2014 - d'Issan, Margaux

You are immediately captured by the aromatics of this wine, such gorgeous complexity on display, layers of fern, heather, sage, white pepper, gun smoke. Taut tannins still at 6 years old, with nuanced, balanced, juicy and powerful cassis and bilberry fruits. No need to rush because this will age, but there is so much to enjoy here.

Medium to deep garnet-brick in color, the 2014 d'Issan struts out with ready-to-go notes of redcurrant jelly, bay leaves, and graphite plus wafts of tobacco leaf and charcoal with a hint of forest floor. The medium-bodied palate is tightly wound with bright evolving red berry flavors and grainy tannins, finishing with a refreshing lift.

The 2014 D'Issan has a crisp, pure bouquet, quite tight and reticent like the 2014 Marquis d'Alesme Becker, eventually offering blackberry, soy and cedar scents, almost Saint Julien in style. The palate is medium-bodied with a touch of herbaceousness on the entry, but there is plenty of fruit behind it. I like the classic style of this d'Issan, the pepperiness of the Cabernet driving the structured and quite masculine (for Margaux) finish. This is beginning to show the class that I thought it would and it may merit a higher score in the future.

The 2014 Château d'Issan has an open-knit, fresh bouquet with light, tobacco-tinged black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, understated and elegant in style with a Saint-Julien-like finish. Six years ago, the bottle suggested a better wine, indicating that it peaked in the interim. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting.

Tasted blind. Mid youthful crimson. Youthful leafy dark-fruit aroma. Scented on the palate, elegant tannins, refined. Great balance. Quite toasty/mocha from the oak but not excessively so. (JH)