Blason d'Issan Margaux 2020 - Second vin

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:

With seductive aromas and good balance on the palate, this is a pleasant wine. Petit Verdot is included in the blend for the first time, sourced from the Pontac-Lynch vineyards. This wine has beautiful depth and breadth on the palate and is one of the best second wines. With the addition of new plots and new grapes, they did many more blending sessions than usual to ensure that 1% Malbec was added to the first wine (most of this information should be transferred to the Issan entry). This wine is mainly from young vines, oriented towards Merlot. This year, they added 7 hectares of vines (in March, from Pontac Lynch, including a 1948 plot of Petit Verdot and a 1958 plot of Cabernet Franc, plus 1% Malbec which went into the first wine blend). 2025 - 2034

Guide Hachette des vins

About wine:

A beautiful dark color adorns Issan's second wine, which opens with intense, refined aromas of black fruit and morello cherry, nuanced with floral and toasted notes. The palate is subtle, supple, and delicate, underpinned by silky, well-refined tannins. 2026-2033

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 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.

Vinous

About wine:

Blason d'Issan 2020 is a flavorful and juicy Margaux to drink now and in the next few years, while the fruit remains vibrant. 2023 - 2030

James Suckling

About wine:

Dried oranges and plums with aromas of bark, mushrooms, and forest floor that linger into a medium to full body with a dense finish and excellent energy. Spices such as nutmeg and sandalwood. A hint of chocolate too. 57% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Petit Verdot. Best after 2025.

Jeb Dunnuck

About wine:

The second wine of this estate is the Blason D'Issan 2020, and this barrel sample is pure, fruity, and impressive. Plenty of sweet blackcurrant and darker cherry notes, along with hints of chocolate, spicy oak, and espresso define this young, medium- to full-bodied wine, which will give you plenty of enjoyment right from the start. The blend is composed of 57% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Petit Verdot, aged in 35% new French oak.

Yves Beck

About wine:

In keeping with its constant commitment to evolution, Château d'Issan ensures high quality at every level. Blason d'Issan is a true ambassador, flying the flag for the estate! Refined and expressive, this wine has a well-structured palate with velvety, fleshy tannins. Its charming character naturally makes it ideal for drinking young, but you could still leave a bottle or two in the cellar.  2023-2029

Jean-Marc Quarin

About wine:

Dark red color, medium intensity and slightly evolved. Fruity nose with a hint of pine wood. Mellow on the palate, aromatic in the middle, slightly vanilla, the wine evolves upward on the finish. It ends long, juicy, and smooth, without pronounced tannins. A success.

Vert de Vin

About wine:

The nose is aromatic, elegant, and complex, with a broad range of aromas and a slight floral note. There are notes of boysenberry, violet, lilac and, more subtly, ripe/fresh raspberry, combined with hints of rose, fresh red berries, licorice, saffron, subtle/delicate hints of fresh vanilla and a very subtle hint of pepper. The palate is fruity and offers freshness, lovely minerality, good definition, roundness, a fine acidic structure, richness, and precision. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of pulpy/fresh raspberry, bright red berries and, more subtly, violet, combined with hints of bright blackberry and hints of fresh/pulpy purple plum, licorice stick, fresh hazelnut, fresh flowers/saffron and subtle hints of chocolate. Good length.