Always a reliable, beautiful aged Bordeaux from one of my favorite producers. Elegant, sweet and expressive, showing nice age. This was better than most of the previous bottles from this case.
Of all the Bordeaux vintages I have tasted of late I have found the 2012 the most uniform in accessibility. This is no different and is a real joy to taste. It’s in a great place to drink now, aromas of tobacco , cocoa and forest fungi. It’s not a blockbuster but it’s a highly seductive rendition and in a Bordeaux context great value for money.
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Drank the bottle over two days with no decanting whatsoever. First day I thought it was still bit tannic and a bit hollow in the mid palate, also the fruit was being overpowered by barnyard aromas. Second day different story, the fruit was shining together with some tobacco and coffee aromas and a much smoother mouth feeling. Very nice. I am sure this still has some gas in the tank for the next 5-10 years+. At the moment I would decant.
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Boldly coffee and mocha on the nose, with just a bare hint of green adding complexity. Lively and vivid on the palate with dark fruit and coffee showing through. Substantial structure. Just opened and feels like it can go much farther.
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Brought one of these back home to Dublin, Ireland it's its like it got some reverse-bottle-shock - this was so elegant, full of subtlety and expression. The sweet fruit was quite satisfying. 94+pts.
Wonderful balance of opulence and restraint. Decanted and drank gradually over 3.5 hrs. Time (and food) coaxed the wine from closed to deeply satisfying. It drank well at first, but complexity took time to unfold. Palate was black fruits with spice. Cardamom and Mexican chocolate were such spices. Finely integrated tannins. Wonderful long finish. More cellar time might reward this wine, but might also dampen some of this lushness. Very rewarding wine now. Great winemaking to achieve this balance. 13% alcohol.
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Similar to previous notes. This is in a good spot now and likely won't improve much if at all with more age. The black fruit feels fully resolved. I think this showed better a few years ago (though perhaps this recent case I got from WineBid is a bit affected - not sure).
From the recent case I picked up on WineBid - I've some concern that the wines from this batch are a little off - the house style was not as apparent with this bottle, though everything resolved into a very pretty black fruit expression by the end of the bottle. I don't get any sense that there is further development to be had by more bottle age on this, but again not sure if it's just this batch or the vintage generally. The '12 d'Issan sang more the previous times I've tried it in previous years.
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Got another case of these as the '12 was one of the very best price/quality ratios for this Chateaux for me. This has the telltale hallmarks of the house style - a sweet core of dark fruit, along with a hint of smoke, leather; classy and delicious. The power is starting to wane though, and I doubt there may be much if any benefits to ageing this further. I wish I could compare it to what the '05 and '06 taste like now - two other personal favorite vintages of this wine. One to seek out, though recent vintages of this may be better still, with more power.
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Another superb bottle during our blind tasting dinner on 2903022. Garnet pour with slight bricking. Plenty of primary fruits - plums, blackberries, cassis followed with earthy, gravel and some graphite nose. My guess was an aged Pessac but was delighted that this is from another appellation. Savory finish, polished tannins & mouthfeel with minerality lingering finish
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When I last tasted this wine (about 3 months ago) I gave it a 94+. Today it seemed to have improved a bit (deep purple, great bouquet). A friend said he would give it a 96. He might be right, but for now I am giving it 95+ points.
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Not rated. Tight and crampy right now. But has all the qualities. I would wait another five years. We just opened and poured. Towards the end of the evening it started to open up a bit and the bitter sour flavours were toned down, showing promise for the future. Great structure and acidity and dense fruit. Confirming my view on the 2012 vintage as a bit of an unheralded vintage.
Nota Bene: this was a gift from the winery and was bottled early for a Union des Grand Cru tour in 2013 so has not received same time on oak barrels as the proper wine.
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Redwood Sorrel/Western Huckleberry, sea drift dominate the olfactory landscape. Ceiling paste and passion flower. Engine oil, Camaro 1965. Leather root beer plus all the food (fromager d'Affinois truffes, perigord black truffles mit Schwarzen truffleln aus dem perigord) we ate it with (also Bomba Calabrese, Marcona truffle almonds, oil-cured black olives and sun-kissed dried Liberty Apples.
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Opened the 2012 D’Issan for a friends birthday. After an hour in the decanter, we had our first taste. The wine was dark ruby in color. The nose was beautiful! Dark cherries, coffee, tobacco and wet leaves. At first taste the flavors were muted but after about 2.5 hours the wine really came to life. Palate was dark cherries, dark chocolate and some leather. So glad I have 6 more bottles.
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drank from a half bottle with two old mates sat on a hill top half way through our walk on a beautiful spring day. perfect. score it 92 on the wine alone but add the location and the company a 96.
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From a half-bottle, decanted a couple of hours before serving. There's some sediment, so decanting is recommended.
Medium deep-red colour, little sign of browning. Lovely fragrant Margaux nose, which jumps out of the glass and really holds your attention. On the palate it's attractive, but a little lacking in concentration. Mid-weight, with tannins nicely resolved. It has an excellent, long finish which echoes the fragrance of the bouquet.
A very enjoyable Margaux, fully ready to drink. No hurry, though.
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Margaux elegance, lighter tannins, moderation, finesse. D'Issan really delivers in the 2012 vintage. Opened 2 hrs before dinner, did not decant, went well with lamb chops.
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Decanted ~1h. Consumed over 3 days. A salted caramel taste with topping of sweet spices, a polished cherry fruit, a bit of green bell pepper and menthol and pinches of black tea and pencil shavings. A juicy, fresh berry fruit palate larded with sweet notes. Tannins still with quite a bit of grip, but feeling pretty smooth. The caramel touch was fabulous and pretty unique even for an estate that is mostly known for its traditional, classic style. But at the same time it is a bit of a one-trick pony as well.
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Black and blue fruits, plum, slight forest floor. Full body, smooth and supple. Balanced with velvety tannins and medium length finish. In a great place.
