“Château d’Issan reveals itself with a sharp focus, clearly striving for precision and delight! It unveils a multitude of nuances through ripe black berries complemented by sweet spices and licorice. With a rather slender profile, the palate effectively conveys this sense of precision through velvety, perfectly integrated tannins. They offer a touch of breadth, while the acidity provides the backbone. A well-rounded, subtle, and highly accomplished wine, even in a year as challenging as 2021!” (Yves Beck 2023) - Delivery in a wooden case is available for orders of 6 bottles of this wine (depending on country and selected shipping method)
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Eye
Deep purple color with violet highlights
Nose
Fruity and well-defined, with an elegant floral bouquet and aromas of redcurrant, cherry, and blackberry, as well as notes of spice and licorice
Palate
A rich, full-bodied attack, velvety tannins, notes of black berries, and a hint of minerality that adds depth to the mid-palate. A beautifully long, supple, and intense finish
Serve
At 17-18°C
Open
2 hours before
Drink from
2026
Drink before
2046
Production
Approximately 100,000 bottles
Food and wine pairings
Enjoy it with braised beef cheek in red wine, venison with pepper sauce, or duck breast Rossini...
Bettane & Desseauve
Rated estate (2021 guide): 4* Stars (Producers of the very highest quality, the pride of French viticulture)
About the estate:
Half of the estate belongs to the Cruse family and the other half to Jacky Lorenzetti, who naturally have high hopes for it. Surrounded by walls, the approximately 50-hectare vineyard is situated on a first-class terroir, which explains the wine’s remarkable aromatic finesse and its consistency despite the frequent climatic vagaries of recent vintages. With even greater rigor in its selection, it could rival—though without a distinct character—its prestigious neighbor Palmer.
Decanter
Wine rated (2023 guide) 94/100
About the wine:
The nose is marked by notes of mint and flowers, along with delicate, fragrant hints of blackberry. Smooth and elegant, it is enlivened by a beautifully balanced acidity that is never sharp—everything is very calm and delicate, yet the tannins have texture; they are slightly grippy and slightly chalky, which gives them structure and definition. It isn’t as full-bodied or meaty as some Margaux wines, but what it lacks in boldness, it makes up for in finesse. It’s truly easy to drink and enjoy, with a magnificent aroma, hints of raspberry and strawberry, and a touch of black tea on the finish. 2026–2046
Guide Hachette des vins
Wine noted (guide 2025) 1*Star (Very successful wine)
Rated estate (2021 guide) Award-winning wines (This producer’s wines are regularly recognized by the guide)
About the wine:
Freshness and elegance are the hallmarks of this classified growth, which holds its own in this demanding vintage. One immediately appreciates its complex bouquet of jammy red fruits, licorice, clove, and violet, followed by a succulent, fresh, and tender palate, supported by tannins that are still firm but without harshness. Harmonious and flavorful, this is a truly lovely expression of the vintage.
About the estate:
With a medieval fortified castle on one side and a 17th-century manor house on the other, this classified growth blends styles and eras with true harmony, a quality reflected in the cellar and its ship’s hull-shaped roof structure. At the helm since 1945, the Cruse family—partnering since 2013 with Jacky Lorenzetti, who is already well-established in the Médoc—manages a 55-hectare vineyard planted on beautiful clay-gravel soil at the heart of the appellation.
Robert Parker - Wine Advocate
Estate rated "Recommended" (Wine producer recommended by Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate)
RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France
Wine rated (2022 guide) 95/100
Rated estate (2021 guide) 2*Stars (These exceptional estates, often boasting fabulous terroirs, are must-haves that, thanks to their consistency and the excellence of their wines, deserve a place in the cellars of discerning wine lovers)
About the wine:
A fine wine, displaying a lovely smoothness on the mid-palate, with great elegance and a powerful finish.
About the estate:
In addition to a magnificent château, Issan boasts one of the few historic vineyards that has never been consolidated, ideally situated on the banks of the Gironde and enclosed within a magnificent 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 appellation’s elite.
James Suckling
Wine rated (2024 guide) 96/100
About the wine:
With aromas of red currant, ripe cherry, and flowers, along with hints of nutmeg and salt, this medium-bodied red features a solid core of fruit, with medium, ripe tannins that nicely frame the wine and lend it depth and energy. Slightly chewy and caressing on the finish. 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec, and 1% Petit Verdot. Best enjoyed in 2 or 3 years, but will be at its best after 2027.
Yves Beck
Wine rated (2023 guide) 95/100
About the wine:
Château d’Issan reveals itself with a refined elegance, clearly striving for precision and delight! It unveils a multitude of nuances through ripe black berries complemented by mild spices and licorice. Rather slender in style, the palate effectively conveys this sense of precision through velvety, perfectly integrated tannins. They offer a touch of breadth, while the acidity provides the backbone. A well-rounded, subtle, and highly accomplished wine, even in a year as challenging as 2021! 2026–2046
Vert de Vin
Wine rated (2022 guide) 95/100 (Jonathan Choukroun Chicheportiche)
About the wine:
The nose is fruity, elegant, and refined, offering a lovely finesse of texture and a certain refined power. It features notes of fairly ripe boysenberry, fresh blackcurrant, and, more subtly, juicy/fresh red berries, combined with hints of peony and pepper, as well as subtle hints of vibrant cherry, mocha, and toast, along with a discreet hint of graphite and an imperceptible hint of incense (in the background). The palate is fruity, offering a lovely brightness of fruit, smoothness, freshness, and a certain rich, fleshy fruitiness. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of pulpy/juicy raspberry, fleshy/juicy blackberry, and, more subtly, fleshy cherry, combined with hints of lily, peony, plum blossoms, as well as hints of refined/Margaux-style minerality, flint, chocolate/cocoa, and subtle notes of toasted almond and fresh vanilla. Good length. A slight chewiness on the finish/persistence. The tannins are precise and velvety. A good mid-palate and suppleness on the finish.
Tastingbook - Markus Del Monego
Wine rated (2022 guide) 95/100
About the wine:
Deep purple in color with violet highlights and a black core. An elegant, aromatic nose evoking ripe blackcurrants and juicy blackberries, with notes of pure blackcurrant, refined toast, and dark chocolate. The palate is well-structured with impressive length, great depth, and promising aging potential.
Customer rating
5/5
based on 1 review
Review by Mr. FREDERICK D. Posted on 09/09/2025
See all reviews from this customer
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