2000 Château d’Issan

Description

94   Jane Anson
“Wonderful aromatics of walnut, leather, soft truffles, touches of cloves, this is a perfect wine for the winter months. The high acidity maintains freshness and backbone but there is a definite tertiary feel at this point with autumnal raspberry and blackberry fruits. It’s gentle and welcoming with the elegant edge that Issan does so well. Feels like an old friend and practically begs you to stop what you are doing and open a book.” (12/2019)

93   Robert Parker for Wine Advocate
“Fully mature, the 2000 D’Issan is a quintessentially elegant, yet concentrated, aristocratic Margaux that defines the appellation. The wine has a dark ruby/purple color just beginning to lighten at the edge. Notes of charcoal, acacia flowers, black raspberries, and blue fruits are followed by a medium to full-bodied wine that builds incrementally on the palate. With its outstanding purity, richness, elegance and length, this is a beauty that has reached its window of maturity, where it should stay for another 15 or more years.” (6/2010)

91   Neal Martin
“A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot, matured in 50% new oak, this has very good intensity and vigour on the nose with broody blackberry, loganberry and briary all inflected with cedar and a touch of autumn bonfire. Swells nicely in the glass, gaining intensity and unfurling all the time. Returning after 20 minutes there is a backdrop of mandarin and mango developing. The palate has a great entry, beautifully defined with lovely pure black-berried fruits with a touch of black tea, minerals and damson. It is just the finish that is lacking the persistency and length to carry it through, it little drier than I was expecting given the opening. A very fine d’Issan that portends a new era for the estate … ” (09/2008)