France · Bordeaux

Chateau d'Issan

Château d'Issan is a 3ème Cru Classé in the Margaux appellation, one of the Médoc's most historically significant estates by virtue of its moated 17th-century château — among the region's best-preserved. The Cruse family has owned the estate since 1945, with Emmanuel Cruse leading operations from the 1990s onward. The vineyard covers 53 hectares planted predominantly to Cabernet Sauvignon (75%) and Merlot (25%) on the thin, pebbly gravel soils characteristic of Margaux's best parcels north of the village. At auction, the estate averages $126 per bottle across 167 lots — above average for a third growth, reflecting both the vineyard quality and the Margaux appellation premium. The price range extends from approximately $40 for ordinary vintages to $500+ for the legendary 1961 and mature grands années. The estate underwent significant renovation in the 1990s and 2000s, improving consistency and earning more regular acclaim. The 2010, 2015, and 2016 vintages represent the modern era highlights, receiving 93–97 points from leading critics. D'Issan's motto — Regum Mensis Arisque Deorum, meaning 'for the tables of kings and the altars of the gods' — alludes to a possibly legendary history of supplying wine to the English royal court during the Plantagenet period when Bordeaux was under English rule. At auction, back-vintage d'Issan from the 1940s–1960s appears occasionally and commands premium prices.