Chateau d'Issan Margaux 2022

Chateau d'Issan Margaux 2022 is a Third Growth Bordeaux red wine from the Margaux appellation, bottled at 14.6% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Named James Suckling's #1 Wine of the Year for 2025 with 98 points, this vintage marks a watershed moment for the estate — the first produced in a newly built vat room designed for unprecedented precision in winemaking.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.6%  |  Origin: Margaux, Bordeaux, France  |  Vintage: 2022  |  Classification: Third Growth, 1855 Imperial Classification  |  Estate: Château d'Issan

Production & Heritage

Château d'Issan holds the distinction of a Third Growth in the 1855 Imperial Classification of Bordeaux, one of the most celebrated ranking systems in the wine world. The 2022 blend is composed of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec, and 1% Petit Verdot, vinified in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats. Crucially, 2022 was the inaugural vintage produced in the estate's new vat room, outfitted with smaller 20-hectolitre vats that enabled sub-plot by sub-plot harvesting and more precise parcel-by-parcel vinification — a technical leap that clearly shows in the wine's layered complexity.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with a deep, almost brooding intensity — ripe blackcurrant and black cherry at the core, followed by lifted notes of violets, rose petals, and pencil shavings. As it breathes, layers of smoky tobacco, espresso, and a subtle mineral thread emerge.

Taste: The entry is suave and velvety, immediately coating the palate with concentrated red and black fruit. At mid-palate, the wine shows remarkable freshness and energy, with flavors of cassis, licorice, cocoa, and a faint suggestion of orange peel. Tannins are beautifully ripe and silky, lending structure without austerity, while the overall mouthfeel is seamless and full-bodied.

Finish: Long, refined, and persistent, carrying echoes of dark fruit, cedar, and dried mushroom earthiness. The tannin grain remains fine-grained through the close, leaving a clean mineral signature that invites the next sip.

How to Drink d'Issan 2022

This is a wine built for contemplative, neat drinking — serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F) in a large-bowled Bordeaux glass to let its aromatic complexity fully unfold. A brief 30–60 minute decant will help integrate the youthful tannins. Given the structure and age-worthiness of this vintage, it will reward cellaring for at least a decade, though it already shows impressive openness. While a wine of this caliber is typically enjoyed on its own or alongside food, it is not a cocktail ingredient.

Best For

• Cellaring for long-term aging and drinking over the next 15–30 years
• Gifting a serious Bordeaux collector a benchmark Margaux vintage
• Anchoring a formal dinner party with a classified-growth centerpiece
• Commemorating a milestone — birth year, anniversary, or achievement — with a historically significant vintage

Frequently Asked Questions

What does d'Issan 2022 taste like? It is a full-bodied, concentrated Margaux dominated by ripe blackcurrant, black cherry, licorice, and cocoa, framed by silky tannins and bright acidity. Aromatic layers of violets, tobacco, and espresso add complexity throughout.

How does d'Issan 2022 compare to Chateau Brane-Cantenac 2022? Both are classified Margaux estates frequently discussed together, but the 2022 d'Issan leans toward greater power and concentration with its 65% Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blend and new small-vat vinification. Brane-Cantenac typically features a higher Merlot percentage and a softer, more immediately approachable profile.

Is d'Issan 2022 good for sipping neat? Absolutely — this is a wine designed for thoughtful, neat enjoyment, ideally with a decant to open up its layered aromatics. Its combination of silky texture and structural depth makes it rewarding now and for decades to come.

Where is d'Issan 2022 made? Château d'Issan is located in the Margaux appellation within the Haut-Médoc on Bordeaux's Left Bank in southwestern France. The estate holds Third Growth status in the 1855 Imperial Classification.

What foods pair well with d'Issan 2022? Grilled rack of lamb complements the wine's black fruit and herbal undertones. Braised short ribs mirror its richness and silky tannin structure. Aged Comté or Gruyère echo the cedar and earthy mineral notes. Roasted duck breast with a berry reduction aligns with the wine's dark fruit intensity. Pan-seared beef filet with a mushroom demi-glace plays into the dried mushroom and savory character on the finish.

What sizes does d'Issan 2022 come in? The standard format is 750ml, though Bordeaux classified growths are also commonly available in half-bottles (375ml), magnums (1.5L), and larger-format bottles depending on the vintage release.

Is d'Issan 2022 worth the price? As a Third Growth Margaux that earned 98 points and the #1 Wine of the Year distinction from James Suckling, along with 95–97+ from both Robert Parker's Wine Advocate and Jeb Dunnuck, the 2022 positions as a premium classified Bordeaux that delivers critical acclaim well above many peers at similar or higher price points within the 1855 hierarchy.

Why d'Issan 2022?

The 2022 vintage represents a genuine turning point for Château d'Issan. The new small-vat vinification facility — used here for the first time — allowed the estate to isolate and optimize each parcel of its vineyard with a granularity that was previously impossible, and the results spoke loudly enough to earn the top spot on James Suckling's 2025 global ranking. Scores of 95–97+ from both Wine Advocate and Jeb Dunnuck reinforce that this is not an outlier opinion but a consensus breakthrough. For collectors and Bordeaux enthusiasts, this is the vintage where d'Issan's long trajectory of quiet improvement became impossible to ignore.