I like the blueberry, chocolate, blackcurrant and dark chocolate. Some tar and crushed lead pencil, too. Full body and firm, creamy tannins with a lovely texture and roundness. Extremely well polished and exciting. One of the best Sociandos in a long time. Best after 2025.

A beautiful rich damson colour, this is powerful, intense, classic Sociando - and for me it's even better than the 2016. It has good tannins, and lots of them, with a core of plum, damson and cassis with a side of fresh herbs, liquorice and subtle spice. It shows great persistency. A wine to look out for.

(92-94 points) Tobacco leaf, cigar wrapper, fresh herbs and black currant create the core of the wine. Full-bodied, powerful, tannic and juicy, the fruit and tannins are ripe, there is a roundness to the texture coupled with density and flesh to the fruit that really shines this year. Read more at:https://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/wine-tasting-note/?vintage=2018&wine=Chateau%20Sociando-Mallet

The architecture through the palate is a little unusual here - silky texture with weight that reflects a higher Merlot content. It's a good quality enjoyable wine, with brambled hedgerow character and plenty of cocoa dusting and liqourice root. François Hugueniot technical director as of this vintage, moving over after a career in US and South Africa. Highest alcohol to date in this lineup and the first one where there is a hint of heat (an issue I found generally with the 2018 vintage). 90% new French oak for ageing, harvest September 19 to October 12.