With a history dating back to 1152, Château d'Issan was established as a third growth in the 1855 classification. By 1945 when the Cruse family purchased this storybook Margaux property with its 17th century Château and moat, it was a shadow of its former self with just 2ha in production. With 44ha planted to 60% Cabernet and 40% Merlot, the Cruse family sold 50% to Jacky Lorenzetti in 2013. D'Issan is now firing on all cylinders, producing a wine that is both fleshy and structured. Up to 40% of the production is declassified into a second wine (Blason d’Issan).
Deep colour. Fragrant cassis plum white flower aromas with aniseed notes. Well concentrated and rounded wine with deep set dark berry, blackcurrant inky notes and plentiful round graphite firm tannins. Finishes gravelly firm but long and flavourful with blackcurrant pastille notes. Very good. Not classic but the frame is outstanding.
96 points, Andrew Caillard MW.
