Château d'Issan

Identity

Château d'Issan is a winegrowing estate located in Cantenac, in the Gironde. It was ranked as a Troisième Cru in the 1855 classification, within the Margaux appellation.

Since 2013, Château d'Issan has been jointly owned by the Cruse family, present at the estate since 1945, and Jacky Lorenzetti, each holding a 50% share. Emmanuel Cruse manages the estate. Consultant oenologist Éric Boissenot and Maître de Chai Clement Di Costanzo oversee wine production.

History and philosophy

The origins of Château d'Issan are believed to date back to the 12th century. Its current name is thought to derive from a contraction of the name of the Chevalier d'Essenault. Estate lore recounts that wines from Issan were served at the wedding of Aliénor d'Aquitaine and Henri Plantagenêt in 1152. The estate's motto, “Regum mensis aris que Deorum”, translates as “For the table of Kings and the altar of the Gods”.

In 1945, the Cruse family acquired the estate. The 1855 classification established Château d'Issan as a Troisième Cru Classé. Emmanuel Cruse has been at the helm of the estate since 1998. In 2013, Jacky Lorenzetti entered into partnership with the Cruse family.

The appellations

Château d'Issan produces wines under the Margaux appellation. The estate also holds parcels yielding wines in the Haut-Médoc and Bordeaux Supérieur appellations.

Practical information

Address: Chemin de la Ménagerie, 33460 Cantenac

Telephone: 05 57 88 35 91

Email: issan@chateau-issan.com

Direct cellar-door sales are available at the property. Visits are possible by appointment on weekdays.

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The vineyard (terroir)

The Château d'Issan vineyard spans a planted area of 53 hectares dedicated to red grape varieties, including nearly 50 hectares in the Margaux appellation as of 2020. The estate also encompasses around ten hectares across the Haut-Médoc and Bordeaux Supérieur appellations. The terroir is notably characterised by an Eocene limestone outcrop.

The grape varieties cultivated for the red wines are predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon (65%) and Merlot (35%). The average age of the vines is 35 years. Harvesting is carried out by hand. The vineyard is distinctive for its historical and unconsolidated layout. In 1998, the estate covered 26 hectares before subsequent acquisitions were made, notably 6 hectares from Château Pontac-Lynch, alongside 1.5 hectares farmed under lease from the same property.

Flagship cuvées

The estate's grand vin is Château d'Issan, a cuvée in the Margaux appellation. It is a wine combining power and finesse, with a distinct tannic structure and a complex aromatic palette that evolves over time towards tertiary notes.

The estate's second wine is Blason d'Issan, also in the Margaux appellation. This wine is crafted to be approachable at an earlier stage, offering fruit-forward aromas and a suppler structure, while retaining the signature elegance of the appellation.

The estate also crafts other cuvées: Moulin d'Issan, in the Bordeaux Supérieur appellation, and Haut-Médoc d'Issan, in the Haut-Médoc appellation.

The blend of the grand vin Château d'Issan for the 2020 vintage consisted of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, and 1% Malbec. Malbec is likewise included in the 2021 blend.

Vinification and ageing

The estate places strong emphasis on the quality of its terroir, which is directly expressed in the wines. Vinification techniques are tailored parcel by parcel and grape variety by grape variety, honouring the character of each vintage. The wines are subsequently aged in oak barrels.