Château d'Issan

Margaux 3 Grand Cru Classé

2018 Château d'Issan

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spice, liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, spices, juicy, layered and detailed, long. 95-97

2018 Blason d'Issan

MAR 19 Ruby. Dark fruity, anise, blueberries and spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, dark fruity, layered, detailed, long. 89-91

2017 Château d'Issan

APR 18 Ruby. Blueberries, scented, detailed, fruity, fresh, elegant nose, seductive. Violets. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, juicy, fruity, red berries, bit leaner but elegant and charming, long. 93-95

2017 Blason d'Issan

APR 18 Ruby. Blueberries, fruity, lighter nose, some spices. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, juicy, red berries, anise, long. 89-91

2016 Château d'Issan

APR 17 Ruby. Fruity, dark berries, some anise and spices, fresh nose. Vanilla. Tight. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, some spices, anise, detailed, nuanced, long. 94-96

2016 Blason d'Issan

APR 17 Ruby. Blackberries, fruity, dark berries and anise, detailed nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, dark berries, anise and spices, long. 89-91

2015 Château d'Issan

NOV 18 Ruby. Spices, coffee, blueberries, floral, nuanced, quite intense nose, dark fruits. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, anise, juicy fruit with structured body behind, nuanced, quite intense, even if somewhat leaner finish. Long. Drink from 2023to 2045. 95

2015 Château d'Issan

SEP 18 Ruby. Cassis, fruity, vanilla, spices, coffee, nuanced and richer nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, anise, spices, detailed, nuanced, layered, long, somewhat richer. 95

2015 Château d'Issan

MAY 18 Ruby. Cassis, blueberries, anise, violets, spices, vanilla, layered nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, ripe and intense, detailed, long. 95

2015 Château d’Issan

APR 16 Ruby. Dark fruits, spices, nuanced nose, floral, violets, dark fruits. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark and red berries, juicy, nuanced, long. 93-95

2015 Blason d'Issan

NOV 18 Ruby. Scented, red berries, anise, fruity, and floral nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, red berries, spices, detailed, elegant, nuanced, long. 89

2015 Blason d'Issan

SEP 18 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, cassis, vanilla, elegant nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, blueberries, anise, juicy, refreshing, long. 90

2014 Château d’Issan

DEC 18 Ruby. Blueberries, cassis, vanilla, spices, detailed, quite intense nose, layered. Deeper than last bottle, gained some weight. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, vanilla, spices, anise, blueberries, spices, juicy with structure to follow up, wait five to ten years or rather towards fifteen, long. 92

2014 Château d'Issan

MAR 18 Ruby. Cassis, blueberries, vanilla, spices, some anise and with air a faint floral note nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries anise, juicy, long. 92

2014 Château d’Issan

DEC 17 Ruby. Anise, vanilla, blueberries, some spices, ripe and rich nose, quite intense. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, anise, some spices, red berries and darker fruits, juicy and long. 93

2014 Château d’Issan

SEP 17 Ruby. Anise, fruity, blueberries and floral note nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, anise, some spices, detailed, elegant and long. 92

2014 Blasson d'Issan

DEC 18 Ruby. Anise, fruity, red berries, floral, fresh and fruity, elegant, charming. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, some anise and red berries, spices, good length. 89

2014 Château d’Issan

APR 15 Ruby. Scented, elegant, detailed and nuanced nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, lively, rounded, fruity and long. 92-94

2013 Château d'Issan

APR 14 Ruby. Scented, floral, detailed, elegant nose, red berries. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, lively, elegant, rounded and nuanced, long.  89-91

2013 Blason d'Issan

AUG 16 Ruby. Red berries, cherries, leather notes, some vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, red berries and spices, good length. 86

2013 Blason d’Issan

APR 16 Ruby. Red berries, scented, lighter nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, red berries, light. 86

2012 Château d'Issan

DEC 15 Ruby. Scented, red berries, elegant nose, fruity, detailed, some violets, fresh. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, vanilla, quite intense, long finish. Some coffee notes finish. 92

2012 Château d'Issan

SEP 15 Ruby. Dark fruits, some spices, floral notes and cassis, scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, intense, cassis and blueberries, long. 92

2012 Château d'Issan

SEP 13 Ruby. Fruity, nuanced, scented, floral and a bit oaky nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, elegant and quite lively, not quite as charming as in April, long. 90

2012 Château d'Issan

APR 13 Deep ruby. Scented, not too intense but nuanced nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, soft and velvety texture, lively and refreshing, very elegant, long. 91-93

2012 Blason d'Issan

SEP 15 Ruby. Scented, dark fruits and berries, light floral note nose, elegant. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, rounded, fairly playful. 87

2012 Blason d'Issan

AUG 15 Ruby. Red berries, cassis, light scented and spicy note nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, rounded, cassis and anise, good length. 87

