2015 Sociando Mallet Cuvee Jean Gautreau

The 2015 Cuvée Jean Gautreau is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot picked between September 16 and October 3. I found it a little reduced on the nose, possibly suffering some bottle shock (although it was actually bottled four months earlier). The palate is full-bodied with dense tannin and dominated by the new oak at the moment, although there is plenty of fruit to soak that up. This will need several years in bottle, but there is great potential here. Tasted at the vertical tasting at Sociando-Mallet.