2025 Château d'Issan Margaux

A FIRST - EXPECTED SPRING 2028

Château d'Issan 2025 is one of the absolute top wines from Margaux in the 2025 vintage. With ratings of up to 97 points and an impressive array of international recommendations, the château once again confirms its strong reputation. The wine combines the classic refinement of Margaux with striking concentration, precision, and an exceptional balance between power and elegance.

Winery Château d'Issan

Château d'Issan is one of the historical icons of Margaux and has held Grand Cru Classé status since 1855. The estate boasts an exceptional terroir of 52 hectares surrounding the château, protected by a historic stone wall dating back to 1644. In addition, the estate features extensive nature reserves, waterways, and biodiversity zones that contribute to a healthy ecosystem.

Moreover, 2025 holds special significance for d'Issan. The château is celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Cruse family, who have been responsible for the development of the estate since 1945. As a result, 2025 is described by the château itself as a true anniversary vintage.

Volume 2025 in Margaux

The growing season proceeded remarkably regularly. Bud formation began in late March, followed by even flowering in late May and early coloration of the grapes in late July. The warm and dry summer ensured optimal ripening conditions, while the soils of d'Issan were able to retain sufficient freshness to guide the vines through the summer without excessive stress.

The slow and even ripening resulted in grapes of great aromatic purity and refined structure. According to the château itself, this produced wines with striking tension, elegance, and depth. The harvest took place between September 11 and 23 and was carried out entirely by hand, plot by plot, so that every grape could be harvested at the optimal moment of ripeness.

Blending and vinification

The blend consists of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec, and 2% Petit Verdot. As a result, Cabernet Sauvignon clearly remains the backbone of the wine, which aligns perfectly with the character of Margaux and the estate's gravelly soils.

After a very strict double selection, both manual and visual, all plots were fermented separately in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. Maximum finesse was sought through gentle extraction and meticulous daily tastings. The wine subsequently ages in 50% new French oak barrels.

With an alcohol content of 13.73%, a pH of 3.63, and fully ripe phenols, the wine possesses an impressive balance between ripeness, freshness, and structure.

Color, smell and taste

Château d'Issan 2025 presents a deep ruby red with purple reflections. The nose opens with aromas of cassis, blackberries, black cherries, and ripe plums. These are followed by refined notes of violets, mint, liquorice, clove, mocha, graphite, and fine gravel.

On the palate, the wine immediately reveals its impressive balance. The fruit is rich and concentrated, yet remains consistently fresh and precise. Flavors of blackcurrant, cherry, cassis, and dark plum are supported by nuances of menthol, spices, cocoa, and a subtle mineral touch. The tannins are silky smooth yet present, giving the wine structure without severity.

What makes this vintage special is the combination of density and elegance. Antonio Galloni describes the wine as rich, seamless, and exceptionally harmonious, while James Suckling emphasizes the refinement, creaminess, and length. The finish is long, energetic, and classic Margaux, with a beautiful combination of dark fruit, spices, and minerality.

A special anniversary year

The château regards 2025 as a wine that brings together concentration, finesse, and controlled power. The wine possesses sufficient structure for very long aging, yet at the same time has an appeal that makes it particularly seductive even when relatively young. It is precisely this combination of accessibility and great aging potential that makes this anniversary vintage extra interesting.

Summary of professional reviews

James Suckling awards 96-97 points and praises the combination of blackcurrants, cherries, plums, spices, and a creamy texture with great length. Antonio Galloni rates the wine 94-96 points and calls the 2025 one of the most impressive d'Issans of recent years. He describes a wine full of cassis, menthol, liquorice, clove, gravel, and mocha, with exceptional balance and depth.

Jane Anson, Decanter, Falstaff, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Jeb Dunnuck, Alexandre Ma, Neal Martin, and The Wine Independent also rate the wine very highly. The general consensus is that Château d'Issan 2025 is one of the strongest Margaux wines of the vintage, with a combination of concentration, refinement, and classic aging potential.