CHÂTEAU SOCIANDO-MALLET

The Château Sociando-Mallet winery was founded by Jean Gautreau in 1969. As a young man, Jean sold Bordeaux wines, but when prices rose significantly in 1956, he decided to turn to richer and more lucrative countries such as Belgium and the Netherlands. The real turning point came in 1969 when Jean, looking for an estate on behalf of a Belgian client, discovered Château Sociando-Mallet, in the commune of Saint-Seurin-de-Cadourne, north of Pauillac, in the Haut-Médoc. The vineyard was no larger than 5 hectares, with old, poorly maintained vines, but it was located in a beautiful spot on the Gironde estuary, with stunning views of the river and the surrounding countryside. Jean fell in love with it and bought it. The building was in very poor condition, with no cellar and only a few barrels, but Jean began restoring the château and reorganising the vineyard. With the help of Gérard Cler, who was already working at the château, he vinified the first vintage, which revealed the exceptional quality of the terroir. Today, the estate covers 110 hectares, 85 of which are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the three grape varieties that are blended to produce the Château Sociando-Mallet Bordeaux, which is a fine example of the great wines of the Médoc.