CHÂTEAU D'ISSAN
2021 3ème Cru Classé Margaux
This is a hearty, ripe and juicy wine with decent depth of fruit, impressive colour, and some rather lovely length and plushness. This is one of only a handful of genuinely successful wines in this commune, and while it is not a blockbuster and nor will it be a wine that will age for aeons, Issan is an attractive and successful wine in 2021, and I have no doubt that fans will flock to secure stock. Rating: 17.5 Matthew Jukes www.matthewjukes.com (Jun 2022)
* 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.
A very fine yet structured d’Issan with blackcurrant and plum, as well as spice and walnuts. The palate is full and structured with wonderful tannins and length. It really grows on the palate. Serious balance of ripe and fine tannins with pretty fruit and a citrusy undertone. This could move up a notch. 65% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot, 2% cabernet franc, 2% malbec and 1% petit verdot. Rating: 95-96 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (May 2022)
Rich aromatics, fresh acidities, careful extraction showcasing black tea and saffron spice notes, balanced and elegant, building in momentum through the palate. Skilful winemaking with plenty of grip. Has austerity through the mid palate, but no dip, and the tannins elongate towards the finish, giving salinity and a moutwatering kick. You can clearly imagine this ageing well, in the slightly sombre but classic style of 2002 or 2006. 50% new oak. Second year with all five of the major black grape varieties of the Médoc, and the Malbec and Petit Verdot make their presence felt. Drinking range: 2026 - 2042 Rating: 94 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2022)
According to Emmanuel Cruse, the 2021 d'Issan is the second vintage to utilize all five permitted grape varieties, picked from September 27 to October 9 and matured in 50% new oak. Quite intense on the nose, it offers layers of raspberry, wild strawberry, iodine and incense aromas. The palate is structured on the entry with a judicious touch of white pepper and clove, building nicely without fully letting go. Linear and detailed on the finish, this is a fine Margaux that should give 20 years of drinking pleasure. Drinking range: 2025 - 2045 Rating: 90-92 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2022)
The 2021 'Issan is supple, easygoing and quite attractive. It will be interesting to see if it develops more complexity and nuance with élevage. Today, Issan comes across as straightforward and lacking both in depth and nuance, while the aromatics are muted. Tasted two times. Drinking range: 2026 - 2041 Rating: 90-92 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (May 2022)
Rich aromatics, fresh acidities, careful extraction showcasing black tea and saffron spice notes, balanced and elegant, building in momentum through the palate. Skilful winemaking with plenty of grip. Has austerity through the mid palate, but no dip, and the tannins elongate towards the finish, giving salinity and a moutwatering kick. You can clearly imagine this ageing well, in the slightly sombre but classic style of 2002 or 2006. 50% new oak. Second year with all five of the major black grape varieties of the Médoc, and the Malbec and Petit Verdot make their presence felt. Drinking range: 2026 - 2042 Rating: 94 Jane Anson, Decanter (May 2022)
The 2021 D'Issan is performing well, exhibiting aromas of rich berries, licorice, violets, sweet soil tones and pipe tobacco. Medium to full-bodied, layered and lively, with powdery tannins and a saline finish, it will flesh out with élevage to deliver a supple, perfumed D'Issan that will offer a broad drinking window. It's a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Rating: 90-93 William Kelley, The Wine Advocate (May 2022)
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 on the main website. If you are unclear as to what is involved in primeur purchases please do contact our private client team via email or on 020 7018 0187.
Ordering
Prices are all in bond by the case size stated.
Pre-Orders are a firm commitment to buy wines on release, as long as the release price is within the upper and lower price bands set by you on the pre-order form. Pre-orders will be fulfilled subject to availability but providing this firm commitment to buy effectively gives you priority and is a good idea for the most desirable wines.
Wines listed on the website can be ordered in the usual way via the website wishlist order form. You can also send orders directly to our private client team via email. Please note that, for the most sought-after wines, priority will be given to those who ordered the same wines last year and to those that have pre-ordered.
Confirmation
All orders will be confirmed by email and are binding unless written cancellation is received within seven days of email confirmation. Pre-orders are not binding if the release price is above your upper price band.
Invoices are all raised at the in bond price (excluding any duty and VAT) which will become payable at the prevailing rates when the wines arrive in the UK, should you wish to take duty paid delivery.
Payment is required on sight of invoice, by cash, cheque, debit card or bank transfer. We regret we cannot accept credit cards for en primeur orders. We reserve the right to apply a dunning charge of 2% per month on invoices unpaid after 30 days.
Delivery
- Shipment to our bond (at 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 £500. Orders below this total will be charged an administration and handling fee of £16.50+ VAT when invoices are issued. We will group deliveries and this is a charge for your entire purchases, not a per-case charge.
- Delivery of 2024 Bordeaux bought en primeur is expected during 2026. Delivery dates may vary as wines are shipped from Bordeaux at different times.
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). Immediate payment of invoices is then required by cash, cheque, debit card or bank transfer. We and our customers find that having a single invoice for the vintage is the simpler option but please note that confirmed orders are still binding even if the final invoice has not yet been issued.
Please specify on your wishlist order form where you would like the wines shipped on arrival in the UK. If this is to a third-party bonded warehouse, please specify the relevant account details. If the wines are required duty-paid we will issue a second invoice for duty and VAT at the prevailing rate when the wines are available for delivery.
Half-bottles, Magnums and larger bottles.
One of the additional advantages of buying en primeur is being able to order the wine in the format you want. While most of our listings are for 75cl bottles, we can source wines in any format that is offered by the Château. Please note that format requests cannot be changed once wines have been invoiced. Additional charges for special formats do apply and are as follows:-
- +£18.00 per case of 12 half-bottles
- +£30.00 per case of 24 half-bottles
- +£7.50 per case of 3 Magnums (2 bottles equivalent, 1.5 litres each)
- +£11.00 per case of 6 Magnums
- +£45.00 per individually boxed Double Magnum (4 bottles equivalent, 3 litres)
- +£60.00 per individually boxed Imperial (8 bottles equivalent, 6 litres) for Salmanazars, Balthazars, Nebuchadnezzars and Melchiors please enquire for availability and price.
Storage Options:
Wines bought en primeur won't arrive in the UK until 2026. If you do not wish to take home delivery at that point, you may wish to consider where you would like the wines shipped. Lea & Sandeman offers duty paid and in bond storage through a dedicated storage company called Elephant Storage. For more details on the terms and fees associated with storage please go to our Storage Homepage or contact our private client team for more information.