2020 Chateau d'Issan Margaux

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 $750-1500/btl.

2020 was a great year for the Left Bank. Vinous Media awarded this year with a 97-point review and said: "Two thousand-twenty is an exceptional vintage for Bordeaux, certainly the best in the 2018-2020 trilogy. Quality is very, very high."

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

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.

Gorgeous aromas of dried flowers, currants, bark, and forest floor. Lead pencil, too. Tobacco. Full-bodied yet racy and polished with fine and silky tannins that run the length of the wine. Crunchy and fresh at the end. Give this five or six years to come together. Supple yet structured. It builds at the finish. Try after 2028. ~97 James Suckling

Wonderfully intense on the nose, so ripe and concentrated with some toasted oak aromas. Supple and vibrant on the palate, the fruit is clean and crisp with tannins that are fine but firm, just giving the expression some tension and linearity. Cinnamon and clove edge the bright blackcurrant and black cherry fruit with lovely acidity. This is plush, and firm at the same time, clean and clear, fragrant and ripe. Lots going on here with bitter dark chocolate too. It’s all happening. Needs time to relax but this is wonderfully nuanced and really quite captivating. Grippy and refreshing, leaves a lingering impression. ~96 Decanter

The 2020 Château D'Issan is a stunningly good Margaux, and this is another estate that seems to producer brilliant wines every vintage. Pulling from 51.04 hectares of vines and a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, the rest Petit Verdot and Malbec, it's a selection of just 45% of the total production and spent 18 months in 50% new and 50% once-used French oak. Beautiful, spiced-laced red and black fruits, chocolate, smoked tobacco, and incense notes define the aromatics. These carry to a medium to full-bodied restrained, elegant 2020 with terrific mid-palate density, ripe, velvety tannins, and terrific overall balance. This is one of those beautiful, classic wines that grows on you with time in the glass, and hats off to Emmanuel Cruse for yet another incredible wine. It's going to evolve for another 25-30 years if well-stored. ~96 Jeb Dunnuck

A successful wine that has lived up to En Primeur promise. The emphasis remains on texture and depth, velvety tannins, perfumed violets, rose and raspberry leaf aromatics, slate, crushed rocks, serious at first then softening to show raspberry puree and smoked blackcurrant fruits. Cocoa dusting on the finish and clear spice, a little austere right now. The terroirs of the newly-purchased Château Pontac Lynch are in this Issan vintage, meaning the blend uses five grape varieties for first time. Not easy to add these distinctive varieties while maintaining the elegant, finessed style of this estate, but it works. 50% new oak, 38hl/h yield. ~96 Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux

The 2020 d'Issan is a gorgeous, wonderfully complete wine. Blueberry, sage, dried herbs, menthol, lavender and licorice are all beautifully knit together. Medium in body, with notable depth and freshness, Issan is all class. Silky tannins round out the long, vibrant finish. The 2020 d'Issan is the first vintage that incorporates Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec to complement the traditional Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in the blend. ~95 Vinous Media

A very strong effort for this estate, the 2020 D'Issan wafts from the glass with aromas of dark berries and cassis mingled with notions of violets and licorice. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and vibrant, with good depth at the core, refined tannins and a penetrating finish, it's an elegant, perfumed Margaux that's built to age with grace. ~94 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Dark ruby garnet, purple reflections, deep core, delicate rim brightening. Hints of nougat caramel, floral nuances, delicate hints of liquorice and purple fruit, inviting bouquet. Juicy, good sweetness, chocolatey texture, ripe, supporting tannins that also characterize the finish, powerful style, a savoury food companion, has substance and certain ageing potential. ~94 Falstaff

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