1989 Sociando Mallet

Harvest date 8-22 Sep; yield 67.3 hl/ha; vineyard area 38.86 ha Deep bright crimson. Not much nose. Rather severe – certainly none of the lushness evident in many other 1989 bordeaux. Sweet palate entry and then dusty tannins. This vintage lacks the freshness that is the usual hallmark of this property. There's a lot of density but not that much precision, and a rather unappetising, hot finish. A disappointment compared with the vintage reputation. (JR)

Once again this estate revealed its excellent quality/price ratio. As one taster so appropriately stated after learning the identity of both the 1989 and 1990 Sociando-Mallets, "I'd rather have the '89 or '90 Sociando-Mallet than the '89 Margaux or '90 Mouton in my cellar." Both wines showed surprisingly well, performing at second or third-growth levels. The 1989 reveals a youthful, unevolved purple color, followed by a sweet nose of black fruits, minerals, and vanillin. The wine is extremely young (much more so than most 1989s), with medium to full body, good tannin, and not nearly as much of the vintage's soft, evolved personality in evidence. Dense, rich, and concentrated, this wine needs another 4-5 years of cellaring; it should keep for 20+ years.

Once again this estate revealed its excellent quality/price ratio. As one taster so appropriately stated after learning the identity of both the 1989 and 1990 Sociando-Mallets, "I'd rather have the '89 or '90 Sociando-Mallet than the '89 Margaux or '90 Mouton in my cellar." Both wines showed surprisingly well, performing at second or third-growth levels. The 1989 reveals a youthful, unevolved purple color, followed by a sweet nose of black fruits, minerals, and vanillin. The wine is extremely young (much more so than most 1989s), with medium to full body, good tannin, and not nearly as much of the vintage's soft, evolved personality in evidence. Dense, rich, and concentrated, this wine needs another 4-5 years of cellaring; it should keep for 20+ years. Feb 1997, www.robertparker.com