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I think you can learn more about a wine whilst tasting within the perimeters of the vintage. Ch D'Issan in 2012 is an impressive offering currently drinking beautifully big and bolder than I was expecting.The aromas are classic Margaux of cassis, some liquorice and violets, There is a lovely harmony of balance on the velvety palate which is full of flavour.. The finish is not the longest but it is incredibly satisfying and a real triumph for the vintage, great value.
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Deep ruby. Lovely cherry, raspberry sherbet, zesty nose. Lily fragrance and woody spice delicately in the background. Lovely on the palate already, tannins well intergrated and providing structure without harshness. Lovely and fresh and uplifting. Very nice glass of wine! Upside from here in the coming years.
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Delicious as always. Lovely, open black and blue fruit with excellent dryness on the finish. Such a treat. One of my very favorites of the '12 vintage. This has gone up in price a lot though.
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My kind of wine! Pondering a purchase of the 15 and 16, I thought it wise to see how an off year could be. Simply superb aromatics wrapped around a lovely core of tobacco and soft red fruits. Offering an abundance of secondary attributes and a soft smoky finish that lingered like mist on the water.... drink now thru 2030.
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Decanted one hour. Served with burgers. Inky, opaque. Violet and blackberries, leather and dirt. Tannins resolving but present. Drinking well now but years ahead of it.
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A bried 45min decant did the job. Dark cherry, bramble berry, leather, dried herbs and mint and a touch of peppery spices. Intense and very classical nose. Dense palate with well integrated tannin, in great balance with fresh acidtiy. In a really good spot right now, but also plenty of aging potential left. I prefer the SHL 2012 which I had just the night beforel, but this is the thing for anybody who loves his Bordeaux in a classical style, still fruit-forward but with tertial aromatics kicking in.
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Love the Margaux clarets. After an hour decant, this opened and was singing. Beautiful violets and spring flowers with a soft delivery. This producer has been on a roll since the 05 vintage.
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Quick decant. NYE 2019. A bit fuzzy in my New Years Day memory but this was nice, elegant BDX with more nuance and less power/drive than the Pauillacs and Saint Juliens I've had.
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So very Margaux. Great nose of mocca, rose, cassis, sweet wood, doesn't quite follow up on in the mouth. Liked '08 better. But very classial. As far as qpr goes I an't think of a better producer in Margaux or perhaps in all of Bordeaux.
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Decanted 2 hours prior to dinner tonight. Needed 2-3 more hours in my opinion. Roasted alder notes prevail on the nose; even at the 4 hour mark.
palate at the 4 hour mark is showing signs of integration and what this wine is capable of. Nice dark fruit, charred notes, long dark finish. Still needs time. I need to exercise patience and stay away from these for 5-10 years... Would buy again.
Would buy again.
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Surely my favorite Bordeaux of this vintage, at least anywhere near it's pricepoint. Sweet smokey tones abound. Wish I bought a case or two of this on release. Not far from the mind-bending '05. Drinking great already.
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Likely my favorite '12 Bordeaux that's not a crazy price, this always exceeds any expectations one could have at the pricepoint. One of my go-to producers generally but they hit the ball out of the park in '12. This is so enticing, so elegant and expressive with so much beauty and wonderful acidity. Glad I have more but wish I bought way more when I had the chance.
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DRC tasting group last bottle tasted. WS got the roasted alder notes right and this wine stood out with that aroma. It was very interesting and not at all unpleasant. Palate was nicely structured and showed nice fruit under the still to be fully integrated oak. Finished long. Needs at least 5-10 more years. Would buy again.
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Am starting to realize that this is one my all time favorite Bordeaux. I really like this producer and this particular vintage is extraordinary. Definitely a cut above for the vintage and in some ways even better than the '10. This is so elegant, lovely pencil shavings some camphor and creme de casis, lovely acidity too bringing a freshness and lift. Drinking fabulously already, this is beguiling, deft, with energy and verve but also composed and subtle. Glad I have more and glad I sought about to find more when it was a more reasonable price. Well worth trying and even at $60+ worth the price of admission. While it will continue to evolve secondary and tertiary notes it is already singing like a bird. 96+pts.
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Approachable, more open than last year's bottle. Decanted for a couple hours. Interesting evolution, initially very distinct layered flavors and nose; earth, violet, graphite, dark cherry, creme de cassis, tobacco coffee, and cocoa. Gained amplitude with time. Medium (-) body with beautiful acidity and an exquisite dark, nuanced finish.
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Decanted for 60 minutes. Deep purple in color, this wine reveals aromas of tobacco, blackberry, blueberry and graphite. The mouth feel brought tight, sexy, approachable tannins as well as rhubarb and saddle leather elements. The finish is well balanced and long. 13% abv.
Purchased for $44US, this was an impressive example of Margaux from a quality producer. I wish I had bought more.
Imported by Blicker Pierce Wine Merchants, Napa, CA.
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Once again, the 2012 beats expectations. And this isn't even from the right bank. Just beautiful full purple fruit flavors. Lush and hedonistic and ready to go, yet it's still got earth and pencil shavings. Not a whole lot of acidity and the tannins dont hurt. This is lovely. Buy again on sight. Only one left.
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Beautiful in all respects. Love this wine, and probably my very favorite Bordeaux under $100 from this vintage. Wish I bought way more. So balanced - a slight earthy dryness on the finish, with lovely sweet tannins up front, slightly dark profile, dark black and blue fruit. Pure and delicious. Effortless, and drinking just great now.
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Opened and double decanted 3 hours prior to drinking then decanted again at the restaurant 1 hour prior.
It's hard to know what to say about this - it's absolutely classic Margaux: fruit, tannins and (once it's been open long enough) just a little acidity. I like it very much and at about US$50 I think it's OK value, but there's nothing much that stands out about it.
However, sometimes I just feel like a very good Margaux without wanting to be surprised, and for that this is perfect.
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P'nPd - 30 min in glass: Dark crimson in the glass. Lovely but soft aromatics of black cherry, lead pencil, cedar box. Tight on the palate (expected), but black and red fruit, secondary notes of cedar and burnt tobacco. Medium weight on the palate. Tannic, short finish early, but rounded out and lengthened with slow ox. Potential for improvement.
