Château d’Issan 2023

Château d’Issan 2023

The Estate

Originally, a fortified château stood on the former seigneury of la Mothe-Cantenac. The 12th-century building was demolished five centuries later by Baron d’Essenault when the estate passed to him. In its place, he had the present château built, which has retained some medieval charm with its imposing porch, towers and moats. An enclosing wall, built in 1644, still surrounds the plots. In 1970, thanks to the restoration work undertaken by the Cruse family, the château was added to the supplementary inventory of French historic buildings. Château d’Issan is a 3e Grand Cru Classé in the imperial classification of 1855. The vineyard is located in the heart of the Margaux appellation. The estate covers 68 hectares. The soil consists of gravel ridges and alluvial hillocks, which drain water quickly and allow the vines to root deeply in the terroir. Today’s vines, with an average age of 35 years, are the result of the restructuring efforts undertaken after 1945. The terroir consists of gravel on the surface and clay at depth, offering optimal ripeness and freshness to the Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot grape varieties. The estate strikes a balance between its AOC Margaux vineyard and its natural mixed-farming area, preserving refuge zones such as water, mixed farming, trees and walled plots (clos). The wine of Château d’Issan is aged in barrels for 16 to 18 months, with 50% new oak. The wine stands out for its suppleness, finesse, elegance and longevity.