The nose is wonderfully intense, ripe, and concentrated, with aromas of toasted oak. Supple and vibrant on the palate, the fruit is clean and crisp with fine but firm tannins, which give the expression a little tension and linearity. Cinnamon and clove line the bright fruit of blackcurrant and black cherry, with lovely acidity. This wine is both rich and firm, clean and clear, fragrant and ripe. There's a lot going on here, with bitter dark chocolate too. It's all happening. It needs time to relax, but it's wonderfully nuanced and truly captivating. Gripping and refreshing, it leaves a lingering impression. ( Decanter - 2023) - Delivery in wooden crates is available for orders of 1 magnum of this wine (depending on the country and shipping method selected).
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Eye
Deep, brilliant ruby color
Nose
Great finesse, aromatic, scents of blackcurrant, blackcurrant, blond tobacco, complexified by pleasantly herbaceous notes, very inviting.
Mouth
Beautiful structure, fine tannins, aromatic richness, blackberry, redcurrant, juicy blackcurrant, deliciously chiseled, mouthwatering finish with complex aromas of cinnamon and black cherry, magnificent aromatic persistence.
Serve
At 17-18°C
Open
2 hours before
Drink from
2025
Drink before
2050
Guard
2055
Food and wine pairings
Enjoy with pork cheeks with chanterelle mushrooms, Rossini beef tournedos, or chicken stuffed with chestnuts and truffles...
Bettane & Desseauve
Rated estate (2021 guide) 4 stars (Producers of very high quality, the pride of French vineyards)
About the estate:
Half of the estate belongs to the Cruse family and the other half to Jacky Lorenzetti, who obviously have high ambitions for it. Surrounded by walls, the 50-hectare vineyard is located on first-class terroir, which explains the wine's remarkable aromatic finesse and consistency despite the frequent climatic vagaries of recent vintages. With even greater rigor in its selection, it could rival its prestigious neighbor Palmer, albeit with a different character.
Decanter
Wine rated (2023 guide) 96/100
About wine:
The nose is wonderfully intense, ripe, and concentrated, with aromas of toasted oak. Supple and vibrant on the palate, the fruit is clean and crisp with fine but firm tannins, which give the expression a little tension and linearity. Cinnamon and clove border the bright fruit of blackcurrant and black cherry, with lovely acidity. This wine is both rich and firm, clean and clear, fragrant and ripe. There is a lot going on here, with bitter dark chocolate also present. Everything is happening. It needs time to relax, but it is wonderfully nuanced and truly captivating. Striking and refreshing, it leaves a lasting impression. 2028-2044
Guide Hachette des vins
Rated estate (2021 guide) Award-winning wines (This producer's wines are regularly recognized by the guide)
About the estate:
With its medieval castle on one side and 17th-century manor house on the other, this classified growth blends styles and eras with true harmony, which is also reflected in the cellar and its ship's hull-shaped roof structure. At the helm since 1945, the Cruse family, joined in 2013 by Jacky Lorenzetti, already well established in the Médoc, runs a 55-hectare vineyard planted on beautiful clay-gravel terroir in the heart of the appellation.
Robert Parker - Wine Advocate
Wine rated (2021 guide) 93-95/100 (Extraordinary wine)
Rated Recommended (Wine producer recommended by Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate)
About wine:
Opaque purple-black in color, it displays vibrant notes of Bing cherry, Boysenberry, ripe blackcurrant, and juicy black plum, along with hints of pencil shavings, wild thyme, lavender, and forest floor. The medium-bodied palate displays impressive energy with crisp red and black fruits and irresistible tension, framed by fine-grained tannins, and ends with a long, mineral finish. 2025-2045
RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France
Rated estate (2021 guide) 2 stars (These very large estates, often blessed with fabulous terroirs, are must-haves which, thanks to their consistency and the excellence of their production, deserve a place in the cellars of discerning wine lovers).
