CHÂTEAU D'ISSAN
2013 3ème Cru Classé Margaux
Softly voluminous creamy texture. A different kind of expression which is drier and possible more sophisticated. Really pretty good - it feels as though it is going somewhere Rating: 90 L&S (Apr 2014)
* This is a pre-shipment/primeur offer. All orders are accepted under the TERMS of this offer which differ from the terms of the rest of the site.
The 2013 d'Issan has an agreeable bouquet that is not nearly as sophisticated as the 2012, but it seems refined with touches of leather and tertiary black fruit. All it lacks is the energy of previous vintages. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, clearly no sign of any greenness or herbaceous notes. My respectable score is thanks to its unexpected finesse and charm on the silky finish. If you insist on a 2013 Margaux, you cannot go wrong by calling at this address. Tasted at the d’Issan vertical held at the property. Drinking range: 2020 - 2045 Rating: 87 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Jul 2018)
From a moated chateau in the southern Medoc, this classic Margaux has been making terrific wines since the late nineties. However, the 2013 is not one of them. Nevertheless, it is certainly very good. Soft, medium-bodied with no herbaceousness or astringent tannin, it is a superficial, but charming wine made from 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. It offers a slight floral note intermixed with notions of raspberries, black currants, licorice and background oak. This easygoing Margaux is best drunk during its first decade of life. 2014-2024 Rating: 85-87 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, www.RobertParker.com (Aug 2014)
Rating: 84-87 Ian d'Agata - Stephen Tanzer website (May 2014)
Ripe fruited on the nose the palate has depth of flavour with a mix of red and black fruits. The sweetness in the middle gives way the freshness and the back palate is light fresh and quite elegant. 2018-26 Rating: 89-91 Derek Smedley MW, www.dereksmedleymw.co.uk (May 2014)
Rating: 91 Tim Atkin MW, www.timatkin.com (May 2014)
Not bad fruit intensity but quite severe and pinched throughout when it could be juicier, more fruit-driven and relaxed. The core cassis fruit is ok but the oak and severity of extraction is off-putting. Too angular and lean. Rating: 15.5 Matthew Jukes www.matthewjukes.com (Apr 2014)
74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot. 50% new oak. Clove, blackcurrant, very firm tannins giving good, solid structure. Tender despite the firmness, and has the classic Margaux perfume. (RH) 13% Drink 2018-2028. Rating: 17 Richard Hemming MW - www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2014)
Light, with a savory note mingling with plum pit and pomegranate fruit flavors. Slightly trim, cedary finish. Rating: 84–87 James Molesworth, The Wine Spectator (Apr 2014)
Floral yet quite dense Cabernet fruit with balance and length, very Margaux, very attractive. Drink: 2017-2025. Rating: 17 Steven Spurrier (Apr 2014)
The Château d'Issan, a blend of 26% Merlot and 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, has a simple, light redcurrant and cranberry scented bouquet that has a pleasant floral aspect. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe tannins, good depth considering the performance of its peers, with fine definition on the finish. At last - a decent Margaux 2013! Rating: 90-92 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Apr 2014)
The 2013 d'Issan is a fruity, straightforward wine built for near-term drinking. Crushed flowers, sweet red cherries, tobacco and anise linger on a finish marked by elements of dryness. Rating: 84-87 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Apr 2014)
An outstanding core of ripe fruit for the Margaux appellation. Medium body with blueberry and strawberry character. Fine tannins. Fresh finish. Extremely well done. Rating: 91-92 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2014)
Château d'Issan
Margaux Troisième cru 1855 When Pierre l'Essenault inherited what became Château d'Issan through his marriage in the mid-17th Century, he knocked down the old castle that stood on the site and built the present château. He also gave it its name, these days somewhat abridged. During the 18th Century, part of the estate was divided away and became today's Château Palmer. In 1945, Château d'Issan was bought by Emmanuel Cruse who bought a run-down estate, ravaged by Depression and War with only 2ha of working vineyard. The vineyards now occupy 53ha, planted to 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot. Wines typically spend 18 months in wood. In 2013 Jacky Lorenzetti, who owns Lilian Ladouys, bought 50% of d'Issan to become co-owner with the Cruse family. Château d'Issan is among the fullest and richest Margaux's, a facet which sometimes in the past has suggested a lack of charm. Indeed, the Cruse family's care and attention to d'Issan has taken many years to bear fruit, with the wines only returning to top-flight quality in the latter years of the 20th Century. They are now among the better wines in the appellation and well worth their 3rd Growth status. There is a second wine at Château d'Issan called Blason d'Issan. Château d'Issan also includes some vines which fall outside the Margaux appellation - Château de Candale, Haut-Médoc and Moulin d'Issan, Bordeaux Supérieur.
