This is the highest level of Cabernet Sauvignon of the vertical, with 77%, coming through in more subtle aromatics on the nose but beautiful depth on the palate. Velvety plush texture, the tannins are wrapping around the fruit, giving form and density to the blackberry and tight cassis notes. This is a vintage that often gets overlooked but here shows black chocolate, violet, slate, gunsmoke. One to savour as it unrolls in the mouth. Drinking Window 2021 - 2040.Decanter | 94 DECComplex aromas of sweet tobacco, chocolate, cedar and plums. Undertones of blackcurrants and dark chocolate. Dense and tight with a beautifully and tightly knit palate, yet this shows so much intensity and length. Love the wet-earth and berry character on the finish. Give this three to four years to soften even if it’s fantastic already to taste.James Suckling | 94 JSThis is a serious wine, with dense tannins and concentrated structure. It has strong wood and smoky bacon notes that need to harmonize with the dark plum flavor and ample acidity.Wine Enthusiast | 94 WEThe 2014 Château d’Issan is a step back from the 2015 yet is still a beautiful and elegant wine from this estate. Its ruby/purple-tinged color is followed by a gorgeous set of aromatics including currants, cedar, lead pencil, and flowers. With an herbal edge, medium to full-bodied richness, terrific concentration, and a focused, chiseled finish, this is pure class all the way. It’s already approachable but should be at its best from 2020-2040.Jeb Dunnuck | 92 JDThe 2014 D’Issan has a crisp, pure bouquet, quite tight and reticent like the 2014 Marquis d’Alesme Becker, eventually offering blackberry, soy and cedar scents, almost Saint Julien in style. The palate is medium-bodied with a touch of herbaceousness on the entry, but there is plenty of fruit behind it. I like the classic style of this d’Issan, the pepperiness of the Cabernet driving the structured and quite masculine (for Margaux) finish. This is beginning to show the class that I thought it would and it may merit a higher score in the future.Robert Parker Neal Martin | 91+ RP-NMThe 2014 d’Issan is plump, juicy and delicious. Torrefaction, smoke, licorice, plum, grilled herbs, leather and tobacco give the 2014 its racy, exuberant personality and considerable near-term appeal. This is an especially bold, rich Margaux, but it works nicely. Tasted two times.Antonio Galloni | 91 AG
