2011 d'Issan Bordeaux Red

2011 d'Issan

94 DEC

Featured Review

We return to a more normal balance and concentration in 2011; this is still powerful, elegant, still full of Issan character, but you will not have to wait so long to enjoy this wine. Floral notes evident, followed up by blueberry and tobacco, a little tight but has elegance and power. A dry summer, with a yield of 36hl/ha, harvest finished on 26 September, with a high tannin count. Drinking Window 2021 - 2038. Decanter

Decanter | 94 DEC

(Château d’Issan) At Château d’Issan this year, Emmanuel Cruse did not panic and start picking too early, as the merlot harvest started on the 12th of September and was completed on the 16th, while the cabernet sauvignon was collected between September 20th and 26th. The 2011 Château d’Issan is a lovely wine, offering up a deep, reserved and classy nose of cassis, dark berries, coffee bean, cigar ash, dark soil tones and a suave base of nutty new oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, pure and primary, with a fine core of fruit, firm, ripe tannins and very good length and grip on the chewy, but well-balanced finish. This will need a full decade to blossom, but is one of the top wines in the commune again this year- a frequent occurrence in the last several vintages! (Drink between 2022-2055).

John Gilman | 91 JG

A dense wine that's full of black plums and firm tannins. It has weight at the front and juicy freshness on the finish.

Wine Enthusiast | 91 WE

Gorgeous aromas of orange peel, mint, bay leaf and currants. Full to medium body, chewy tannins and a lightly austere finish. Walnut. Needs more time to soften. Better in 2015.

James Suckling | 90 JS

The 2011 d'Issan has a perfumed and floral bouquet with violet petals infusing the black cherry and boysenberry fruit. It is undeniably attractive, if not at the same level as the previous three vintages. The palate is medium-bodied with pleasant succulence on the entry; well judged acidity with a little chewiness. That said the finish demonstrates impressive delineation and freshness. This will be one of the more earlier-drinking d'Issan releases, but one not to be over-looked. Tasted at the d’Issan vertical held at the property.

Vinous Media | 90 VM

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. 7,500 cases made.

Wine Spectator | 90 WS

Type of Wine	Bordeaux Red : Picture in your mind a combination of cedar, lead pencil, blackcurrant, plum and mineral aromatics, and texture that caresses your palate like a playful lover. The experience is thrilling from the first whiff to the final seconds of a tannic, generous finish - that is what you'll get from a Bordeaux Red
Varietal	Bordeaux Blend
Country	France : Wine is the lifeblood that courses through the country of France, pulsing with vigorous pride and determination. Viticulture is not just a hobby or an occupation in France; it is a passion, a cherished tradition that has been passed down through generations of wine stained hands. Winemaking is a beloved art that has been ingrained in the culture, an aptitude instilled in sons by fathers and the hallmark for which France’s reputation was built, allowing it to be renowned as, arguably, the most important wine producing country in the world. For centuries, France has been producing wines of superior quality and in much greater quantity than any other country in the world. It boasts some of the most impressive wine regions, coveted vineyards and prestigious wines on earth. The regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Sauternes and Champagne have become the benchmark, for which others aspire to become. Legendary producers such as Chateaux Margaux, Domaine De La Romanee Conti, Chapoutier, d’Yquem and Dom Perignon are idolized world-wide. France has stamped its name on nearly every style of wine, from the nectar-like sweet Sauternes to hedonistic Chateauneuf Du Papes classic Bordeaux and Burgundy, to its sparkling dominance in Champagne. Many of the most infamous grape varietals in the world, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay originated in France and are not only beloved, but utilized in the creation of some of the greatest wines on earth. French wine production commands the attention of the wine market year after year. With over 860,000 hectares under vine, and numbers close to 50 million hectoliters of wine produced annually, France dominates the market and sets the standard for not only product quality, but also quantity. France’s many contributions to the world of wine have been absolutely indispensable. The country is the originator of the term “Premier Cru,” coined the term Terroir (a French term so complex there is no literal translation) and has laid the blueprint for a structured appellation system, which others have implemented in their own countries. French vineyard techniques and winemaking practices are mimicked world-wide. California vintners have been replicating Rhone style wines for decades, South America has adopted the French varietal of Malbec and countries around the world are imitating Burgundian styled Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. With vast diversity in terroir, France is home to some of the most hospitable winegrowing locations on earth. The combination of topography, geology, climate, rainfall and even the amount of sunlight combined with the long historical tradition of winegrowing and making, has allowed the vintners of France to not only hone their skills, but learn from nature to create a product that like the world in which it resides… is very much alive.