About the Wine

Chateau d’Issan is a classified growth. Designated a Third Growth Classified Châteaux, wines in this category provide an excellent value. The type of value wine lovers and wine collectors dream of.

Château d’Issan has an extensive history in Margaux, certainly claiming one of the oldest estates in the region. The oldest recording of the wine produced here is at the wedding of King Henry II in 1152. It wasn’t until the 17th century that the estate took on its current name coming from a phonetic spelling of d’Essenault, the last name of the owner. D’Essenault was a knight and built his Château fittingly in the image of a castle. Since 1945 the estate has been owned and operated by the Cruse family. There have been extensive renovations and improvements made to the Château since this purchase. 

Just to have an idea of the impressive terroir from Château D'Issan, think about this: Château d’Issan is just 1.5 miles away from Chateau Margaux, one of the world’s most lauded wineries that sells for $750-2000/btl.

This wine comes from a superb year. Vinous Media blessed this year with a 95-point review, stating that "Bordeaux enjoyed its strongest vintage in a number of years in 2015." where the"2015s are spectacularly rich, racy wines loaded with personality." 

Aging: 50% new and 50% second-year barrels for an estimated 18 months.

Tasting Notes: 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot. Intense, with dark fruits—blackberries, black cherries—cocoa, spice, and leather. Tannins still need time to settle, but with age the balance and harmony of the wine will shine.

Reviews

Very complex aromas of currants, blackberries and iodine with hints of dried mushrooms and flowers. Full-bodied, very fine and silky with a very, very long finish. Shows tension and finesse. Structured yet shows an ultra-fine texture. Deep, dense center palate, yet it's all so polished. A wine for the future. ~96 James Suckling

A powerhouse offering from proprietor Emmanuel Cruse (with consulting advice from Eric Boissenot) is the 2015 Château d'Issan which in 2015 is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot brought up in just over 50% new barrels. Offering a spectacular bouquet of blackcurrants, lead pencil, chocolate and espresso, this full-bodied, incredibly sexy Margaux boasts sweet, sweet tannin, lots of oak, a stacked mid-palate and a huge finish. It’s a tour de force that’s going to benefit from 5-6 years of cellaring and keep for three decades. As I’ve stated numerous times in this report, Margaux was the place to be in 2015 and I suspect numerous estates have made their best wines to date. ~95 Jeb Dunnuck

The 2015 d'Issan is a total knock-out. Spectacularly ripe and intense, the 2015 exudes richness in all of its dimensions. Super-ripe dark plum, lavender, spice, savory herbs, iron, smoke and new leather add myriad shades of nuance to this super-ripe, decidedly hedonistic Margaux. A powerful, dense wine, the 2015 is going to need a number of years before it is close to being ready to drink. I was quite impressed with d'Issan both times I tasted it. The 2015 has really come along nicely. The blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot, aged in 50% new oak. Eric Boissenot consults. ~95 Vinous Media

This is a serious, structured wine. It has plenty of black plum flavor, although the firm tannins will play an important part in its development. The ample acidity and fresh finish are other harbingers for the wine's good future.  ~93-95 Wine Enthusiast

At this stage, the tight black fruits are retracted and withheld on the nose. But a few minutes in the glass opens it up, giving a clear sense of how well this is going to age - it has the great triumvirate of fruit, alcohol and acidity, just starting to reveal how much succulence there is running through the structure. I like this very much. 50% new oak, with the grand vin accounting for 55% of overall production in 2015. ~94 Decanter

A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot aged in 50% new and 50% one-year-old barrels for 18 months, the deep garnet-purple colored 2015 D'Issan simply sings with a beautiful perfume of wilted flowers, rose hip tea and mincemeat with a core of cherry preserves and blackberry tart plus a hint of underbrush. Medium-bodied, fine, fresh and elegant, it's very soft and silky in the mouth with a long finish. ~93 Wine Advocate

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