Chateau d'Issan, Margaux Grand Cru Classe 2016

"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."

94+ the Wine Advocate.

Chateau d’Issan is one of the oldest wine-producing properties in the Medoc as well as in all of Bordeaux. In 1152, the wine produced by what we know of as Chateau d’Issan today was served for the royal wedding between Eleanor of Aquitaine and King Henri II. At the time, the estate was known as Chateau Lamothe Cantenac.

Jumping ahead a few centuries to the 17th century, the estate became the official possession of the d’Essenault family. The name, d’Issan is based on an early phonetic spelling of d’Essenault.

In February 2013, the Cruse family, current owners of Chateau d’Issan, sold a 50% stake in the historic Medoc property to Jacky Lorenzetti. Jacky Lorenzetti has been working with Emmanuel Cruse on his other Left Bank Bordeaux chateaux including; Chateau Lilian Ladouys and Chateau Lafon in St. Estephe and Chateau Pedesclaux in Pauillac.

Chateau d’Issan remains one of the most picturesque estates in the area. With its moats, drawbridge and courtyard, Chateau d’Issan looks like a beautiful castle out of a fairy tale.

The 52-hectare vineyard of Chateau d’Issan is planted to 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Malbec.

The vineyard has a terroir of gravel with clay and limestone soils on gentle, rolling, slopes. The vineyards of Chateau d’Issan are planted to a vine density of 9,000 vines per hectare with vines that are on average 35 years of age.

They have old vines as well, some of which are more than 70 years of age. More importantly, the vineyard is situated only 800 meters from the Gironde estuary providing moisture in dry years and a buffer from high heat and frost.