Please make sure that you have read the terms of this offer which are different from those of the main website. If you are unclear as to what is involved in primeur purchases please do call us, but see the 'practical notes' below.
Ordering
Prices are per case as listed 'in bond London'.
Pre-Orders are a firm commitment from you to buy the wines you order on release, subject to the price being below the upper price of the estimated band on our website. You may also set your own upper price limit, lower or higher than ours. Pre-orders will be fulfilled subject to availability. Providing this firm commitment to us effectively gives you priority.
Wines listed on the website (after any pre-orders and allocations have been fulfilled) can be ordered in the usual way via the website order form or by email or telephone 020 7221 1982, always subject to stock remaining.
Confirmation
All orders will be confirmed by email and are contractually binding unless written cancellation is received within seven days of the confirmation date, apart from pre-orders which are binding if the release price is below the top estimate or other price you have set.
Invoices are raised at the In Bond price, excluding any duty and VAT which will become payable at the prevailing rates on arrival of the wine if required duty paid.
Payment is required on sight of invoice, by cash, cheque, debit card or credit transfer. We reserve the right to charge 2% per month on invoices unpaid after 30 days.
Delivery
- Shipment to our bond (LCB Creek Road) and insurance are included in the in bond price.
- Delivery is free to Lea and Sandeman / Elephant storage accounts, both duty paid and in bond.
- Other deliveries (In Bond and Duty Paid) are also free subject to a minimum order from the offer of £1000, orders below this total will be charged £16.50+ VAT when the wine invoices are issued. We will group deliveries and this is a charge for your entire purchases, not a per-case charge.
- Delivery for 2016 Bordeaux primeurs will probably be completed by October 2019, but we make no guarantee as to specific delivery times, and some of the Sauternes may be later.
Practical notes - how it works
We start a sale in each customer's name and add all their primeur orders to one sale which is invoiced at the end of the campaign (or when the customer wishes) for immediate payment. We and our customers find that having a single invoice for the vintage is the simpler option, but do please note that confirmed orders are still binding as above even if the final invoice has not been issued.
When the wine is shipped, unless previously specified we will assume that delivery is to be to bonded storage with Elephant Storage, but in any case, we will contact you requesting any alternative instructions. If you have another bonded delivery address you would like the wine to go to, please tell us at the time of ordering. If the wines are required duty-paid we will issue invoices at the rates prevailing at the time for the excise duty (currently £25.98 per case) and the VAT (currently at 20%) on the total of the wine cost and the duty.
Half-bottles, Magnums and larger bottles.
One of the additional advantages of buying en primeur is being able to order the wine in the bottle size you want. Even if a wine is only listed in one size, you can order any bottle or case size you want if the property supplies it, but you must order the case/bottle size you require and check that the correct size has been invoiced.
Additional charges are as follows:-
- +£15 per case of 24 half-bottles
- +£15 per case of 6 Magnums (2 bottles equivalent, 1.5 litres each)
- +£35 per individually boxed Double Magnum (4 bottles equivalent, 3 litres)
- +£45 per individually boxed Imperial (8 bottles equivalent, 6 litres) for Salmanazars, Balthazars, Nebuchadnezzars and Melchiors please enquire for availability and price.