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Similar to previous notes, well-balanced, beautiful sweet fruit, coffee and milk chocolate tones abound. Delicious and one to load up on by the case, though the price has gone up alas.
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Similar to previous notes. I actually bought another six at a good price. This is a delightful, well-balanced and super appealing Bordeaux. it has some classic Margaux aspects - finesse, not too powerful, elegance, and delicious left-bank classic creme de cassis. What's not to like. Drinking great already. Not sure if there's much to be gained by more bottle age as the tanins feel fully-integrated and more bottle age may mean that the power it has may wane.
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Seems like a more new world wine as it’s smooth velvet entry lacks the tart hard experience of wines from a decade ago. I should think that it will grow a point as it slumbers another 5-7. As time passed in the glass, the scents became more cedar infused, yet a watery finish developed....
Night #2: wow what an improvement! Way more body and weight, a fuller voluptuous wine with a deep core. I may go get another tranche of this as clearly it went thru and awkward stage after opening last night.
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2012-Bdx leverer igjen - et par timer med luft og Issan er helt strålende: klassisk Margaux-eleganse og så lettdrikkelig at flaska blir nesten for fort borte.
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375ml. Nose has nice floral element with cherries, incense. Palate more rich, with blackberry jam, cassis, mocha. Solid balance. Finish was very good with deep core of black cherries and leather. Impressive for the vintage.
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Lovely elegant, lean profile, cloaked in chocolate, mocha and black fruit. Delicious and classy as always. Still probably my favorite of the '12 vintage.
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I served this in my wine course. Low pitched nose with plenty of dark notes of graphite and tar mixed in with a bit of background cassis. Fruit and graphite continue in the mouth, with both good acidity and tannins on the surprisingly long finish. Hands down winner among the Bordeaux of the evening despite being from a lesser vintage.
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(Decanter Fine Wine 2017) :: N: expressive, great balance, floral, ample soil and leather. P: ripe, balanced, fine but strong tannin frame. Med+ finish.
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Paid $55. The first taste after opening is bitter. But after an hour, there was a rush to finish the bottle. So do not taste it after opening, wait an hour, grill a New York steak, then enjoy. A classic Bordeaux.
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Must be one of the best '12 Bordeaux. This is delicious right out of the bottle; lovely milk chocolate profile, there is a slight earthiness and acidity, this is just so well composed. This is missing a bit of weight and power but otherwise nothing is awry. It has the typical d'Issan house feel - doesn't have the power or intensity that the '05 or '10 has - overall might be closer to the '06 though lighter still, but with more weightlessness. This is the kind of Bordeaux that embarasses anything from Napa at <$55 and is a perfect wine to convert Bordeaux-sceptics. While many Bordeaux have some austere aspect, which can be part of the charm, this one is just pure deliciousness.
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Perhaps entering a dumb phase. Muted on the nose initially, though creamy lead pencil with lots of time in the glass. Can sense the fruit core deep within, but just lacking oomph on the front palate. Something watery about it. Not much tannin, and lacking acidity and tension. Makes me doubt how long it can last.
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MW Institute 2012 Bordeaux Tasting: Tight nose, with some red cherry and berries along with lightly earthy oak. Good balance on the palate, the fruit profile is lean but the elements of the wine work well together. Very good.
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Much of this wine is still being held in reserve, yet it's hard to not recognize all the sweet, ripe, dark berries, polished, elegant, tannins, freshness, length and complexity. But you should wait at least 5 more years before popping a cork.
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Again, one of the best '12 I've had, at least at this stage of development, though this will get better still. Lovely sweetness, masses of blackberry and a hint of blueberry fruit, alongside a big creamy milk chocolate tone. Delicious, with some power and elegance. This was one to load up on, but the price has since gone up. This is worth it at about $55 or less, but there would be competition north of that.
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MW 2012 Annual Bordeaux Tasting San Francisco, nice red and black fruit, cassis, same on the palate, medium body, enjoy the next 10 years, fairly fruit forward, maybe 2 years to peak, medium finish.
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I have tasted quite a few wines from the 2012 vintage and from what I have sampled its a year to get excited about. Quite a few wines are extraordinary value and are currently drinking beautifully and D'Issan is quite the ticket. A voluptous silky texture in the mouth so elegant the nose is highly appealing also which will develop nuances with time. I'd expect this wine to improve further and could well merit a further few points down the road. Really delicious !!!!!! Don't feel guilty of pulling a cork now enjoy this beauty in its youth.
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Similar to previous notes, this is very apealing. There is a bright sweetness to the profile, with leather and an earthy, slightly smoaky feel this has a 'house' tone of sweet, earthy leather. Easily one of the best '12 wines I've tried; so I bought quite a few bottles of this. 93+pts.
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Surprisingly modern in style and tastes like a wine from a warmer vintage. I can't say I was entirely on board with this, as this wine lacked some of the flavors I associated with traditional Margaux, such as mineral and floral notes, and was generally brasher than I would have exoected. Blind, this was indistinguishable from a Cali Cab, including an unhealthy amount of oak. A decent Cali Cab, to be sure, but disappointing given what I was expecting.
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Hard to give this a 9 out of 10, but it's lovely Bordeaux from Margaux. A third growth designation makes sense; especially in light of being a 2012 vintage. After a 3hr decant, flowers, cassis, and graphite explode from the glass. Light on the palate, this is distinctively feminine. Worth checking out. "Getting better" from here on out is a term of art.
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Wet leather, freshly ground rock, cherry reduction and cassis. Decanted for an hour: this is very approachable. A finish that sails on, with feathery, layered tannins; with a palate of dimension. Textbook Margaux from a producer with a proven pedigree. Drink 2017 -.
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The wine has come back to life - my last few bottles tasted dead. Now this is a bit of an oak powerhouse... very much cedar and toast, which is currently a little too prominent... time will make this work... try another in 2 years...
