From: Margaux, Bordeaux, France
Varietal: 72% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
Tasting Notes: 2011 is a superb vintage, thanks to improving weather after the atypical spring and meticulous care in the vineyard during sorting, and in the cellar. It’s a worthy successor to 2009 and 2010 and very much in the same line, exhibiting elegance, grace, and balance with mature fruit, fine tannins, and a beautiful structure. The purity is remarkable, with an exhilarating freshness and the silky texture which is the hallmark of Margaux.
Château d’Issan is in the heart of the Margaux appellation, a truly privileged location, which explains the outstanding quality of its wines. The mild weather, regulated by being close to the sea and the Gironde Estuary, provides ideal conditions for vine growth. The vines at Château d’Issan benefit from close, ongoing care designed to produce perfectly ripe grapes. Everything is organized so that each individual plot can be tended independently in order to get the very best out of its fruit. Château d’Issan is a Third Growth of the 1855 Imperial Classification. The wine is made from the old vines in the Château d’Issan enclosure in the middle of the Margaux appellation. The soil here is mainly made up of surface gravel on top of a clay subsoil, which contributes to optimal ripeness and freshness in our two grape varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon 65% and Merlot 35%. Château d’Issan expresses the exquisite bouquet so characteristic of Margaux, and stands out with its suppleness, subtlety, elegance, and long-keeping potential that come from its unique terroir.
95 Points -Decanter
92 Points -Robert Parker
91 Points -Wine Enthusiast
90 Points -Wine Spectator
90 Points -James Suckling
