Issan 2006

Now consistently one of the great wines of the appellation, d'Issan has produced a dense purple-colored wine with a beautiful set of aromatics offering a smorgasbord of aromas such as perfumed flowers, incense, graphite, licorice, blueberry, and black currant. The wine is seamlessly constructed, like a fine dress from a haute couture house. With fabulous concentration of fruit, the ethereal elegance and sublime character of this wine make it seem to almost float across the palate with substantial flavor penetration and laser-like focus. This is a gorgeous example of 2006 that can be drunk in 3-4 years or cellared for over two decades. Good value.

Tasted at the Château d'Issan vertical at the property, the 2006 Château d'Issan has a clean and precise bouquet, vibrant black fruit with touches of slate coming through with time in the glass. There is a strictness here and you get the sense that the aromatics are holding something back for later. The palate is well balanced, surprisingly supple in the mouth with well-judged acidity, clean and pure with a gorgeous saline note coming through on the long finish. This punches well above my expectations and comes highly recommended - a great Margaux from Emmanuel Cruse and his team.

Pretty dark crimson. Rich and round and lively, Pretty impressive balance. A little sharp in terms of acidity but good ripe fruit into which a great deal of effort has obviously gone. Thick and quite rich though pretty stolid -a considerable proportion of press wine apparently.

Moderately saturated ruby-red. Blackberry, bitter chocolate, violet, menthol and licorice on the nose, plus a whiff of musky game. Suave and fine-grained, with a light touch to its rather wild flavors of black fruits, licorice and violet. Finishes with easygoing tannins that turned a bit dusty with air and subtle lingering perfume.