2018 d'Issan Bordeaux Blend

Bordeaux Blend - 6L
Reg: $795.00
$675.00
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REVIEWS

DC 96 JS 96 WA 96 WE 96 JD 95 JL 95 VN 94
DC 96

Decanter, April 2019

This is a vibrant ruby colour, with floral aromatics that are even more evident on the nose here than with the second wine, Blason. This is not always the case during En Primeur tastings, when it's the second wines that...
JS 96

jamessuckling.com, March 2021

Aromas of blackberry, plum, cocoa, iodine, clove and graphite. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, silky tannins. Tightly wound and mineral at the moment, with dusty gravel and graphite notes, yet with focus and...
WA 96

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, April 2019

(94 - 96) The 2018 D'Issan is composed of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, aging in 50% new and 50% second year barrels for an estimated 18 months. With 13.97% alcohol and a deep garnet-purple color, it features...
WE 96

Wine Enthusiast,

(94–96 points) Barrel Sample. This wine has an austere structure, with firm tannins. The fruit comes through slowly, revealing an attractive black-currant flavor and ample acidity. This will be a very fine wine with...
JD 95

jebdunnuck.com, March 2021

The top wine, the 2018 Château D'Issan is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot that spent 18 months in 50% new French oak. It offers a beautiful, singular bouquet of blackcurrants, new leather, smoked tobacco, scorched...
JL 95

TheWineCellarInsider.com, March 2021

Silky, fresh, floral and pure, this gorgeous vintage of d'Issan is just great. The violet and lilac bouquet, with accents of tobacco leaf, cedar, crème de cassis attracts you right off the bat. On the palate, the wine is...
VN 94

Vinous, March 2021

The 2018 d'Issan is a potent, backward wine that is going to need a number of years to come into its own. Dark and brooding, with serious intensity, the 2018 shows off real depth in its blue/purplish fruit, chocolate...

WINE DETAILS

Color & Type Red
Varietal Bordeaux Blend
Country France
Region Bordeaux
Sub-region Margaux
Vintage 2018
Size 6L
Percent alcohol 14%
Closure Cork

Chateau d’Issan is located in the center of the Margaux appellation and rated as a third growth in the official Bordeaux Classification of 1855. Mild weather, moderated by proximity to the sea and the Gironde Estuary, provides ideal conditions for vine growth. The vines are, on average, 35 years old. The estate has 44 hectares of vines in Margaux, 5 in Haut-Medoc and 10 in Bordeaux Superieur.

Chateau d’Issan has a long history dating back to the 12th century when it was a fiefdom with the name of La Mothe-Cantenac. It already had an established reputation long before the 1855 classification, reportedly served at the wedding of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henri Plantagenet, future King of England, on 18th May 1152.

The estate has been handed down from generation to generation through inheritance and marriage until from 1575 onwards, it has been owned by five generations of the Essenault family who contracted their name and renamed the property “Issan”.

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 is a remarkable Bordeaux Blend that embodies the elegance and complexity of the Margaux region in France. With its deep garnet-purple color, this wine is visually captivating, drawing you in with its allure.

On the nose, the aromas are rich and enticing, with notes of blackberry, plum, cocoa, iodine, clove, and graphite. The bouquet is layered and complex, showcasing the wine's depth and character. As you take your first sip, you are greeted by a medium-to-full-bodied wine with firm, silky tannins that caress the palate. The wine is tightly wound at the moment, displaying mineral notes of dusty gravel and graphite. However, it also possesses a remarkable focus and precision that add to its allure.

The balance and harmony of this vintage are truly exceptional, especially considering the challenging conditions of the year. It is a testament to the skill and expertise of the winemaking team at d'Issan. With an alcohol percentage of 14.0%, this wine has a powerful presence that lingers on the palate.

James Suckling awarded this wine an impressive score of 96 points, praising its balance and mineral notes. Jeff Leve also lauded its purity, freshness, and silky textures, awarding it 95 points. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate described it as having a great core of muscular fruit and firm, fine-grained tannins, earning it a score of 96 points. Decanter commended its richness, poise, and delicate acidity, giving it a score of 96 points as well. Jeb Dunnuck praised its flawless balance, elegance, and layered style, awarding it 95 points. Vinous noted its intensity, depth, and potential for aging, awarding it 94 points. Finally, Wine Enthusiast recognized its austere structure, black-currant flavor, and ample acidity, giving it a score of 96 points.

Overall, the 2018 d'Issan is a truly exceptional wine that showcases the best of what the Margaux region has to offer. It is a wine that demands patience and will reward those who cellar it for several years.