About the estate:
In addition to a sumptuous château, Issan boasts one of the few historic vineyards that has not been consolidated, ideally located on the banks of the Gironde and enclosed within a magnificent walled estate. Thanks to the work of Emmanuel Cruse and his team, the wines have gained in body, intensity, and depth in recent years, while retaining a very silky texture. They are now among the elite of the appellation.
James Suckling
Wine rated (2021 guide) 97-98/100
About wine:
Extremely floral and fruity, with notes of redcurrants and blackberries. It is full-bodied and very layered, with a delicious, dense character. Full-bodied with fine-grained, structured tannins. Rich, but not heavy. Long, chewy finish.
Le Figaro vins
Wine rated (2021 guide) 95.5/100
About wine:
A bouquet of summer fruits that, as it rises to your nostrils, gives you the feeling of lying on a blanket in the middle of a field of wild grasses, caressed by the gentle warmth of the spring sun. On the palate, this is a sublime, finely crafted, indulgent wine with a mouthwatering crispness and perfectly lively tannins, leaving a slightly chalky finish on the palate. 2028-2048
Yves Beck
Wine rated (2022 guide) 96/100
About wine:
Fresh vegetal nuances, notes of blond tobacco, blackcurrant, earthy nuances, and sweet spices. This is an obviously expandable summary of Issan's bouquet. Vegetable because we must finally embrace this natural and relevant term. Of course, it stirs up emotions, but it smells very good... isn't that what matters? Add to that the sweetness on the palate, a certain density, an acidic structure that enhances the finish, and silky tannins... and you have this very elegant, refined, and convincing Margaux. It doesn't rely on charm, but that doesn't prevent it from using it; ultimately, it's the freshness that wins out. Bravo! 2026-2045
Jean-Marc Quarin
Wine rated (2021 guide) 95/100
About wine:
Dark, intense, purple and beautiful color. Very aromatic, refined, subtle and fragrant nose, with pure, ripe fruit. Ultra-smooth on the palate, delicious and dense in the middle, particularly aromatic, the wine caresses the palate with its velvety texture and savory flavors. It finishes long, delicately woven with dreamy tannins. 2027-2045
Vert de Vin
Wine rated (2021 guide) 95/100 (Jonathan Choukroun Chicheportiche)
About wine:
The nose is elegant, distinguished, and offers delicacy, power (in terms of precision/control), concentration, and complexity. There are notes of ripe/fresh red berries, juicy strawberry and, more subtly, violet and blackcurrant, combined with hints of camphor, juicy/ripe black berries, fresh tobacco, fresh licorice, subtle hints of saffron, cherry blossom, subtle hints of nutmeg and spices, and a discreet hint of Bourbon vanilla. The palate is fruity, well-balanced and offers juiciness, freshness, bright fruit, minerality, good definition, a certain richness, a tangy structure, an airy character (in the mouthfeel), juiciness, controlled richness, a certain power and a finely-grained, relatively powerful tannic structure. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of juicy/pulpy blackcurrant, vibrant raspberry and, more subtly, ripe/fresh wild red berriesfresh wild red berries, combined with hints of lily, saffron, bright cherry, black tea, licorice, as well as subtle hints of sweet spices, racy minerality, subtle hints of blond tobacco, and an imperceptible hint of pepper (in the background). The tannins are precise, finely tight, and offer a slight straightforwardness.
The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve
Wine rated (2023 guide) 95/100
About wine:
The first vintage to include five Bordeaux grape varieties in the blend opens with aromas of violet, forest floor, spices, plum, redcurrant, cherry, mint, and a hint of pepper. On the palate, bright red fruits, silky tannins, sweetness, and purity of fruit are easy to discern. The elegant finish is persistent, which is a good thing, because you'll finish the bottle far too quickly. Tasting the 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, and now 2020 vintages over the years will be great fun. But I warn you, it will be difficult to choose a favorite. However, today, it is quite possible that the 2020, due to the inclusion of new grape sources, will be top of the class. Drink between 2025 and 2055.
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