A wonderful success of the vintage, the 2008 d'Issan exhibits a dark plum/garnet/purple color as well as abundant aromas of flowers, Asian spices, jammy plums and black currants. Broad, savory and medium to full-bodied with sweet tannin and an evolved, already delicious, complex style, this cuvee will age nicely for 10-15 years.

Tasted ex-château and single blind in Southwold. This is superb wine from one of Margaux’s oldest estates. The nose shows signs of a little over-extraction in the winery with very faint date aromas infusing the black, tarry fruit. This comes through on the palate that is opulent and showy, although there is decent acidity to cut through the thick swathes of toasty black fruit. Solid and almost impenetrable on the finish. Superb. This is another clean-cut, feminine wine from Emmanuel Cruse and his team. January 2012.