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While I enjoyed this, it definitely needs allot more time to fully integrate the cedar/woody notes on the nose and palate. There's cedar, dark cherries,, black raspberry, vanilla and tobacco leaf on the nose, similar palate but the core wood notes are hard to deal with at this point
Dark still purplish ruby red, medium body. On the nose - lots of oak, dark berries, spices. Palate is still not very balanced and pretty tannic. Need more time in the bottle or in the decanter...
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I like this bordeaux. It's more of a mid-weight style. Crimson red with darker hanging fruit/topical earth notes. Well balanced with gritty texture and great focus. All around good but I question the longevity given the perceived thin-ness of the vintage.
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Dark ruby/crimson with shades of purple. Very aromatic nose with cedar, spicebox, some leather and black cherries, blueberry and currants rounded up by crushed flowers. The pallate is midweight with leather, spice, cherries, blueberry nice acid lift and silky tannins that lead to a nice, dry long finish.
I don't think it's going to improve much more but should drink well for another 3-5 years.
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One of the best I've had from this vintage. Beautiful, sweet, smoakey leather tones. Drinking great already. Not the concentration of the '05 or '10 but very nice for the price.
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Deep ruby, borderline purple in the glass. The nose is jam filled with hints of dark cherry, coffee and just a little wet stone and smoke. The palate hits with fresh, young fruit and those wonderful Margaux style crushed flowers. The wine is medium bodied and surprisingly well integrated. The finish is medium/long and migrates satisfyingly from front to back of palate. Very successful wine for the vintage.
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Tasted blind after a two-hour decant. The color is purple, medium (+) to deep in intensity, with no sign of aging. The nose is laden with oak, with burnt wood and espresso aromas dominating. Some ripe red currant, black plum and dried herb aromas manage to peek through after energetic swirling. The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, tannins and alcohol. The wine was fairly tight and monolithic, which made me think of a young Brunello. I just think this wine is much too young to drink at this point.
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During a merchant tasting. Medium purple. A very toasty nose with lots of vanilla and bakery. Nice to smell but a bit over the top on the oak may be. Nice fruit on entry, soft tannins but also a bit shy on the mid palate. This is aromatically the antipode to the Prieure Lichine. If you like it toasty stay here, if you like more of a blue fruit touch go to the former.
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2012 is proving to be a nice surprise. Perhaps a somewhat underrated vintage. D'Issan too is very fruity and charming. Great nose although lacking some depth on the taste.
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Elegant, soft, fresh and forward, this medium bodied wine delivers an open, sweet, delicious splash of black cherry, vanilla and plums with a silky, elegant, fresh mouth feel.
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From a blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon and 33% Merlot, the wine reached 13.24% alcohol. Dark ruby in color with coffee, truffle, licorice, tobacco, black cherry and smoke in the nose. Soft in texture with a supple core of cool black cherries and dark chocolate in the finish. 90-93 Pts
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1/31/2024 - John McCabe wrote: 94 Points
Always a reliable, beautiful aged Bordeaux from one of my favorite producers. Elegant, sweet and expressive, showing nice age. This was better than most of the previous bottles from this case.
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1/21/2024 - stkilda wrote: 94 Points
Of all the Bordeaux vintages I have tasted of late I have found the 2012 the most uniform in accessibility. This is no different and is a real joy to taste. It’s in a great place to drink now, aromas of tobacco , cocoa and forest fungi. It’s not a blockbuster but it’s a highly seductive rendition and in a Bordeaux context great value for money.
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1/1/2024 - Wine.ape Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drank the bottle over two days with no decanting whatsoever. First day I thought it was still bit tannic and a bit hollow in the mid palate, also the fruit was being overpowered by barnyard aromas. Second day different story, the fruit was shining together with some tobacco and coffee aromas and a much smoother mouth feeling. Very nice. I am sure this still has some gas in the tank for the next 5-10 years+. At the moment I would decant.
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9/30/2023 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Boldly coffee and mocha on the nose, with just a bare hint of green adding complexity. Lively and vivid on the palate with dark fruit and coffee showing through. Substantial structure. Just opened and feels like it can go much farther.
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9/2/2023 - John McCabe wrote: 93 Points
Working my way through this case; beautiful as always.
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8/25/2023 - John McCabe wrote: 94 Points
Brought one of these back home to Dublin, Ireland it's its like it got some reverse-bottle-shock - this was so elegant, full of subtlety and expression. The sweet fruit was quite satisfying. 94+pts.
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7/15/2023 - SeaCellar Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wonderful balance of opulence and restraint. Decanted and drank gradually over 3.5 hrs. Time (and food) coaxed the wine from closed to deeply satisfying. It drank well at first, but complexity took time to unfold. Palate was black fruits with spice. Cardamom and Mexican chocolate were such spices. Finely integrated tannins. Wonderful long finish. More cellar time might reward this wine, but might also dampen some of this lushness. Very rewarding wine now. Great winemaking to achieve this balance. 13% alcohol.
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7/9/2023 - FiggySmalls Likes this wine:
drinking very well on pnp. resolved and youthful but not "developed."
this has enough bones to repay another 9-10 years but mine won't make it that far.
soft tannin (with pleasant raspy greenness on the back end) and medium-minus acid.
nice ripe blackberry, toasty oak, sexy, but correct and not lipsticked up
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6/27/2023 - John McCabe wrote: 93 Points
Similar to previous notes. This is in a good spot now and likely won't improve much if at all with more age. The black fruit feels fully resolved. I think this showed better a few years ago (though perhaps this recent case I got from WineBid is a bit affected - not sure).
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5/18/2023 - John McCabe wrote: 93 Points
Very open-knit, could be mistaken for an aged Napa cab in many respects. The fruit is quite resolved. 93+pts.
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5/7/2023 - John McCabe wrote: 93 Points
From the recent case I picked up on WineBid - I've some concern that the wines from this batch are a little off - the house style was not as apparent with this bottle, though everything resolved into a very pretty black fruit expression by the end of the bottle. I don't get any sense that there is further development to be had by more bottle age on this, but again not sure if it's just this batch or the vintage generally. The '12 d'Issan sang more the previous times I've tried it in previous years.