2011 Château d'Issan

MAR 18 Ruby. Cassis, dark fruity,, some vanilla, spices, violets and floral notes, detailed nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries and spices, detailed, long. Lovely minerality shows up after an hour in decanter. 94

2011 Château d’Issan

DEC 14 Rubinrød. Parfymert, elegant duft, fioler, mørke frukter, elegant og nyansert, noe mineraler begynner å dukke opp. Frisk syre, modne tanniner, friks, livlig, elegant, detaljert, elegant frukt og tekstur, lang. 2018-2035 93

2010 Château d'Issan

MAR 19 3 hours in decanter. Ruby, purple rim. Scented, red fruits, blueberries, anise, slightly floral, nuanced nose, ripe. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, spices, elegant texture yet a faint herbal touch far behind, long. Youthful. 94

2010 Château d'Issan

AUG 16 Ruby. Scented, red berries, some spices, fruity and floral, elegant nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, cassis and blueberries, structured, detailed, long. 95

2010 Château d’Issan

MAY 16 Ruby. Scented, red berries, some cassis, floral notes and tobacco nose, layered. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, fresh, detailed and elegant, lively, a new depth emerging, long. 95

2010 Château d'Issan

JUL 15 Ruby. Intense, rich, dark fruits, light floral notes, elegant, violets, detailed and layered, showing far more nuances than last bottle on the nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, detailed, fruity, ripe, intense, rich, rounded, barrel notes up front still, spicy finish, long. 95

2010 Château d’Issan

NOV 14 Ruby. Leaner, scented, red berries, darker fruits, some violets on the nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, intense, fruity, ripe, bit firm finish, long. 93

2010 Château d'Issan

MAR 13 Ruby. Scented, flirting and floral notes, cassis and quite layered. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, elegant fruit and texture, long finish. 93

2010 Château d'Issan

AUG 11 Ruby. Fruity with flirting violets, red berries, elegant, pure and lovely acidity, long length. 90-92

2010 Château d'Issan

JUN 11 Deep ruby, floral, elegant, charming, beautiful texture and structure, lively and seductive, pure, long finish. WOW, must be the best Issan ever. 92-94

2010 Blason d'Issan

JUN 11 (2nd label) Deep ruby, somewhat brighter, fruity, clean, pure, aromatic, elegant texture, ripe tannins, very nice length. 88-89

2009 Château d’Issan

JAN 18 Ruby. Cassis, dark berries, spices, plums, violets, layered and deep, needs air to pull out all its secrets. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, juicy and spices, this is charming now if you give it two hours in decanter, even if I would rather wait ten years or so more. 94

2009 Château d’Issan

MAY 16 Ruby. Fruity, dark berries and spices, plums, cassis and blackberries nose. Some floral notes with air. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity and juicy, still a bit big and sweet fruity but the wood that I remember from an earlier bottle has settled in nicely, long. 93

2009 Château d’Issan

NOV 13 Ruby. Fruity, blueberries, ripe, scented, bit of a ball and fuller than earlier bottles. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, ripe, bit showy oak, behind it mouthwatering fruit, long. 93

2009 Blason d'Issan

MAY 15 Ruby. Fruity, intense, lightly floral, some coffee and vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, lively, rounded, quite elegant. 88

2009 Blason d'Issan

MAR 13 (2nd Ch. d'Issan) Ruby. Scented and almost refined nose, layered and pure feel. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, elegant body, lovely fruit. Good length. 88

2009 Blason d'Issan

NOV 12 (2nd Ch. d'Issan) Ruby. Bell peppers, cassis and slightly floral. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, elegant palate but a bit one-dimensional. 87

2008 Château d'Issan

SEP 15 Ruby. Intense nose, spices, vanilla, fruity, cassis, more up front and youthful than I remember it. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, ripe and intense, but somewhat shorter than I remember it as well. 89

2008 Château d'Issan

FEB 14 Deep ruby. Fruity, some floral notes, cassis and blueberries, seems fuller than last bottle. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity and quite lively, long finish, needs five years. 92

2008 Château d'Issan

JAN 14 Bright ruby. Scented, elegant, nuanced and lovely nose, flirting. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner body, elegant, quite refreshing, lovely balance, long. 90

2008 Château d'Issan

NOV 12 Ruby. Floral, cassis, leather and vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, elegant texture, a bit lean, could be more complex. 90

2007 Château d'Issan

APR 17 Ruby. Blueberries, some vanilla, cherries, lighter nose, touch of herbs and floral notes. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red berries, blueberries, some vanilla and spices, good length. 89

2007 Château d’Issan

DEC 15 Ruby. Surprisingly woody nose at first, den some sour cherries, light anise, blueberries and violets nose, not too intense. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner palate, cassis, some coffee notes and a slight bitterness, bit lean. 89

2007 Château d'Issan

DEC 11 Bright ruby, youthful and fruity, layered nose. Fresh acidity, tight now, ripe tannins, some barrel notes behind, good length. 89

