2025 d`Issan (Margaux)

Vivid plum colours, as is so often the case in this vintage, and although this is a little less luscious right now than the Blason, it is packed with promise, and the austerity of a wine that is constructed with a future in mind. Rose buds, cassis, damson are fairly discreet at first, and then unroll in layers with slate, woodsmoke and cold ash. 3.63pH. Harvest September 11 to 23. 50% new oak. 95 points

Marked by a spicy, oaky profile, the 2025 D`Issan reveals aromas of lead pencil, tobacco and dark berries. Medium- to full-bodied, structured and dense, it’s built around an assertive tannic frame and concludes with a long, spicy finish. Quite introverted at this stage, it will need to gain in elegance and harmony with elevage. 90-92 points

The 2025 d`Issan is fabulous. Inky and racy to the core, the 2025 Issan has so much to offer. Creme de cassis, menthol, licorice, cloves, gravel and mocha all meld together in the glass. Sumptuous and seamless with exceptional balance, the 2025 is a real stunner. This is an especially dense d`Issan that reflects the intensity of the year. Tasted two times. 94-96 points

The 2025 Chateau d`Issan was picked from September 11 to 18 and is matured in 50% new oak. This has a quite beguiling bouquet, very pure blackberry and wild strawberry fruit, hints of cassis, replete with Margaux`s violet signature. The oak is neatly integrated (50%). The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, plenty of tension and commendable mineralite. There is a transparency to this d`Issan that I really admire and it embodies the classicism that the season offered on the finish. One of the finest vintages in recent years and, hopefully, it will represent good value upon release. 93-95 points