Château d’Issan 2021 – Margaux 3ème Grand Cru Classé

(65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot) The nose is fruity, elegant, racy and shows nice finesse of grain and some racy power. There are notes of ripe boysenberry, fresh blackcurrant and more lightly juicy/fresh red berries combined with hints of peony, pepper, as well as hints of bright cherry, mocha, toast, a discreet hint of graphite, and a delicate hint of incense (in the background). The palate is fruity and reveals nice crunchy fruit, smoothness, freshness, a certain richness of fruit flesh. On the palate this wine expresses notes of pulpy/juicy raspberry, fleshy/juicy blackberry and more lightly fleshy cherry combined with hints of lily, peony, plum blossom as well as hints of racy, steely minerality, gunflint, chocolate/cocoa, fine hints of toasted almond/fresh vanilla. Good length. A little chewiness on the finish/persistence. The tannins are precise and mellow. Good mid-palate and suppleness on the finish.