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4/29/2023 - John McCabe wrote: 94 Points
Got another case of these as the '12 was one of the very best price/quality ratios for this Chateaux for me. This has the telltale hallmarks of the house style - a sweet core of dark fruit, along with a hint of smoke, leather; classy and delicious. The power is starting to wane though, and I doubt there may be much if any benefits to ageing this further. I wish I could compare it to what the '05 and '06 taste like now - two other personal favorite vintages of this wine. One to seek out, though recent vintages of this may be better still, with more power.
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1/2/2023 - VoVo Likes this wine: 93 Points
A perfect pairing with steak and potatoes on a wintry evening.
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7/14/2022 - kidsmurf2000 wrote: 94 Points
A good bottle!
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6/3/2022 - kidsmurf2000 wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured, it as nice, but nothing spectacular
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4/10/2022 - no leashes wrote: 91 Points
Delicious blue and black fruit, pencil lead and earth tones. Beautifully balanced, elegant and smooth.
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3/29/2022 - Romz Likes this wine: 90 Points
Another superb bottle during our blind tasting dinner on 2903022. Garnet pour with slight bricking. Plenty of primary fruits - plums, blackberries, cassis followed with earthy, gravel and some graphite nose. My guess was an aged Pessac but was delighted that this is from another appellation. Savory finish, polished tannins & mouthfeel with minerality lingering finish
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3/21/2022 - kidsmurf2000 wrote: 93 Points
Great, aged and ready to go
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1/9/2022 - BradA Likes this wine: 92 Points
Excellent. Nose of camphor and eucalyptus. Great balance and long finish. A worthy producer and one to cellar for enjoyment in the years ahead.
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12/28/2021 - kidsmurf2000 wrote: 92 Points
Not nearly as great as the last bottle, just an enjoyable Bordeaux here.
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12/14/2021 - JS199 wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful nose that reminds me of Spring. However, on the palate, this appears to have shut down. 92+
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12/13/2021 - rthpal Likes this wine: 95 Points
When I last tasted this wine (about 3 months ago) I gave it a 94+. Today it seemed to have improved a bit (deep purple, great bouquet). A friend said he would give it a 96. He might be right, but for now I am giving it 95+ points.
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12/5/2021 - Omar Khayyam wrote:
Not rated. Tight and crampy right now. But has all the qualities. I would wait another five years. We just opened and poured. Towards the end of the evening it started to open up a bit and the bitter sour flavours were toned down, showing promise for the future. Great structure and acidity and dense fruit. Confirming my view on the 2012 vintage as a bit of an unheralded vintage.
Nota Bene: this was a gift from the winery and was bottled early for a Union des Grand Cru tour in 2013 so has not received same time on oak barrels as the proper wine.
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11/13/2021 - kidsmurf2000 wrote: 96 Points
Incredible, perfectly aged right now.
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11/7/2021 - werdna39 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Wonderful nose and delicious right now. My last of 4 bottles, so I just bought another 6-pack!
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10/24/2021 - Peter S. wrote: 94 Points
Redwood Sorrel/Western Huckleberry, sea drift dominate the olfactory landscape. Ceiling paste and passion flower. Engine oil, Camaro 1965. Leather root beer plus all the food (fromager d'Affinois truffes, perigord black truffles mit Schwarzen truffleln aus dem perigord) we ate it with (also Bomba Calabrese, Marcona truffle almonds, oil-cured black olives and sun-kissed dried Liberty Apples.
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10/5/2021 - rthpal Likes this wine: 94 Points
Last tasted about a month ago. Medium to full-bodied, black currant fruitiness. I gave it 94+, a really good score for the year.
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9/19/2021 - StoffyVino wrote:
92 points - Medium body with strong minerality, earth tones and a bit of mushroom dominating over the dark fruit
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7/4/2021 - SpitzNV Likes this wine: 92 Points
Brambly, earthy and spicy. In that order. Best when given a few hours to breathe.
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5/9/2021 - SPLJEG Does not like this wine: 85 Points
Terrible vintage of a really good Chateau.
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5/8/2021 - Snowryeder wrote: 94 Points
Strong fruit flavor of black/red berries, green peppers and nice acidity. Tannins resolved, enjoyable!
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4/25/2021 - Maxime Descoteaux Likes this wine: 98 Points
De la bombe. Beau nez, beau en bouche. Peu vieillir encore mais déjà super super
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4/18/2021 - WittOnWine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Opened the 2012 D’Issan for a friends birthday. After an hour in the decanter, we had our first taste. The wine was dark ruby in color. The nose was beautiful! Dark cherries, coffee, tobacco and wet leaves. At first taste the flavors were muted but after about 2.5 hours the wine really came to life. Palate was dark cherries, dark chocolate and some leather. So glad I have 6 more bottles.
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4/4/2021 - Buddrow Likes this wine: 92 Points
drank from a half bottle with two old mates sat on a hill top half way through our walk on a beautiful spring day. perfect. score it 92 on the wine alone but add the location and the company a 96.
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4/2/2021 - Richard Nabavi Likes this wine: 91 Points
From a half-bottle, decanted a couple of hours before serving. There's some sediment, so decanting is recommended.
Medium deep-red colour, little sign of browning. Lovely fragrant Margaux nose, which jumps out of the glass and really holds your attention. On the palate it's attractive, but a little lacking in concentration. Mid-weight, with tannins nicely resolved. It has an excellent, long finish which echoes the fragrance of the bouquet.
A very enjoyable Margaux, fully ready to drink. No hurry, though.
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3/27/2021 - R Z Likes this wine: 93 Points
Margaux elegance, lighter tannins, moderation, finesse.
D'Issan really delivers in the 2012 vintage. Opened 2 hrs before dinner, did not decant, went well with lamb chops.
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3/13/2021 - glassofhans Likes this wine: 92 Points
Violets perfumed the air, nice rich fruits, not overly powerful, but exactly what you’d expect from a good Margaux
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1/30/2021 - sirpat00 wrote: 93 Points
Decanted ~1h. Consumed over 3 days. A salted caramel taste with topping of sweet spices, a polished cherry fruit, a bit of green bell pepper and menthol and pinches of black tea and pencil shavings. A juicy, fresh berry fruit palate larded with sweet notes. Tannins still with quite a bit of grip, but feeling pretty smooth. The caramel touch was fabulous and pretty unique even for an estate that is mostly known for its traditional, classic style. But at the same time it is a bit of a one-trick pony as well.
