Château d'Issan 2018

The historic grounds of Château d’Issan are unquestionably some of the most resplendent and breathtaking in the Médoc.  With its gothic towers and moats, visiting Château d’Issan is a bit like traveling back in time.  Château d’Issan is one of the oldest châteaux in Bordeaux, and its history is as rich and powerful as its wines.  Though the wines were forgettable in the 1980s, they have skyrocketed in terms of quality in recent years.  Robert Parker Jr, the famed wine critic has stated when Château d’Issan produces good vintages, their wines are undoubtedly some of the greatest in all of Bordeaux.  It is no surprise that the motto of this estate engraved above the château door is, "Regum Mensis Aris Que Deorum“ which means - "for the tables of kings and altars of the gods.” 

Records of Château d’Issan date as far back to 1152, when the wine was served at the wedding of Elenore of Aquitaine to King Henry II.  At the time, the estate was known as Château Lamothe Cantenac.  Starting in the year 1575, Château d’Issan was acquired by the Essenault family who named it Château d’Issan – a contraction of their surname.  Stories of Château d’Issan and its legendary wines were told around the world and eventually Thomas Jefferson toured the estate and sang its praises during his trip to Bordeaux.   The Château was ranked as a Third Growth during Napoleon’s 1855 Classification, and a little over ten years later it was acquired by Gustave Roy. Gustave Roy had the first gravity fed cellars built and began the tremendous undertaking of replanting the vineyards that had been ravaged by phylloxera. Eventually the estate was taken over by the Cruse family, who still supervise the Château d’Issan today.

When Emmanuel Issan took over the estate in the 1990s, the quality of these wines began to gradually improve.  The estate introduced a Second Wine called Blason d’Issan in 1995, to improve the quality of the grand vin.  The alluvial  and gravel soils in the vineyards are planted with 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot.  Weather is fairly mild here, due to the moderating influence of the Gironde Estuary, and this serves to the vines’ advantage.  The 1999 and 2000 vintages were astounding.  The vineyard is 59 hectares total – with 44 hectares in the Margaux appellation, 5 hectares in Haut Médoc and 10 hectares that are considered Bordeaux Supérieur.  The grapes are harvested by hand every autumn by acquaintances, neighbors, family and friends.  Château d’Issan also has a partnership with a school in Denmark, where several students come to work the harvest.  The grapes are then sorted onto a vibrating table and then off they go into their gravity fed wine making facilities.  

There is a specific freshness that is associated with the wines of Château d’Issan and the gorgeous, femininely floral traits synonymous with a Margaux. Their wines are elegant, and a bit more restrained with medium body and not too heavy tannins.  Many critics often laud the wines of Château d’Issan for delivering great quality for value.

"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 tend to be a little more open, but it's a feature of the 2018 vintage. This is a brilliant Issan with richness and poise joined by a delicate acidity that pulls the fruit along. The tannins are deceptive, as they are supple and appealing, but the density and power builds over the palate and clearly indicates long ageing. A wine that feels like it's rooted in its appellation. 50% new oak. 40hl/ha yield, with 53% of production going into this wine, higher than in both 2017 and 2016. Eric Boissenot consults." - Jane Anson, (04/01/2019), Ratings: 96, Drink: 2027 - 2042 

"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 baked berries, warm cherries and cassis with spice box and fragrant earth plus tea hints. Medium to full-bodied, it has a great core of muscular fruit with firm, fine-grained tannins, with nice freshness, finishing layered with mineral notions." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, (04/23/2019, Bordeaux 2018 Issue), Ratings: 94-96