2007 Château d'Issan

NOV 11 Ruby. Fruity vanilla, nice body, lively acidity, ripe feel for the vintage. 89

2007 Château d'Issan

JAN 10 Ruby. Some floral notes, vanilla, blueberries and cassis nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, lighter body, elegant. 89

2006 Château d’Issan

SEP 17 Ruby. Dark fruits, scented, elegant nose, floral notes, cassis and blueberries. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, bit lean body, elegant and gentle, long. 90

2006 Château d’Issan

APR 15 Ruby. Cassis, fruity, scented, dark berries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, ripe cherries, cassis, soft texture for the vintage, long. 90

2005 Château d'Issan

OCT 17 Ruby. Cassis, blueberries, spices, tight and dense still, layered, minerals and violets. Really gets into its stride after almost three hours in decanter. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, cassis, blueberries, long. 94

2005 Château d’Issan

OCT 12 Deep ruby. Pure cassis under floral high notes and somewhat scented and seductive nose already. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, very elegant and lovely balance. Flirting. Long finish. 93

2005 Château d'Issan

NOV 11 Ruby, violets, cassis, hints of leather and anise. Elegant, fresh acidity, ripe tannins, beautiful balance, very elegant finish. 92

2002 Château d'Issan

MAY 15 Ruby. Forest berries scented, elegant if lighter nose, fairly detailed. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, fresh, elegant, lovely balance, fresh, good length. 89

2002 Château d'Issan

OCT 12 Deep ruby. Somewhat scented, cassis, leather, on the rich side. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, ever so slightly raw, some minerals, touch of herbs, a bit boring. After two hours plus, floral and elegant cassis. 88

2001 Château d'Issan

MAY 15 Ruby. Dark fruits, vanilla, lightly scented, needs air and opens up beautifully. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, elegant, fruity, rounded, fresh, quite playful long. 92

2000 Château d'Issan

JAN 09 Ruby. Cassis, spices, scented, faint violets nose with air, vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, some anise, elegant texture, long. 91

1999 Château d’Issan

APR 19 Magnum. Ruby. Scented, blueberries and anise, fruity, spices, detailed, youthful expression still. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, spices, fairly detailed, starting to polish down the structure but no hurries here. 91

1995 Château d'Issan

SEP 11 (Magnum) Ruby, mature nose of violets, cassis and leather, very elegant. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, starting to open up now, elegant finish. 91

1995 Chateau d'Issan

JAN 10 Deep ruby towards brick rim. Soft, gentle of tobacco, cigars, hints of prunes, cassis, some earthy notes and slightly spicy. Fresh acidity, ripe and quite mature tannins, leaner body, elegant, good length. 88

1995 Château d'Issan

NOV 08 Ruby. Cassis, anise, some tobacco, lightly scented nose, some paprika behind. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red berries core, blueberries, some vanilla and spices, long finish. 90

1995 Château d'Issan

MAY 08 Ruby. Cassis, violets, blueberries, some leather nose, touch of figs, maturing nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, cassis, anise, fairly elegant texture, playful, long. 90

1989 Château d'Issan

JAN 15 In neck fill, hardly soaked cork. Ruby, brick rim. Somewhat scented nose, some violets, cassis and with some air, prunes and figs, not the most intense but quite elegant nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, unfortunately a bit hollow fruit, somewhat lean and a bit astringent, lacks fruit and body to be a real charmer, good length. 89

1988 Château d’Issan

APR 18 Magnum. Ruby. Figs, cassis, floral, elegant and lovely nose, evolving nicely. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, anise, figs and blueberries still. Elegant, fruity, charming. Long. 93

1986 Château d'Issan

AUG 15 Ruby, orange rim. Coffee, leather, mint, oxidative nose. Drying palate. Gone.

1983 Château d’Issan

AUG 08 Ruby with brick rim. Leather, figs, some tobacco, dates, light figs and violets nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, red berries, anise, some spices, still leaner palate and body, good length. 88

1979 Château d’Issan

APR 04 Ruby, broad brick rim. Leaner figs and leather nose, tobacco and earthy notes. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner, sweet and sour, has length but past its best. 85

1978 Château d’Issan

NOV 06 Ruby, brick rim. Red berries, cherries, figs, dates, leaner but mature fruit nose. Fresh acidity, ripe and few tannins, leaner red fruity body with some sweet and sour cherries, good length. 87

1975 Château d’Issan

DEC 07 Magnum. Dried out but a bad cork that crumbled to pieces upon opening. Might be better bottles out there.

1969 Château d’Issan

MAY 08 Dead.

1961 Château d’Issan

NOV 05 Ruby, broad garnet rim, signs of seepage. Lots of sediments. Violets, figs and dates, elegant and seductive, fine leather nose. Fresh acidity, few tannins, red berries, anise, some spices, almost exotic notes, lovely but dies off after about forty minutes. 92 at its peak.