressive tension and vigor toward the finish. A pinch of white pepper lingers on the aftertaste, completing what is a very decent 1986 Sociando-Mallet that continues to drink well. Tasted at the vertical tasting at Sociando-Mallet."

WEINWISSER: "Tiefe, sehr dunkle Farbe, wenig Reifetöne. Würziges Bouquet, Trüffelnoten, schwarze Pfefferkörner, kompakt und tiefgründig. Fester, fleischiger Gaumen, etwas burschikos, was aber auch Charakter verleiht, viel Fleisch am Knochen, im Finale leicht grünliche Cabernet-Noten, noch weitere Reserven für gut zehn weitere Jahre."

WINESPECTATOR: "A powerful, rich wine as good as many cru classés. Inky color and intense vanilla, violet and cassis aromas; full-bodied, with great balance, full but integrated tannins and a long finish. Try in 1996."