2023 Château d'Issan Margaux

Château d'Issan 2023

After a cold, wet winter, the bud break occurred on April 23. Growth was rapid and uniform. Flowering started on May 16, making 2023 somewhat early compared to other years. May and June were both relatively dry months. The véraison (discoloration of the grapes) started for our Merlot plots on July 7.

A Changing Weather Image

The month of July was very mixed, with an average temperature of 20.8°C. The second half of the month was cooler, offsetting the heat of the beginning of the month. August was milder and offered slightly higher temperatures than the seasonal average. September continued in the same vein with almost uninterrupted sunshine, mainly characterized by eight consecutive days of warm, dry weather.

An Early Harvest

• 18/09 to 22/09: Merlot
• 20/09: Malbec
• 26/09: Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot
• 25/09 to 02/10: Cabernet Sauvignon

The harvest took place in the sun, a little earlier than usual. The harvest was interrupted by some rain showers on September 21 and 22, which helped the Cabernet Sauvignons to fully ripen.

Tasting note

The 2023 Château d'Issan is a powerful, dense wine, especially for an estate where the wines are typically subdued. This rich, muscular Margaux radiates intensity in all its dimensions. Readers will have to be patient, as the 2023 will take several years to shed some of its considerable youthful wealth. Dried herbs, tobacco, incense and bold, dark-hued fruit notes flow into the deep, resonant finish. The wine promises a long life, with a drinking window of ±2033 to ±2063.

The estate

Château d'Issan is one of the most beautiful buildings in the Médoc and rightly bears the name 'Château'. The beautiful 17th century architecture can be found not only in the castle itself, but also in the wine cellars. The history of wine is equally rich: the French and English royal families served this wine at weddings and parties, as did the Austrian Court. Issan's motto, "Regum mensis aris que deorum", is written on the chic gold label and means "For the tables of kings and the altars of the gods".