Chateau d’Issan expresses the exquisite bouquet so characteristic of Margaux, and stands out for its suppleness, subtlety, elegance and long aging potential.

The wine is made from the old vines in the Chateau d’Issan enclosure in the middle of the Margaux appellation. The soil is mainly comprised of surface gravel on a clay subsoil, contributing to optimal ripeness and freshness in the estate’s two grape varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The wine is aged in barrels for 16 to 18 months, half of which are new.

The 2018 d'Issan, a Bordeaux Blend from the Margaux sub-region in Bordeaux, France, showcases a harmonious blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. This wine has garnered exceptional reviews from multiple professional critics, highlighting its depth, balance, and aging potential.

James Suckling awarded the 2018 d'Issan a score of 96, noting its "aromas of blackberry, plum, cocoa, iodine, clove and graphite." He described it as "medium-to full-bodied with firm, silky tannins," and praised its balance and harmony. Suckling recommended trying this wine from 2025.

Jeff Leve of The Wine Cellar Insider also gave it a 95, describing it as "silky, fresh, floral and pure." Leve highlighted the wine's bouquet of "violet and lilac, with accents of tobacco leaf, cedar, crème de cassis," and noted its "refined, elegant" palate. He suggested giving it 7-9 years in the bottle and enjoying it over the following two decades or more.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, with a score between 94 and 96, emphasized the wine's "deep garnet-purple color" and flavors of "baked berries, warm cherries and cassis with spice box and fragrant earth plus tea hints." The review noted the wine's "great core of muscular fruit with firm, fine-grained tannins," and highlighted its aging potential in 50% new and 50% second-year barrels for an estimated 18 months.

Decanter also rated the wine 96, describing it as having a "vibrant ruby color, with floral aromatics" and praised its "richness and poise joined by a delicate acidity." The review noted the wine's "supple and appealing" tannins and its capacity for long aging.

Jeb Dunnuck gave the 2018 d'Issan a score of 95, highlighting its "beautiful, singular bouquet of blackcurrants, new leather, smoked tobacco, scorched earth, and camphor." Dunnuck noted its "medium to full-bodied, seamless Margaux" with "wonderful tannins" and "beautifully integrated acidity."

Vinous, with scores ranging from 92 to 94, described the wine as "potent, backward" and showing "serious intensity" with "blue/purplish fruit, chocolate, spice, smoke, and leather flavors." The reviews emphasized its "imposing tannins" and "very good structure."

Wine Enthusiast rated it between 94 and 96 points, recognizing its "austere structure, with firm tannins" and "attractive black-currant flavor and ample acidity." The review suggested trying the wine after 2029.

Overall, the 2018 d'Issan is a critically acclaimed Bordeaux Blend that promises excellent aging potential and a well-balanced, elegant profile.