2019 Château d'Issan
Community Tasting Note
Motz wrote:
Wednesday, May 10, 2023 - Five 2019 Left Bank Wines, First through Fifth Growths: The surprise of the tasting, given recent, somewhat underwhelming, vintages. Compelling purity and freshness throughout. The second prettiest bouquet of the tasting, yet by terroir, it aligned most closely with the Margaux, perhaps unsurprisingly so. Marginally more purple fruited than red, harmoniously balanced. In a word: Classic!
Striking composure and precision on the palate. It put my mind to the style that faded significantly after 2005. Balanced in all phases and transitions. Deft extraction, judicious oak treatment, seamless alcohol (particularly compared to the boozy '18 vintage, tasted recently). Medium plus acid, medium tannins; this is built to age. Likely to shut down in the near term, for no less than five to seven years. The most impressive d'Issan I have tasted in recent memory, paralleled only by the '10 vintage. 94-95.
EHC placed this first, on account of its overall balance. I placed it third, behind the Pontet-Canet and Margaux.
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2 comments have been posted
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Comment posted by Claymonster:
5/13/2023 9:24:00 AM - Great tasting. Thanks for the write up and notes. Is there something about this particular Issan that leads you to believe it is going to slumber for several years, or is it a pattern following past vintages?
Comment posted by Motz:
5/13/2023 9:48:00 AM - Hello CM: My assessment is based on how tightly wound it is, including its significant, ripe, tannic substance. Recent vintages, comparatively, have been more open-knit. As noted, this made the biggest impression of any d'Issan since 2010. Cheers!