Château d'Issan 2001

A floral, elegant, graceful, classic Margaux, the 2001 d’Issan displays medium-bodied flavors (cherries, black currants, and acacia flowers), and an understated, restrained personality without the power of the superb 2000. Drink this pure, well-balanced 2001 over the next 12-14 years.

Intense aromas of blackberry tart with hints of rhubarb. Medium- to full-bodied, with soft tannins and a medium finish. This is really nice. Stylish wine. I like it better than the 2000. Best after 2008. 8,750 cases made.

The moated Château d’Issan belongs to the Cruse family, one of Bordeaux’s most famous. Under the direction of Emmanuel Cruse, with consultant Jacques Boissenot, the estate is enjoying something of a renaissance. With its great, generous, rich, sweet fruit, ripe tannins and black fruit jelly notes, it makes a powerful statement. The oak is present, but doesn’t dominate. The wine will develop over the next 5–10 years.

A richer and deeper fruit feel than the 2000, maintaining the edge for the 2001 that has begun to close for me in most recent tastings (of other wines) across these two vintages. This is bright, young, full of juicy berry life. A 52hl/ha yield, well balanced, ready to drink but set to power through for another decade at least. As an aside this was €14 ex chateau on release!

This has a lot of tobacco character that is slightly green with an animal and spice undertone on both the nose and palate. It starts off a little green on the palate, but then goes gamey and spicy. Needs to be decanted two hours before serving. Truffles and porcini come out with air. It's full bodied, with round tannins and a long finish. This lovely claret really grows on you. $85.00. Find the wine.

Using 68% Cabernet Sauvignon and 32% Merlot, the wine reached 12.7% ABV. The wine looks mature, as it has taken on degrees of lightening in the ruby color. In the nose, forest floor, earth, leaf, cedar-chest, gravel and cassis scents are present. Medium bodied and soft in texture, this charming Margaux wine ends with light, cherry and cassis. I’d opt for drinking this sooner than later as it might not improve much from here.

Bright garnet color, with a wide rim at the edge. On the nose, a stewed, compote-like bouquet with firm notes, hints of withered leaves and light tobacco. On the palate, red cherry and medium body, then stony tannins develop, keeping the astringency in check. Good potential; given its build, the wine will likely lose its fruit before reaching full drinking maturity.

02: Bright garnet, with a broad lighter rim. Compote-like bouquet with firmer notes, wilted leaf, light tobacco. On the palate, red cherries, medium body, then stony tannins develop, keeping the astringency in check. Good potential, but the wine’s frame tends to lose its fruit before it reaches its optimal drinking maturity. 16/20 2007 – 2022

This wine stands out more for the density of its body and the tightness of its texture than for its aromatic generosity.

On the nose, the wine shows the first signs of development, with notes of fresh truffle. The palate is very round and silky. Overall, it is classic and ready to drink.

I didn’t find any major differences between the decanted and non-decanted wine. The nose shows ripe fruit with a hint of caramel. The palate is rounded and juicy, rather soft and tender, finishing in a classic way with lingering persistence. The finish is just a little lively.