Château D'ISSAN 2016
In the heart of Margaux, Château d’Issan occupies a historic terroir surrounded by walls, whose origins date back several centuries. Third Grand Cru Classé in 1855, the estate is now managed by Emmanuel Cruse and relies on a vineyard where deep gravel soils play a major role in expressing the Cabernet Sauvignon. Merlot completes the blend by bringing more flesh and suppleness to the mid-palate. The gravelly soil structure promotes excellent drainage, while the proximity to the estuary helps moderate climatic variations. Issan's style is based on a pursuit of elegance, tannic finesse, and aromatic precision rather than just concentration. The 2016 vintage, particularly successful in Margaux, allowed for grapes that were ripe, fresh, and perfectly structured. The result is a deep but very balanced wine, still young in its evolution today.
Château d’Issan 2016 blends 64% Cabernet Sauvignon and 36% Merlot. The Cabernet Sauvignon gives the wine a straight framework, precise black fruits, and a beautiful length, while the Merlot adds roundness and velvety texture. The parcels are vinified separately to preserve their identity before the final blend. Extraction is carried out with restraint to maintain the finesse of the tannic grain and the elegance typical of the cru. Aging in French oak barrels then supports the structure and allows a gradual integration of wood and fruit. The 2016 vintage stands out for a particularly successful combination of maturity and freshness, with a precise architecture that gives it great aging potential. After about ten years in bottle, the wine begins to gain complexity while still retaining significant reserve.
The color shows a deep garnet with still strong ruby reflections. The nose opens with blackcurrant, blackberry, and black cherry, accompanied by violet, graphite, and cedar. With aeration, nuances of blond tobacco, licorice, cocoa, and fine spices gradually appear. The palate is elegant and structured, with fine tannins that provide depth without hardening the texture. The Cabernet Sauvignon brings tension and persistence, while the Merlot rounds out the mid-palate and adds a more velvety texture. The finish is long, fresh, and precise, with black fruits, spices, and a slight mineral touch. Château d’Issan 2016 will accompany roasted rack of lamb, beef fillet with porcini mushrooms, pigeon, duck breast, or veal with morels.
Grape varieties: 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot
