2023

Château d'Issan

Margaux AOP, 3ème Cru Classé, Magnum

Klassisch geht es zu, man könnte auch sagen traditionell. In Margaux setzt Château d'Issan auf 60 % Cabernet Sauvignon und 40 % Merlot - auch auf dem Etikett widersetzt man sich standhaft dem Zeitgeist. Den Urteilen der Kritiker tut das keinen Abbruch, beständig heimst der würzige und tanninreiche Grand Vin Punkte jenseits der kritischen Grenze von 95 ein, die bekanntlich "sehr gut" von "großartig" trennt.

PRESSE

96-97 Punkte James Suckling
The purity of the fruit is really wonderful here, with blackcurrants, orange peel and raspberries. Aromatic. Full body, chewy tannins and a juicy finish. But it remains linear and vivid. The quality of the tannins and the powdery texture are really alluring. Silky. And so precise. 70% cabernet sauvignon, 25% merlot, 2.5% cabernet franc and 2.5% petit verdot. 13.83% alcohol. 3.66 pH.

93-95 Punkte Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (William Kelley)
The 2023 D'Issan shows excellent potential, unfurling in the glass with aromas of dark berries, cassis, pen ink and white flowers, followed by a medium to full-bodied, velvety and enveloping palate that's rich, fleshy and charming, with lively acids, good depth at the core and a long, sapid finish. It's a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.

94 Punkte Falstaff (Peter Moser)
Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Nuancen von schwarzen Kirschen, Brombeeren und Cassis, kandierte Veilchen, frische Orangenschalen. Komplex, feine Extraktsüße, reife Tannine, gute Frische, belibt haften, zart nach hellem Karamell im Abgang, sicheres Reifepotenzial.

91-93 Punkte Vinous (Neal Martin)
The 2023 d’Issan was picked from September 18 to October 2. It was cropped at 30hL/ha, lower than usual due to mildew pressure and less rain in August, causing hydric stress during the summer heat wave, especially in the Merlot vines. It was harvested a little later than the other cuvées to benefit from the Indian summer, September 20, and matured in 50% new oak. It has a very pure bouquet with black cherries, cassis and blueberry fruit, though I feel that other recent vintages have shown a touch more complexity. The palate is well balanced and cohesive with fine and quite edgy tannins. There is an impressive symmetry to this d'Issan with a very poised and quite persistent finish. It improves with aeration and all the time, the aromatics seem to muster more energy (hence, I raised my score). One to watch.