2008 Sociando-Mallet (Haut-Medoc)

Performing far better from bottle than it did from cask, the full-bodied 2008 offers abundant notes of plums, blueberries and black raspberries interwoven with hints of white flowers, damp earth and background oak. This impressively endowed, muscular effort will benefit from 2-4 years of cellaring and should keep for two decades. 90 points

Good bright red-ruby. Sexy, pure aromas of dark cherry, rose and violet. Juicy, delicate and penetrating, with pinot-like weight and sappiness. Displays a captivating sweetness without any loss of energy. Finishes long, with serious tongue-dusting tannins and excellent lift. Built for at least 15 years of life in bottle. As in the best vintages for this overachiever, this will make an excellent ringer in future tastings of classified growths from 2008. 91 points