From a blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon and 39% Merlot, which represents 57% of the harvest with yields of 36 hectoliters per hectare, the wine reached 13.23% alcohol and will be aged in 50% new oak. In the nose, earth, coffee, licorice, blackberry and truffle scents. Soft, round and filled with fresh black and red fruits, this is a charming style of d’Issan.-Jeff Leve, theWineCellarInsider.com
Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar InsiderScore: 91-93/100
This year d'Issan made a very pretty wine with lovely clarity of expression and fairly long length. The flavours are attractive offering violets, cassis and ripe, juicy red berries. The palate offers nice concentration of flavours and a fairly long length. A balanced elegant Margaux. Jeannie Cho Lee MW, AsianPalate.com
Jeannie Cho Lee MWScore: 91-92/100
Good purity of Cabernet cassis fruit, some florality, good tannins for the future, very Margaux. Drink 2016-2026. Decanter.com
DecanterScore: 17/20
Good purity of Cabernet cassis fruit, some florality, good tannins for the future, very Margaux. Drink 2016-2026. Decanter.com
DecanterScore: 17/20
31% Merlot, 69% Cabernet Sauvignon. Less graphite on the nose, a little darker and riper but still fragrant and pure and fresh. Smooth and elegant and fresh, pure cassis. Quite closed and dry on the mid palate, very fine tannic structure. Nice harmony and finesse. Glides across the palate. Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jancis Robinson MWScore: 17/20
31% Merlot, 69% Cabernet Sauvignon. Less graphite on the nose, a little darker and riper but still fragrant and pure and fresh. Smooth and elegant and fresh, pure cassis. Quite closed and dry on the mid palate, very fine tannic structure. Nice harmony and finesse. Glides across the palate. Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jancis Robinson MWScore: 17/20
Cropped between 12th and 26th September the d’Issan ’11 is a blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon and 39% Merlot that was cropped at 36hl/ha. The nose is closed and minerally, tightly wound with scents of limestone and granite. The palate is medium-bodied with tensile tannin, crisp blackberry, blueberry and a touch of vanilla. It has a gentled but insistent grip, a slight saline note towards the composed finish that is focused and poised. This has good potential and continues d’Issan’s good run of form. Tasted April 2012. Neal Martin, eRobertParker.com
Neal MartinScore: 90-92/100
Cropped between 12th and 26th September the d’Issan ’11 is a blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon and 39% Merlot that was cropped at 36hl/ha. The nose is closed and minerally, tightly wound with scents of limestone and granite. The palate is medium-bodied with tensile tannin, crisp blackberry, blueberry and a touch of vanilla. It has a gentled but insistent grip, a slight saline note towards the composed finish that is focused and poised. This has good potential and continues d’Issan’s good run of form. Tasted April 2012. Neal Martin, eRobertParker.com
Neal MartinScore: 90-92/100
Good focus, with a dusty frame but a good sappy core of blackberry and black cherry. Nice perfumy edge on the finish. James Molesworth, WineSpectator.com
Wine SpectatorScore: 88-91/100
Good focus, with a dusty frame but a good sappy core of blackberry and black cherry. Nice perfumy edge on the finish. James Molesworth, WineSpectator.com
Wine SpectatorScore: 88-91/100
Its bigger sister, the 2011 d’Issan exhibits an attractive perfume of black cherries, earth and background loamy soil and oak notes. Although elegant, medium-bodied and well-made, it is less impressive than other vintages have been over the last 10-15 years. Drink it over the next decade. Apr 2014, www.robertparker.com
Robert ParkerScore: 88/100
Bordeaux / France