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1/29/2021 - MLA148 wrote: 72 Points
Too much funk.
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1/17/2021 - mvande21 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Black and blue fruits, plum, slight forest floor. Full body, smooth and supple. Balanced with velvety tannins and medium length finish. In a great place.
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12/17/2020 - stkilda Likes this wine: 94 Points
I think you can learn more about a wine whilst tasting within the perimeters of the vintage. Ch D'Issan in 2012 is an impressive offering currently drinking beautifully big and bolder than I was expecting.The aromas are classic Margaux of cassis, some liquorice and violets, There is a lovely harmony of balance on the velvety palate which is full of flavour.. The finish is not the longest but it is incredibly satisfying and a real triumph for the vintage, great value.
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12/1/2020 - dchain Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep ruby. Lovely cherry, raspberry sherbet, zesty nose. Lily fragrance and woody spice delicately in the background. Lovely on the palate already, tannins well intergrated and providing structure without harshness. Lovely and fresh and uplifting. Very nice glass of wine! Upside from here in the coming years.
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11/21/2020 - John McCabe wrote: 94 Points
My last of these. One of my very favorite Bordeaux. Always delicious and captivating.
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10/31/2020 - fats1976 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still has a bit of funk on it, but lovey now nonetheless. Perhaps another year for it to come together fully.
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9/12/2020 - John McCabe wrote: 95 Points
Delicious as always. Lovely, open black and blue fruit with excellent dryness on the finish. Such a treat. One of my very favorites of the '12 vintage. This has gone up in price a lot though.
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7/8/2020 - BradA Likes this wine: 92 Points
My kind of wine! Pondering a purchase of the 15 and 16, I thought it wise to see how an off year could be. Simply superb aromatics wrapped around a lovely core of tobacco and soft red fruits. Offering an abundance of secondary attributes and a soft smoky finish that lingered like mist on the water.... drink now thru 2030.
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7/4/2020 - agosain Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted one hour. Served with burgers. Inky, opaque. Violet and blackberries, leather and dirt. Tannins resolving but present. Drinking well now but years ahead of it.
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6/22/2020 - sirpat00 wrote: 94 Points
A bried 45min decant did the job. Dark cherry, bramble berry, leather, dried herbs and mint and a touch of peppery spices. Intense and very classical nose. Dense palate with well integrated tannin, in great balance with fresh acidtiy. In a really good spot right now, but also plenty of aging potential left. I prefer the SHL 2012 which I had just the night beforel, but this is the thing for anybody who loves his Bordeaux in a classical style, still fruit-forward but with tertial aromatics kicking in.
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6/17/2020 - JS199 wrote: 93 Points
Love the Margaux clarets. After an hour decant, this opened and was singing. Beautiful violets and spring flowers with a soft delivery. This producer has been on a roll since the 05 vintage.
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4/12/2020 - bstahl07 Likes this wine:
Very good Margaux! Deep purple and great tannins
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4/3/2020 - ccarlucci Likes this wine: 88 Points
Needs to decant 60-90 minutes to open up. Earthy, mushrooms give way to a subtle floral note in this bottle.
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1/23/2020 - Snowey Likes this wine:
Love this! Smooth tannins. Good amount of fruit. Reminds me of how a nice left bank should be.
Lovely to drink now. No comment on how it will develop.
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12/31/2019 - alexfrank Likes this wine: 90 Points
Quick decant. NYE 2019. A bit fuzzy in my New Years Day memory but this was nice, elegant BDX with more nuance and less power/drive than the Pauillacs and Saint Juliens I've had.
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12/24/2019 - jrh82 Likes this wine: 91 Points
So very Margaux. Great nose of mocca, rose, cassis, sweet wood, doesn't quite follow up on in the mouth. Liked '08 better. But very classial. As far as qpr goes I an't think of a better producer in Margaux or perhaps in all of Bordeaux.
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12/24/2019 - hiker_guy Likes this wine:
Decanted 2 hours prior to dinner tonight. Needed 2-3 more hours in my opinion.
Roasted alder notes prevail on the nose; even at the 4 hour mark.
palate at the 4 hour mark is showing signs of integration and what this wine is capable of. Nice dark fruit, charred notes, long dark finish. Still needs time. I need to exercise patience and stay away from these for 5-10 years...
Would buy again.
Would buy again.
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12/20/2019 - John McCabe wrote: 95 Points
Stunning as always. One of my favorite Margaux, and one of the very best Bordeaux from the '12 vintage. So elegant.
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11/15/2019 - John McCabe wrote: 95 Points
Surely my favorite Bordeaux of this vintage, at least anywhere near it's pricepoint. Sweet smokey tones abound. Wish I bought a case or two of this on release. Not far from the mind-bending '05. Drinking great already.
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10/28/2019 - WineWright Does not like this wine: 82 Points
Opened two bottles. Nice nose of coffee grounds but both were overly pungent, almost sour.
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9/16/2019 - John McCabe wrote: 96 Points
Likely my favorite '12 Bordeaux that's not a crazy price, this always exceeds any expectations one could have at the pricepoint. One of my go-to producers generally but they hit the ball out of the park in '12. This is so enticing, so elegant and expressive with so much beauty and wonderful acidity. Glad I have more but wish I bought way more when I had the chance.
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8/6/2019 - hiker_guy Likes this wine:
DRC tasting group
last bottle tasted.
WS got the roasted alder notes right and this wine stood out with that aroma. It was very interesting and not at all unpleasant.
Palate was nicely structured and showed nice fruit under the still to be fully integrated oak. Finished long.
Needs at least 5-10 more years.
Would buy again.
