"This wine is rich, offering aromas of blackcurrant and orange peel, followed by notes of cedar and dried mushrooms. It has a medium to full body that develops on the palate. The tannins are crisp and slightly fleshy, with an elegant austerity typical of great Bordeaux wines. The finish is long and expressive. A wine of great complexity, full of life and character. Undoubtedly the greatest wine ever produced by this estate." (James Suckling 2025 - Delivery in wooden cases is available for orders of 6 bottles of this wine (depending on the country and shipping method selected).
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Eye
Beautiful intense purple color with black highlights
Nose
Aromatic, fresh, and elegant, with notes of crushed raspberry, blackcurrant, violet, rose, chocolate, cedar, and more mineral nuances.
Mouth
Silky texture, refined power, depth of aroma, precision of tannins, magnificent concentration, and sensual finish.
Serve
At 17-18°C
Open
2 hours before
Drink from
2029
Drink before
2050
Production
Approximately 100,000 bottles
Food and wine pairings
Enjoy with roast beef, duck with red berries, veal Marengo...
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 (2025 guide) 96/100
About wine:
Wonderfully intense nose—violet, blackcurrant, and chocolate. Silky, velvety texture, almost creamy, with refreshing liveliness from strawberry and red cherry. The tannic structure settles in the mid-palate, channeling the energy and power that express themselves fully, for a long, airy finish. Careful vinification, with power but great elegance, revealing all the richness of the 2022 vintage – notably thanks to a slightly warm finish – while retaining a balanced freshness and definite aging potential. Bold and seductive, in short. 2028-2049
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
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 (2026 guide) 96/100
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 wine:
From the nose, it displays an obvious charm, a softness and harmony that is reflected on the palate. The wine is composed, refined, and deep. Beautiful brightness of ripe fruit and a juicy finish. It digests its richness without batting an eyelid.
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 (2025 guide) 98/100
About wine:
No. 1 - TOP 100 best wines in the world in 2025! - This wine is very rich, offering aromas of blackcurrant and orange peel, followed by notes of cedar and dried mushrooms. It has a medium to full body that develops on the palate. The tannins are crisp and slightly fleshy, with an elegant austerity typical of great Bordeaux wines. The finish is persistent and expressive. A wine of great complexity, full of life and character. Undoubtedly the greatest wine ever produced by this estate. A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec, and 1% Petit Verdot. Best enjoyed after 2028, but already a real delight.
Jeb Dunnuck
Wine rated (2025 guide) 96/100
About wine:
Château d'Issan 2022, with its deep ruby color and purple highlights, is an exceptional wine. It offers an impressive aromatic palette of red and black fruits, spring flowers, violets, smoked tobacco, and a beautiful minerality. This full-bodied, powerful and concentrated wine has a harmonious and complex texture on the palate, silky tannins and a remarkable finish. Its alcohol content is 14.6% and its pH is 3.6. Allow it to age for 4 to 5 years if possible; it will then evolve gracefully over the next 3 decades. 2025-2055
Le Figaro vins
Wine rated (2025 guide) 96/100
About wine:
A deep and intense bouquet, with dark accents and a sense of gravitas, where iris mingles with earthy notes. The palate is pure, creamy, and enticing, leading to a delicious finish that reveals sumptuous hints of mocha. What beauty. 2029-2052
Yves Beck
Wine rated (2024 guide) 96/100
About wine:
What subtlety, diversity, and depth in the bouquet of Issan 2022. The harmony of aromas is remarkable; nothing stands out, everything is consistent, no element dominates, except for the finesse and freshness. On the palate, the attack is delicious and slender. It paves the way for an elegant, precise and mouthwatering wine. Its fine-grained tannins appear late and provide good support, lending vigor, while subtle bitter notes reinforce the freshness and invigorating character of the finish. A subtle, refined wine that reminds us that you don't have to be loud to shine. It is often more appropriate to just be eloquent! Bravo for this ode to finesse. 2027-2044
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