Castle of Issan - Margaux 2011

The Great Southwold Tasting

the11/15/2015

Toute une série de 17 et le reste sans exception à 16, voilà une belle unanimité pour ce vin à la fois puissant et fin. Personne n’a deviné son identité. La couleur rouge profond nous a annoncé un vin plutôt calme en extraction, et nous y avons constaté un équilibre « vraiment parfait », « tout en élégance » mais laissant libre cours à sa « générosité naturelle » qui lui assure une longueur exceptionnelle.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

88 / 100

byIan D'Agatathe8/31/2014

Good full medium ruby. Slightly medicinal aromas and flavors of blackcurrant, dark plum, minerals and licorice. Broad on the palate but rather backward today and not yet revealing much, with a tough tannic cloak sharply reducing its fun factor right now. The dark fruit elements carry through to the long, firm finish. Bright and fresh but will it develop a little more fruit and flesh to go with the assertive tannins? (88(+?)? points)

Wine Advocate

88 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe5/2/2014

Its bigger sister, the 2011 d’Issan exhibits an attractive perfume of black cherries, earth and background loamy soil and oak notes. Although elegant, medium-bodied and well-made, it is less impressive than other vintages have been over the last 10-15 years. Drink it over the next decade.

Wine Spectator

90 / 100

byJames Molesworththe2/11/2014

A gentle, elegant style, with a lightly dusty frame around the core of crushed plum and blackberry fruit. Shows a twinge of cocoa on the finish, with an echo of warm stone at the very end. Best from 2016 through 2024.

La Revue du Vin de France

15-16 / 20

the5/31/2012

Il est bien construit, avec une trame acidulée qui le guide et lui donner un bel éclat. En demi-puissance, son charme réside surtout dans sa finale étirée et ses tanins bien fondus.

Le Point

16 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe5/17/2012

Fruits rouges, bouche ronde, fraîche, tanins fins, élégants, cabernet, long, fin, tendu en finale, joli fruit. O= 2018 G= 15 ans

Decanter.com

17 / 20

the4/30/2012

Good purity of Cabernet cassis fruit, some florality, good tannins for the future, very Margaux. Drink 2016-2026. (17 points)

Wine Advocate

91-93 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/2012

Only 57% of the production made it into the 2011 d’Issan, which tips the scales at a lofty 13.2% natural alcohol. A blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon and 31% Merlot, it possesses a dark ruby/purple color as well as a classic Margaux perfume of sweet blueberries, black currants, spring flowers and licorice. Ripe and deep with impressive intensity, it is one of the stars of the 2011 vintage. The wine’s silky tannins, fresh acids and stunning length suggest it will drink well for 15-20 years. Kudos to proprietor Emmanuel Cruse.

TAST

16-16,5 / 20

by Bettane & Desseauvethe4/30/2012

Ensemble tendu, serré, dotés de tanins plutôt austères et appuyés mais avec la pleine préservation du cachet du terroir. Il faudra enrober ce socle tannique par un élevage adroit.

Wein Wisser

/ 20

byRené Gabrielthe4/30/2012

Tiefes Purpur, satt in der Mitte, Granatschimmer am Rand. Aromatisches, aber eher kühles Bouquet, besonders im Vergleich mit den wesentlich süsser ausgefallenen Konkurrenten der gleichen Appellation, feine Trüffelspuren und Brazil-Tabak. Im Gaumen kommt dann doch noch eine fein kirschige Süsse, welche sich mit der etwas pikant wirkenden Säure ergänzen muss, nicht so hart wie sonst, aber doch noch leidlich hart genug. 2018-2038

The Wine Cellar Insider

91-93 / 100

byJeff Levethe4/27/2012

From a blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon and 39% Merlot, which represents 57% of the harvest with yields of 36 hectoliters per hectare, the wine reached 13.23% alcohol and will be aged in 50% new oak. In the nose, earth, coffee, licorice, blackberry and truffle scents. Soft, round and filled with fresh black and red fruits, this is a charming style of d’Issan. 91-93 Pts

Wine Advocate

90-92 / 100

byNeal Martinthe4/27/2012

Cropped between 12th and 26th September the d’Issan ’11 is a blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon and 39% Merlot that was cropped at 36hl/ha. The nose is closed and minerally, tightly wound with scents of limestone and granite. The palate is medium-bodied with tensile tannin, crisp blackberry, blueberry and a touch of vanilla. It has a gentled but insistent grip, a slight saline note towards the composed finish that is focused and poised. This has good potential and continues d’Issan’s good run of form. Tasted April 2012

Asian Palate

91-92 / 100

byJeannie Cho Lee MWthe4/20/2012

This year d'Issan made a very pretty wine with lovely clarity of expression and fairly long length. The flavours are attractive offering violets, cassis and ripe, juicy red berries. The palate offers nice concentration of flavours and a fairly long length. A balanced elegant Margaux.

Jancis Robinson

17 / 20

byJulia Harding MWthe4/19/2012

Drink 2019-2030
31% Merlot, 69% Cabernet Sauvignon. Less graphite on the nose, a little darker and riper but still fragrant and pure and fresh. Smooth and elegant and fresh, pure cassis. Quite closed and dry on the mid palate, very fine tannic structure. Nice harmony and finesse. Glides across the palate. (JH) 13.23%