Chateau D'Issan 2020
SKU
CDIN202010 UCAU
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55% cabernet sauvignon, 39% merlot, 3% cabernet franc, 2% petit verdot and 1% malbec
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Spicy character of the vintage is represented by a note of red peppercorn.
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Deep tannins, lots of substance, rich creamy fruit, oak and a controlled finish.
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1 or more bottles$160.00
Editors notes
Extremely floral and fruity with currants and blackberries. It’s full-bodied and very layered with delicious, dense character. Full-bodied with dusty, layered tannins. Rich, but not heavy. Long and chewy on the finish. 55% cabernet sauvignon, 39% merlot, 3% cabernet franc, 2% petit verdot and 1% malbec. - James Suckling 98 Points
Details
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Wine Type
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Vintage
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Variety
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Brand
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Location
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Cellaring
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Closure
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Alcohol Percentage
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Oak Type
Tasting Profile
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Light (Light)Full (Full)
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Low Tannin (Low Tannin)Tannic (Tannic)
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Sweet (Sweet)Dry (Dry)
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Low Acidity (Low Acidity)High Acidity (High Acidity)
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Aroma
- Blueberry
- Boysenberry
- Herbal
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Palate
- Blue Fruits
- Cassis
- Graphite
Food Pairings
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Pork -
Red Meat
Critic Scores & reviews
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James Suckling
98"Extremely floral and fruity with currants and blackberries. It’s full-bodied and very layered with delicious, dense character. Full-bodied with dusty, layered tannins. Rich, but not heavy. Long and chewy on the finish. 55% cabernet sauvignon, 39% merlot, 3% cabernet franc, 2% petit verdot and 1% malbec."
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Jane Anson
96"(Decanter) This is a sinewy, powerful and forward-moving wine with a sense of momentum. Moreish, with the elegance and plump damson fruits that Issan delivers so well, but more muscular than some years with the impact of both Petit Verdot and Malbec that are in the blend for the first time in this vintage. These add layers of spice and the overall architecture is clear. Peony and violet notes add a kick upwards on the finish, this has a delicacy even though it is intense. Less Cabernet in the blend in 2020 than in 2019, as is often the case in the Médoc due to low yields. This new blend in Issan will be seen going forward after the addition of plots from the purchase of Château Pontac-Lynch."
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Antonio Galloni
95"(Vinous) The 2020 dÍssan is a gorgeous, wonderfully complete wine. Blueberry, sage, dried herbs, menthol, lavander 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 dÍssan is the first vintage that incorporates Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec to complete the traditional Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in the blend. Drinking 2030-2060"
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Neil Martin
94"(Vinous) The 2020 d'Issan is the first vintage with the parcels acquired from Pontac-Lynch, located just outside of Clos dÍssan. It contains a few rows of Malbec whose quality surprised Emmanuel Cruse, hence 1% in the Grand Vin. It also includes Petit Verdot planted in 1948. It is quintessentially Margaux on the nose with pressed violet and incense infusing the black fruit, beautifully defined with just some new oak assimilated. The palate is medium-bodied with svelte tannins, perfectly-judged acidity, harmonious and wonderfully focused on the peacock's tail of a finish. This is one of the dinest dÍssans of the modern era. Drinking 2026-2055"
Other vintages
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Locations
France
Wine is being produced throughout France and has been done for over 2,500 years with certain Châteaux dating their history back to Roman times, around 6th Century BC. Ranking second in the world in per-capita consumption and first in total production quantity. More so than the overall quantity of wine is the quantity of truly great wines coming out of France makes the nation the envy of wine-making nations worldwide.
Two concepts pivotal to the higher end French wines, in particular, are the idea of 'terroir' and the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) system. Terroir refers to the way the geography, geology and climate find their way into the glass, telling a story of the origin of the wine. The AOC was set up in 1935 and has the primary goal of protecting the authenticity of the wines and the livelihoods of the producers. Appellation rules strictly define which varieties of grapes and winemaking practices are approved for classification in each of France's several hundred geographically defined appellations, which can cover entire regions, individual villages or in some cases, like in Burgundy even specific vineyards.
