The 1989 Château Sociando-Mallet “Cuvée Jean Gautreau” is a classic mature Bordeaux from the Haut-Médoc appellation, produced by a historic estate whose roots trace back to 1633, when the land belonged to a Basque aristocrat named Sociondo. The modern reputation of the winery is largely due to winemaker and owner Jean Gautreau, a former tennis standout turned wine merchant who purchased the neglected property in 1969, rebuilt its cellars, expanded vineyards from just a few hectares to more than 80, and transformed it into one of the Médoc’s most respected unclassified estates. In 1995 he created the special Cuvée Jean Gautreau, typically made with a higher proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon than the main wine, showcasing the estate’s gravel-and-clay terroir and its capacity for long aging. The house style is traditionally structured and full-bodied, built from classic Bordeaux varieties—generally Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc—with blends often around roughly half Merlot and half Cabernet Sauvignon plus a small percentage of Cabernet Franc. Known for dark fruit aromas, minerality, and firm tannins that soften beautifully with age, mature vintages like 1989 highlight the estate’s reputation for producing powerful yet elegant wines that reward long cellaring.

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