Château d'Issan 2022

A 2022 from Château d'Issan, a Troisième Cru Classé in Margaux and one of the oldest estates in the entire Médoc, its history tracing back to a fortified stronghold from the 12th century. The current château was built in the 1600s by a Chevalier d'Essenault, and the Cruse family has owned the property since 1945, when it came with just two hectares under vine. A major modernization, over ten million euros, has reshaped the estate since 1998 under Emmanuel Cruse.

The 2022 is well built and silky, with a supple, fresh nose and blackberry, fleshy cassis, and small blue fruit on the palate, with a touch of roasted red fruit. VertdeVin scored it 17.75 out of 20, in the mid-90s on the 100-point scale. True to its Margaux roots: elegant rather than heavy, with centuries of history behind it.