1996 Château Sociando-Mallet, Cru Bourgeois Haut-Médoc
Dry, Red, Still
France
Ready 2002 – 2016 
This item is currently unavailable for purchase through Lay & Wheeler.
Our fine wine trading team may be able to source the wine for you. Please use our contact form to provide us with your details.
.
Region Details
Bordeaux is France's largest quality wine region, indeed producing almost as much wine as Australia. Its westerly position ensures a mild maritime climate, a long growing season and mild summers; rains in the autumn are the primary threat to the harvest, dampening expectations in around one year in three. Red wine predominates - indeed many white wine vines are being uprooted today - with Merlot the dominant variety. The region is dissected by the Gironde estuary, with on the Left Bank the district appellations of the Médoc and the Graves and on the Right Bank, those of Saint-Emilion and Pomerol amongst others. Sauternes is made in the south of the region. The notable red and sweet wines were classified in 1855 according to their then status. At that time not a single Pomerol or Saint-Emilion was deemed worthy despite their historic traditions, and only a single Graves wine. In the last few decades first Saint-Emilion and then Pomerol have become intensely fashionable, their usually small production guaranteeing a premium for scarcity.
Vintage Notes
1996 - Bordeaux
A médoc vintage, and one which appears to be very well-valued when compared to 1995 and, of course, 2000. In contrast to the opulence and attractiveness of many 1995s, the style in 1996 is today reserved and backward. Concentration and density of both colour and flavour are clearly present, but the fruit of the Cabernet Sauvignon, which calls the tune in 1996, is drier, sleeker and less assertive than that of the Merlot. The impression is of wine with grace and power: claret to be cellared and enjoyed for many years. Many st-émilions and pomerols can however be broached from now on.
Grape Variety
.
.