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7/13/2019 - John McCabe wrote: 96 Points
Am starting to realize that this is one my all time favorite Bordeaux. I really like this producer and this particular vintage is extraordinary. Definitely a cut above for the vintage and in some ways even better than the '10. This is so elegant, lovely pencil shavings some camphor and creme de casis, lovely acidity too bringing a freshness and lift. Drinking fabulously already, this is beguiling, deft, with energy and verve but also composed and subtle. Glad I have more and glad I sought about to find more when it was a more reasonable price. Well worth trying and even at $60+ worth the price of admission. While it will continue to evolve secondary and tertiary notes it is already singing like a bird. 96+pts.
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2/9/2019 - Smatk Likes this wine: 92 Points
Approachable, more open than last year's bottle. Decanted for a couple hours. Interesting evolution, initially very distinct layered flavors and nose; earth, violet, graphite, dark cherry, creme de cassis, tobacco coffee, and cocoa. Gained amplitude with time. Medium (-) body with beautiful acidity and an exquisite dark, nuanced finish.
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12/31/2018 - Bjorn62 wrote: 92 Points
Still young, need to keep in the cellar for another 2-3 years. Opens up with air.
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12/25/2018 - cuffthis Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted for 60 minutes. Deep purple in color, this wine reveals aromas of tobacco, blackberry, blueberry and graphite. The mouth feel brought tight, sexy, approachable tannins as well as rhubarb and saddle leather elements. The finish is well balanced and long. 13% abv.
Purchased for $44US, this was an impressive example of Margaux from a quality producer. I wish I had bought more.
Imported by Blicker Pierce Wine Merchants, Napa, CA.
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12/25/2018 - jeffreylubowski Likes this wine: 95 Points
Once again, the 2012 beats expectations. And this isn't even from the right bank. Just beautiful full purple fruit flavors. Lush and hedonistic and ready to go, yet it's still got earth and pencil shavings. Not a whole lot of acidity and the tannins dont hurt. This is lovely. Buy again on sight. Only one left.
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12/8/2018 - eddie100 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Classic margaux. Ready to drink. Pure and in full presence. You can not ignore the after taste.
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11/29/2018 - John McCabe wrote: 95 Points
Beautiful in all respects. Love this wine, and probably my very favorite Bordeaux under $100 from this vintage. Wish I bought way more. So balanced - a slight earthy dryness on the finish, with lovely sweet tannins up front, slightly dark profile, dark black and blue fruit. Pure and delicious. Effortless, and drinking just great now.
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11/17/2018 - Paul852 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Opened and double decanted 3 hours prior to drinking then decanted again at the restaurant 1 hour prior.
It's hard to know what to say about this - it's absolutely classic Margaux: fruit, tannins and (once it's been open long enough) just a little acidity. I like it very much and at about US$50 I think it's OK value, but there's nothing much that stands out about it.
However, sometimes I just feel like a very good Margaux without wanting to be surprised, and for that this is perfect.
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10/20/2018 - John McCabe wrote: 93 Points
Not quite as good as previous bottles - was slightly congested by comparison, but still attractive. Sweetness, some earthiness and creme de casis.
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9/15/2018 - vino_per_tutti Likes this wine: 92 Points
P'nPd - 30 min in glass: Dark crimson in the glass. Lovely but soft aromatics of black cherry, lead pencil, cedar box. Tight on the palate (expected), but black and red fruit, secondary notes of cedar and burnt tobacco. Medium weight on the palate. Tannic, short finish early, but rounded out and lengthened with slow ox. Potential for improvement.
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9/6/2018 - John McCabe wrote: 94 Points
Similar to previous notes, well-balanced, beautiful sweet fruit, coffee and milk chocolate tones abound. Delicious and one to load up on by the case, though the price has gone up alas.
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8/14/2018 - John McCabe wrote: 95 Points
Similar to previous notes. I actually bought another six at a good price. This is a delightful, well-balanced and super appealing Bordeaux. it has some classic Margaux aspects - finesse, not too powerful, elegance, and delicious left-bank classic creme de cassis. What's not to like. Drinking great already. Not sure if there's much to be gained by more bottle age as the tanins feel fully-integrated and more bottle age may mean that the power it has may wane.
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6/6/2018 - BradA Likes this wine: 91 Points
Seems like a more new world wine as it’s smooth velvet entry lacks the tart hard experience of wines from a decade ago. I should think that it will grow a point as it slumbers another 5-7. As time passed in the glass, the scents became more cedar infused, yet a watery finish developed....
Night #2: wow what an improvement! Way more body and weight, a fuller voluptuous wine with a deep core. I may go get another tranche of this as clearly it went thru and awkward stage after opening last night.
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5/13/2018 - Krokfjord Likes this wine: 91 Points
2012-Bdx leverer igjen - et par timer med luft og Issan er helt strålende: klassisk Margaux-eleganse og så lettdrikkelig at flaska blir nesten for fort borte.
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3/19/2018 - macker100 wrote: 92 Points
375ml. Nose has nice floral element with cherries, incense. Palate more rich, with blackberry jam, cassis, mocha. Solid balance. Finish was very good with deep core of black cherries and leather. Impressive for the vintage.
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2/13/2018 - John McCabe wrote: 94 Points
Lovely elegant, lean profile, cloaked in chocolate, mocha and black fruit. Delicious and classy as always. Still probably my favorite of the '12 vintage.
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1/28/2018 - juffer Likes this wine: 91 Points
I served this in my wine course. Low pitched nose with plenty of dark notes of graphite and tar mixed in with a bit of background cassis. Fruit and graphite continue in the mouth, with both good acidity and tannins on the surprisingly long finish. Hands down winner among the Bordeaux of the evening despite being from a lesser vintage.
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12/9/2017 - Phenol73 Likes this wine: 93 Points
(Decanter Fine Wine 2017) :: N: expressive, great balance, floral, ample soil and leather. P: ripe, balanced, fine but strong tannin frame. Med+ finish.
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11/28/2017 - Burgnick wrote: 89 Points
Nose has dark currant, cassis and oak. Palate is juicy, oaky and modern with sweet black and purple fruit. Good value to money.
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10/30/2017 - PSanDiego Likes this wine: 94 Points
Paid $55. The first taste after opening is bitter.
