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Issan 2016

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Margaux
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyCabernet Sauvignon/Merlot

This 55 hectare Margaux property is planted with 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot and the wine is aged in 50% new oak. The Cruse family have brought in new investment recently from M Lorenzetti who has also purchased Pedesclaux in Pauillac. Recent vintages have performed very well in blind tastings at Southwold.

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Label

Tasting Notes

The 2016 d’Issan has a well-defined bouquet of blackberry, violets, rose petal and light undergrowth aromas, displaying fine lift and great intensity. The medium-bodied palate offers fine-grained tannins and a fine bead of acidity. Fresh and vibrant, with a very harmonious, elegant and persistent finish. Excellent. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting. 2025 - 2045

94
Neal Martin, vinous.com, August 2020

This is so energetic for a young d’Issan with lots of white pepper, crushed stones and blackberries. Full body, ultra-fine tannins and great length. One of the greatest ever. Superb depth and intensity to this real Bordeaux. Wow.

96/97
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, March 2017

The 2016 d'Issan is a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon and 36% Merlot. Deep garnet colored with a touch of purple, it roars out with powerful scents of creme de cassis, blackberry pie, and stewed plums with hints of mocha, violets, and licorice. The medium-bodied palate delivers a solid structure of firm, grainy tannins and seamless acidity to support the taut, muscular black fruit, finishing on a lingering aniseed note.

96
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent, December 2022

Beautiful violet and lilac-tinted edging to the colour, a promisng sign of a vibrant, balanced wine, and it absolutely delivers on the palate. This is so fresh and uplifting, it has fruit intensity balanced with a perfumed elegance. Over 80% of the vines at Issan are at least 20 years old, and many much older, so they coped very well with the dry summer. This is a lovely classic Margaux, sculpted with a core of fine tannins that promise excellent ageing. 64% Cabernet Sauvignon and 36% Merlot. Blending was finished in late January with consultant Eric Boissenot.

Drinking Window 2027 - 2050

95
Jane Anson, Decanter.com, April 2017

Tasted blind. Very full and rich on the nose and then structure and lots of tannin underneath. Rather attractive whole.
Drink 2025 – 2040

16.5
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, February 2020

This 55 hectare Margaux property is planted with 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot and the wine is aged in 50% new oak. The Cruse family have brought in new investment recently from M Lorenzetti who has also purchased Pedesclaux in Pauillac. Recent vintages have performed very well in blind tastings at Southwold. Medium-deep in colour with blueberry and summer pudding notes on the note. The palate is smoky and peppery with notes of camphor and tobacco to complement pure cherry fruit. Silky fine tannins endure on the finish, carrying the savoury, cool fruit character.

91
Farr Vintners, April 2017

Fresh red and black fruits the nose is bright the start of the palate has rich fruit ripeness. Supple and fleshy in the middle the fruit is supported by fine tannins integrated and discreet with at the back enough freshness to balance the finish is rich and ripe. 2025-38

90/94
Derek Smedley MW, DerekSmedleyMW.co.uk, April 2017
89
Tim Atkin MW, timatkin.com, April 2017
Read more tasting notes...

The 2016 d’Issan, matured in 50% new oak and bottled at the end of May, was impressive out of barrel, and thankfully, it is the same in bottle. The very well defined bouquet features blackberry, tobacco, pressed violets and a subtle estuarine tang, almost a marshland scent of salty air. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannin, good focused and just the right amount of salinity. My feeling is that this Margaux will close up for a while, so cellar it for several years if you can. 13.34% alcohol. Drink 2025-2045

94
Neal Martin, vinous.com (Jan 2019), January 2019

The 2016 D'Issan is a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon and 36% Merlot cropped between 29 September and 19 October, and matured in 50% new barrels. The alcohol is 13.3% and with a pH of 3.71. It has a very classic, slightly introverted bouquet with a light marine influence coming through, but remaining very reserved, a little aloof. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannin and fine delineation; it is very crisp and focused, a classic Margaux through and through with outstanding salinity and persistence towards the precise finish. This is a beautiful D'Issan for long-term ageing, on par with the 2015. Drink Date 2026 - 2060

93/95
Neal Martin, Wine Advocate (230), April 2017

The 2016 D'Issan is blended of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon and 36% Merlot, aged in 50% new and 50% one-year-old French oak for 18 months. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it has vibrant black cherries and blackcurrants notes with chocolate mint, beef drippings, black olives and cigar box. Medium-bodied with a well-sustained, intensely flavored mid-palate, it has a rock-solid, grainy frame and long savory finish. 10,500 cases produced. Drink 2019 - 2037.

94+
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate (Interim En), November 2018

Mid crimson. Vigorous nose. Round texture and really rather admirably relaxed. Certainly not sweet. Quite long.
Drink 2025-2040

17+
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2017
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.