Appellations

Issan 2018

Margaux, Third Growth

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Tasting Notes

The 2018 Château d’Issan offers fragrant blackberry, cedar and light peppermint scents on a nose that gently unfolds with aeration. This is charming and precise. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit and fine intensity. A dusting of dark chocolate appears toward the finish, which needs some time to fully cohere; cellar it for 4–6 years. A very capable Margaux that should develop well in bottle.

Score: 92 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2024 - 2045 Date: 22 August 2021

The 2018 d’Issan was picked September 24 to October 11 and matured in 50% new oak. The fragrant bouquet offers blackberry and bilberry fruit, smoke and pressed rose petals, fine definition and well-integrated wood. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and fine acidity. This has very good structure considering how flamboyant and rich Margaux can be; it is stricter and more classic in style, with a slightly drier finish than some others. Stylish, and displays very good length.

Score: 92 - 94 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2024-2045 Date: 01 November 2019

The top wine, the 2018 Château D'Issan is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot that spent 18 months in 50% new French oak. It offers a beautiful, singular bouquet of blackcurrants, new leather, smoked tobacco, scorched earth, and camphor. This carries to a medium to full-bodied, seamless Margaux with wonderful tannins, beautifully integrated acidity, and just a flawlessly balanced, elegant, layered style that's going to evolve for 20-25 years. It's one classy 2018 that has loads to love.

Score: 95 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com Maturity: 2021 - 2046 Date: 19 July 2021

I was only able to taste the 2018 Château d'Issan once, but it showed beautifully, with a full-bodied, plump, sexy style as well as classic notes of cassis, fresh plums, licorice, and high-class cigar tobacco. Based on 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot that will see 18 months in 50% new oak, from a scant 53% selection of the total production, it’s a brilliant, incredibly sexy Margaux that’s already hard to resist, yet will keep for 2-3 decades.

Score: 93 - 95 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com Date: 01 May 2019

The 2018 D'Issan is composed of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, aging in 50% new and 50% second year barrels for an estimated 18 months. With 13.97% alcohol and a deep garnet-purple color, it features baked berries, warm cherries and cassis with spice box and fragrant earth plus tea hints. Medium to full-bodied, it has a great core of muscular fruit with firm, fine-grained tannins, with nice freshness, finishing layered with mineral notions.

Score: 94 - 96 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Date: 23 April 2019

This is a vibrant ruby colour, with floral aromatics that are even more evident on the nose here than with the second wine, Blason. This is not always the case during En Primeur tastings, when it's the second wines that tend to be a little more open, but it's a feature of the 2018 vintage. This is a brilliant Issan with richness and poise joined by a delicate acidity that pulls the fruit along. The tannins are deceptive, as they are supple and appealing, but the density and power builds over the palate and clearly indicates long ageing. A wine that feels like it's rooted in its appellation. 50% new oak. 40hl/ha yield, with 53% of production going into this wine, higher than in both 2017 and 2016. Eric Boissenot consults.

Score: 96 Jane Anson, Decanter.com Maturity: 2027-2042 Date: 16 April 2019

The cashmere texture of the tannins is wonderful in this. They are ripe and precise. Dense at the same time, giving a slow drive and a long finish. Full-bodied with dark and pretty fruit. Persistent finish.

Score: 95 - 96 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Date: 11 April 2019

An explosive, dense wine, the 2018 d'Issan possesses off the charts richness and fabulous intensity. A rush of blue/black fruit, chocolate, smoke, spice, leather and tobacco builds in a potent Margaux endowed with tremendous concentration and pure, unbridled power. The 2018 is an unusually brooding, somber d'Issan that is likely to require a number of years to be at its best. Today, it is compelling, even in the early going. Tasted four times.

Score: 92 - 95 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Date: 01 April 2019