Château d'Issan Margaux 2020 - 3ème Grand Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Half of the estate belongs to the Cruse family and the other half to Jacky Lorenzetti, who obviously have high ambitions for it. Surrounded by walls, the 50-hectare vineyard is located on first-class terroir, which explains the wine's remarkable aromatic finesse and consistency despite the frequent climatic vagaries of recent vintages. With even greater rigor in its selection, it could rival its prestigious neighbor Palmer, albeit with a different character.

Decanter

About wine:

The nose is wonderfully intense, ripe, and concentrated, with aromas of toasted oak. Supple and vibrant on the palate, the fruit is clean and crisp with fine but firm tannins, which give the expression a little tension and linearity. Cinnamon and clove border the bright fruit of blackcurrant and black cherry, with lovely acidity. This wine is both rich and firm, clean and clear, fragrant and ripe. There is a lot going on here, with bitter dark chocolate also present. Everything is happening. It needs time to relax, but it is wonderfully nuanced and truly captivating. Striking and refreshing, it leaves a lasting impression. 2028-2044

Guide Hachette des vins

About wine:

Issan 2020 offers a complex blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (55%), Merlot (39%), Cabernet Franc (3%), Petit Verdot (2%), and Malbec (1%). This complexity is reflected in the glass, with subtle yet indulgent aromas of ripe black fruit, graphite, sweet spices, toasted oak and chocolate. The same aromatic richness is evident on the palate, which is full-bodied, rich and firm, yet very fresh, supple and silky, built on tannins of great finesse. A captivating, nuanced ensemble, a perfectly accomplished reflection of Margalian elegance. 2028-2040

About the estate:

With its medieval castle on one side and 17th-century manor house on the other, this classified growth blends styles and eras with true harmony, which is also reflected in the cellar and its ship's hull-shaped roof structure. At the helm since 1945, the Cruse family, joined in 2013 by Jacky Lorenzetti, already well established in the Médoc, runs a 55-hectare vineyard planted on 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 wine:

The nose is elegant, distinguished, and offers delicacy, power (in terms of precision/control), concentration, and complexity. There are notes of ripe/fresh red berries, juicy strawberry and, more subtly, violet and blackcurrant, combined with hints of camphor, juicy/ripe black berries, fresh tobacco, fresh licorice, subtle hints of saffron, cherry blossom, subtle hints of nutmeg and spices, and a discreet hint of Bourbon vanilla. The palate is fruity, well-balanced and offers juiciness, freshness, bright fruit, minerality, good definition, a certain richness, a tangy structure, an airy character (in the mouthfeel), juiciness, controlled richness, a certain power and a finely-grained, relatively powerful tannic structure. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of juicy/pulpy blackcurrant, vibrant raspberry and, more subtly, ripe/fresh wild red berriesfresh wild red berries, combined with hints of lily, saffron, bright cherry, black tea, licorice, as well as subtle hints of sweet spices, racy minerality, subtle hints of blond tobacco, and an imperceptible hint of pepper (in the background). The tannins are precise, finely tight, and offer a slight straightforwardness.

About the estate:

In addition to a sumptuous château, Issan boasts one of the few historic vineyards that has not been consolidated, ideally located on the banks of the Gironde and enclosed within a magnificent walled estate. 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 elite of the appellation.

James Suckling

About wine:

Extremely floral and fruity, with notes of redcurrants and blackberries. It is full-bodied and very layered, with a delicious, dense character. Full-bodied with fine-grained, structured tannins. Rich, but not heavy. Long, chewy finish.

Le Figaro vins

About wine:

A splendid bouquet, majestically opulent yet without excess, with pure, seductive black fruit notes reminiscent of fresh mountain air. The palate, with its dark tones, reveals notes of ink, graphite, and black fruit. The immaculate purity of the fruit and the refined classicism of the aromas give this wine a very distinguished character. 2028-2048

Yves Beck

About wine:

Fresh vegetal nuances, notes of blond tobacco, blackcurrant, earthy nuances, and sweet spices. This is an obviously expandable summary of Issan's bouquet. Vegetable because we must finally embrace this natural and relevant term. Of course, it stirs up emotions, but it smells very good... isn't that what matters? Add to that the sweetness on the palate, a certain density, an acidic structure that enhances the finish, and silky tannins... and you have this very elegant, refined, and convincing Margaux. It doesn't rely on charm, but that doesn't prevent it from using it; ultimately, it's the freshness that wins out. Bravo! 2026-2045