Chateau d´Issan 2023

JAMES SUCKLING: "The purity of the fruit is really wonderful here, with blackcurrants, orange peel and raspberries. Aromatic. Full body, chewy tannins and a juicy finish. But it remains linear and vivid. The quality of the tannins and the powdery texture are really alluring. Silky. And so precise. 70% cabernet sauvignon, 25% merlot, 2.5% cabernet franc and 2.5% petit verdot. 13.83% alcohol. 3.66 pH."

VINUM: "Ein wunderbares Margaux-Parfüm mit Veilchen und Schwarzer Johannisbeere sowie mineralischen Unterklängen; seidenweich am Gaumen, ungemein knackig, zeigt viel Spannung, eine delikate Frucht, ausgesprochen feines Tannin und ein langanhaltendes Finale das von subtilen Röstnoten und dunklen und roten Früchten geprägt ist. Ein hervorragender d'Issan, bei dem das Spucken schon jetzt schwerfällt."

DECANTER: "Lovely fragrance, dried rose petals and raspberry fruit. Really scented and aromatic - quite inviting. Rich and juicy, a lovely weight with some chew to the expression. I like the charm on show - it’s got that fruit forwardness with licks of minty wet stone as well as fine tannins and mouthwatering acidity. Overall feels quite serious with more power on show than some, a tamed beast right now and you can feel the Petit Verdot in the blend. Round and forward, but still super finessed. This should evolve nicely. 50% grand vin production. 3.66pH. 2.5% Petit Verdot completes the blend. Ageing 50% new oak."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Silky, elegance is the hallmark of this wine. It takes only one sip to know this is special. Concentrated, lush, refined, and rich, there is tension paired with layers of sweet, ripe, opulent fruits that linger. The purity in the mid-palate extends through to the rich, plush finish. The wine is made from a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 2.5% Cabernet Franc, and 2.5% Petit Verdot. 13.83% ABV, 3.66 pH. Picking took place September 18 - October 2, making this one of the longest, and latest harvests in the history of the estate. Drink from 2029-2055."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2023 D'Issan shows excellent potential, unfurling in the glass with aromas of dark berries, cassis, pen ink and white flowers, followed by a medium to full-bodied, velvety and enveloping palate that's rich, fleshy and charming, with lively acids, good depth at the core and a long, sapid finish. It's a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot."

WEINWISSER: "Delikates rotbeeriges Bouquet, Heidekraut, frischer Johannisbeernektar und Fliedernote. Am kompakten Gaumen mit engmaschigem Tanninkorsett, nerviger Rasse, guter Dichte und trainiertem Körper. Im konzentrierten langen Finale rotbeerige Konturen, Graphit und feinmehlige Adstringenz, Potenzialwertung."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Nuancen von schwarzen Kirschen, Brombeeren und Cassis, kandierte Veilchen, frische Orangenschalen. Komplex, feine Extraktsüße, reife Tannine, gute Frische, belibt haften, zart nach hellem Karamell im Abgang, sicheres Reifepotenzial."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "The 2023 d'Issan is deep garnet-purple in color. Quite closed to start off, it requires a lot of shaking to wake up scents of creme de cassis, plum preserves, and juicy strawberries followed by nuances of menthol, fallen leaves, dried lavender, and Indian spices. The medium-bodied palate is chock full of expressive black and red berry flavors with loads of spicy accents and a fine-grained texture, finishing with a floral lift. The blend is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 2.5% Cabernet Franc, and 2.5% Petit Verdot, aging in 50% new oak, with pH 3.66."