2016 Chateau d'Issan Margaux Bordeaux 750 ml

In the phenomenal 2016 vintage, First Growth Château Margaux and “Super Third” Château Palmer both earned 98 points from Decanter—and Château d’Issan earned a stunning 97 points from the same publication. 

This is one of the greatest years ever for d’Issan—Decanter singled it out as their favorite in a 19-vintage vertical tasting. It sums up the kind of pedigree and performance that led Robert Parker to call Château d’Issan “consistently one of the great wines of the appellation.”

Anyone who knows Bordeaux will tell you that Château d’Issan isn’t just some producer that got lucky in a great year: They’re one of the oldest estates in Bordeaux, and wines from their walled-in vineyard were served at the marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine to Henry II—and that was back in 1152. These days, the estate boasts the expertise of Eric Boissenot, the coveted consulting winemaker who counts Latour, Margaux, Lafite, and Mouton Rothschild as clients.

After their grapes have been carefully hand-harvested and pressed, the wine—in the 2016, a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot—is vinified parcel by parcel in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks. Boissenot allows the Merlot to go through malolactic fermentation in barrel and the Cabernet in tank, enhancing fruit flavors and softening the wine, followed by a careful blending selection and aging in 50% new oak for 18 months.

After a few hours in a decanter, the 2016 is showing quite nicely right now. The aromatics open up to reveal notes of black currants and Damson-plum paste, accented by cedar, vanilla, graphite, and toast. It’s fresh and lively on the palate, with a musculature that’s powerful but lean—more ninja warrior than nose tackle.