Château d'Issan Margaux 2025 - 3ème Grand Cru Classé (Primeurs)

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.

On the nose, notes of violet and iris. Supple and luscious, with a hint of sweet strawberries balanced by fairly fresh notes of blackcurrant, licorice, and cola. I love the texture: refined, concentrated, precise, so smooth and sophisticated. Perhaps a slightly darker profile than recent vintages, but it’s so well-crafted, with a firm structure and lovely liveliness from start to finish. It’s multifaceted, lacking neither power nor muscle, yet without any heaviness or harshness; in this regard, it offers a lot of wine without any weight. Captivating, playful, interesting, engaging, and so easy to drink. Potential for aging in the bottle. 2% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc round out the blend. pH of 3.63. A yield of 29 hl/ha. 2032–2047

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 beautiful clay-gravel soil in the heart of the appellation.

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 River 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.

A dense, juicy red wine with aromas and flavors of blackberry, cherry, plum, and spices. It has a medium body, a velvety texture, and a lively finish. A refined wine for its vintage, with a distinct character and a lovely, lingering finish.

Blackcurrant, black cherries, smoked tobacco, graphite, and a chalky minerality come through fully in the Château d'Issan 2025, a blend composed of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec, and 2% Petit Verdot, aged 50% in new barrels and the remainder in once-used barrels. Slightly reminiscent of the 2016 vintage in its balance and elegance, it offers a medium-bodied to full-bodied palate, with a pure and graceful texture, fine tannins, and exceptional length. It develops beautifully over time in the glass. With an alcohol content of 13.73% and a pH of 3.63, this will be an incredibly satisfying, classic, and complex Margaux that exudes class and elegance.

The aromatic profile is marked by notes of blackcurrant, cedar, tobacco, flowers, cherries, licorice, smoke, and cigar wrapper. Medium-bodied, lively, smooth, vibrant, and elegant, this wine offers character, finesse, refinement, and beautiful textures. The fruit is fresh, crisp, and pure. The finish, full of energy, with its layers of lush and refined fruit that linger on the palate, unfolding and gaining intensity, is simply perfect. The wine is a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec, and 2% Petit Verdot. 13.73% alcohol. The harvest took place from September 11 to 23. Yields were 30 hectoliters per hectare. It is important to note that 2025 will mark the 80th anniversary of the Cruse family’s ownership of Issan. Best enjoyed between 2030 and 2060.