Château d'Issan Margaux 2022 - 3ème Grand Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Half of the estate is owned by the Cruse family and the other half by Jacky Lorenzetti, who obviously have great ambitions 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 process, it could rival—though without a distinct character—its prestigious neighbor, Palmer.

Decanter

About the wine:

A wonderfully intense nose—violet, blackcurrant, and chocolate. A silky, velvety, almost creamy texture, with a refreshing liveliness of strawberry and red cherry. The tannic structure emerges mid-palate, channeling the energy and power that express themselves fully, leading to a long, airy finish. Carefully crafted, this wine combines power with great elegance, revealing all the richness of the 2022 vintage—notably thanks to a slightly warm finish—while maintaining balanced freshness and definite aging potential. In short, it is bold and seductive. 2028–2049

Guide Hachette des vins

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 harmony that is reflected in the wine cellar and its ship’s hull-shaped roof structure. At the helm since 1945, the Cruse family—in partnership since 2013 with Jacky Lorenzetti, who is already well-established in the Médoc—manages a 55-hectare vineyard planted on a beautiful clay-gravel terroir in the heart of the appellation.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

Right from the nose, it exudes an undeniable charm, along with a smoothness and harmony that carry through to the palate. The wine is composed, refined, and deep. It boasts a beautiful vibrancy of ripe fruit and a juicy finish. It handles its richness with ease.

About the estate:

In addition to a magnificent château, Issan boasts one of the few historic vineyards that has not been consolidated, ideally situated on the banks of the Gironde and enclosed within a magnificent vineyard enclosure. 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 finest.

James Suckling

About the wine:

No. 1 - Top 100 Best Wines of the World in 2025! - This wine is exceptionally rich, offering aromas of blackcurrant and orange peel, followed by notes of cedar and dried mushrooms. It has a medium- to full-bodied profile that develops on the palate. The tannins, crisp and slightly fleshy, exhibit an elegant austerity typical of great Bordeaux wines. The finish is lingering 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 true delight.

Jeb Dunnuck

About the wine:

The 2022 Château d'Issan, 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 lovely 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 three decades. 2025–2055

Le Figaro vins

About the wine:

A deep, intense bouquet with dark, dignified notes, where iris blends with earthy tones. The palate is pure, creamy, and enticing, leading to a rich finish that reveals sumptuous hints of mocha. What a beauty. 2029–2052

Yves Beck

About the wine:

What subtlety, complexity, and depth in the bouquet of the 2022 Issan! The harmony of the aromas is truly remarkable; nothing stands out, everything is cohesive, and no single element dominates—except for finesse and freshness. On the palate, the attack is delectable and slender. It sets the stage for an elegant, precise, and mouth-watering wine. Its fine-grained tannins emerge late and provide a solid foundation, lending vigor, while subtle hints of bitterness underscore 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’s often more effective to simply be eloquent! Bravo for this ode to finesse. 2027–2044