Classic wine regions in France include Champagne (home of Champagne), Burgundy (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay), Bordeaux (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot), Alsace (Aromatic varietals), Loire Valley (Chenin Blanc, Crémant) and the Rhône Valley (Syrah, Grenache Mourvedre)
The Bordeaux classification of 1855 is still in use, as is the Sauternes and Barsac Classification of the same year. Wines from certain regions can be bought En Primeur, which is when the wine is sold prior to it being bottled.
Bordeaux
Bordeaux has a rich history of winemaking, dating back to the Roman times. Today, it is known as one of the most significant wine regions in the world, with a reputation for producing complex, full-bodied red wines. The region is home to a diverse range of terroirs, each with its own unique microclimate, soil composition, and grape varieties.
The left bank of Bordeaux is dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, which thrives in the region's gravelly soils. These wines tend to be bold, tannic, and complex, with notes of blackcurrant, cedar, and tobacco. On the right bank, Merlot is king, producing wines that are softer and fruitier, with notes of plum, cherry, and chocolate.
Aside from the red blends, Bordeaux is also renowned for its sweet wines, particularly from the Sauternes and Barsac appellations. These wines are made using a unique process that involves botrytis, or "noble rot," which concentrates the sugars in the grapes, resulting in a lusciously sweet and complex wine.
Bordeaux's classification system has evolved over time, with some estates moving up or down the ranks depending on the quality of their wines. Today, the system includes five growths, with Premier Cru being the highest and Deuxièmes Crus being the second-highest. There is also a separate classification for the sweet wines of Sauternes and Barsac, with Chateau d’Yquem holding the highest rank.
Overall, Bordeaux is a region that continues to captivate wine enthusiasts around the world with its rich history, diverse terroirs, and exceptional wines.
Margaux
Margaux, an esteemed appellation located on the left bank of the Gironde in the Médoc region of Bordeaux, France, is renowned for producing some of the world's most sophisticated and elegant wines. Margaux is home to more than 21 classified growths, which is more than any other appellation in the region, making it an exceptional destination for wine lovers and connoisseurs.
The wines of Margaux are characterized by their unique floral aromas, which are reminiscent of violet and lilac, as well as their rich and complex flavors. These wines are known for their sensuous, elegant aroma, which includes hints of ripe plum, cassis, and truffle.
The history of winemaking in Margaux dates back over 2,000 years to the Roman era, making it the oldest Bordeaux appellation to be planted with vineyards. The region spans 1,413 hectares of vineyards, which ripen about seven to ten days earlier than the surrounding area, thanks to the protection provided by the forest to the West, shielding the grapes from the cold Atlantic breeze.
The soil of Margaux is unique in the Médoc, being the thinnest soil with high gravel content, providing excellent drainage for the vines. This is critical for maintaining the quality of the fruit during harvest, which is essential to producing exceptional wines. The main grape varieties grown in Margaux include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, which contribute to the unique and complex flavor profiles of the region's wines.
Overall, Margaux is a wine lover's paradise, with its rich history, exceptional terroir, and unique grape varieties that come together to produce some of the world's most sophisticated and elegant wines. Whether you're a wine enthusiast or a connoisseur, a visit to Margaux is sure to be a memorable and unforgettable experience.
About the brand Château d'Issan
hateau d’Issan is one of the oldest wine producing properties in the Medoc as well as in all of Bordeaux. In 1152, the wine produced by what we know of as Chateau d’Issan today, was served for the royal wedding between Eleanor of Aquitaine and King Henri II.
At the time, the estate was known as Chateau Lamothe Cantenac. This makes what we know of today as Chateau d’Issan, one of the oldest estates in Bordeaux that has continually produced Bordeaux wine in the appellation.
In the late 1400’s the vineyards were known as belonging to Chateau Teobon. Jumping ahead a few centuries to the 17th century, the estate became the official possession of the d’Essenault family.
The name, d’Issan is based on an early phonetic spelling of d’Essenault. d’Essenualt was a member of Parliament, a knight and the owner of Chateau d’Issan. He began an extensive program of rebuilding, renovating and redesigning the property. Eventually he built a new castle next to the vineyard and continued his construction projects until the French Revolution.
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