But after an hour, there was a rush to finish the bottle.
So do not taste it after opening, wait an hour, grill a New York steak, then enjoy.
A classic Bordeaux.
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9/23/2017 - jamokebob Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very light with hardly any tannins. Smooth finish. Great with lamb. Will get more pronounced with time. Next bottle will be opened in 2020.
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8/27/2017 - John McCabe wrote: 95 Points
Must be one of the best '12 Bordeaux. This is delicious right out of the bottle; lovely milk chocolate profile, there is a slight earthiness and acidity, this is just so well composed. This is missing a bit of weight and power but otherwise nothing is awry. It has the typical d'Issan house feel - doesn't have the power or intensity that the '05 or '10 has - overall might be closer to the '06 though lighter still, but with more weightlessness. This is the kind of Bordeaux that embarasses anything from Napa at <$55 and is a perfect wine to convert Bordeaux-sceptics. While many Bordeaux have some austere aspect, which can be part of the charm, this one is just pure deliciousness.
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6/29/2017 - matlee89 wrote: 90 Points
Perhaps entering a dumb phase. Muted on the nose initially, though creamy lead pencil with lots of time in the glass. Can sense the fruit core deep within, but just lacking oomph on the front palate. Something watery about it. Not much tannin, and lacking acidity and tension. Makes me doubt how long it can last.
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4/30/2017 - CamWheeler wrote: 90 Points
MW Institute 2012 Bordeaux Tasting: Tight nose, with some red cherry and berries along with lightly earthy oak. Good balance on the palate, the fruit profile is lean but the elements of the wine work well together. Very good.
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3/18/2017 - DNMEAGHER2 Likes this wine: 99 Points
I loved it! Buy more
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3/12/2017 - Jeff Leve wrote: 93 Points
Much of this wine is still being held in reserve, yet it's hard to not recognize all the sweet, ripe, dark berries, polished, elegant, tannins, freshness, length and complexity. But you should wait at least 5 more years before popping a cork.
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2/8/2017 - John McCabe wrote: 94 Points
Again, one of the best '12 I've had, at least at this stage of development, though this will get better still. Lovely sweetness, masses of blackberry and a hint of blueberry fruit, alongside a big creamy milk chocolate tone. Delicious, with some power and elegance. This was one to load up on, but the price has since gone up. This is worth it at about $55 or less, but there would be competition north of that.
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1/25/2017 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 88 Points
MW 2012 Annual Bordeaux Tasting San Francisco, nice red and black fruit, cassis, same on the palate, medium body, enjoy the next 10 years, fairly fruit forward, maybe 2 years to peak, medium finish.
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1/24/2017 - Cathair Chaladinn Likes this wine: 93 Points
I have tasted quite a few wines from the 2012 vintage and from what I have sampled its a year to get excited about. Quite a few wines are extraordinary value and are currently drinking beautifully and D'Issan is quite the ticket. A voluptous silky texture in the mouth so elegant the nose is highly appealing also which will develop nuances with time. I'd expect this wine to improve further and could well merit a further few points down the road. Really delicious !!!!!! Don't feel guilty of pulling a cork now enjoy this beauty in its youth.
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11/26/2016 - John McCabe wrote: 93 Points
Similar to previous notes, this is very apealing. There is a bright sweetness to the profile, with leather and an earthy, slightly smoaky feel this has a 'house' tone of sweet, earthy leather. Easily one of the best '12 wines I've tried; so I bought quite a few bottles of this. 93+pts.
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11/25/2016 - ilcalmo wrote: 88 Points
Surprisingly modern in style and tastes like a wine from a warmer vintage. I can't say I was entirely on board with this, as this wine lacked some of the flavors I associated with traditional Margaux, such as mineral and floral notes, and was generally brasher than I would have exoected. Blind, this was indistinguishable from a Cali Cab, including an unhealthy amount of oak. A decent Cali Cab, to be sure, but disappointing given what I was expecting.
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11/12/2016 - O'Meara Likes this wine:
Hard to give this a 9 out of 10, but it's lovely Bordeaux from Margaux. A third growth designation makes sense; especially in light of being a 2012 vintage. After a 3hr decant, flowers, cassis, and graphite explode from the glass. Light on the palate, this is distinctively feminine. Worth checking out. "Getting better" from here on out is a term of art.
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10/8/2016 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wet leather, freshly ground rock, cherry reduction and cassis. Decanted for an hour: this is very approachable. A finish that sails on, with feathery, layered tannins; with a palate of dimension. Textbook Margaux from a producer with a proven pedigree. Drink 2017 -.
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9/19/2016 - barolo300 Likes this wine: 91 Points
The wine has come back to life - my last few bottles tasted dead. Now this is a bit of an oak powerhouse... very much cedar and toast, which is currently a little too prominent... time will make this work... try another in 2 years...
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9/4/2016 - eoinhharkins wrote:
While I enjoyed this, it definitely needs allot more time to fully integrate the cedar/woody notes on the nose and palate. There's cedar, dark cherries,, black raspberry, vanilla and tobacco leaf on the nose, similar palate but the core wood notes are hard to deal with at this point
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8/27/2016 - greidy Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark still purplish ruby red, medium body. On the nose - lots of oak, dark berries, spices. Palate is still not very balanced and pretty tannic. Need more time in the bottle or in the decanter...
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6/7/2016 - Thirsty1 Likes this wine:
I like this bordeaux. It's more of a mid-weight style. Crimson red with darker hanging fruit/topical earth notes. Well balanced with gritty texture and great focus. All around good but I question the longevity given the perceived thin-ness of the vintage.
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5/27/2016 - amauryc1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark ruby/crimson with shades of purple. Very aromatic nose with cedar, spicebox, some leather and black cherries, blueberry and currants rounded up by crushed flowers. The pallate is midweight with leather, spice, cherries, blueberry nice acid lift and silky tannins that lead to a nice, dry long finish.
I don't think it's going to improve much more but should drink well for another 3-5 years.
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4/18/2016 - barolo300 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Showing nice typical Cabernet fruit and some dusty wood but not complex as of yet... will improve, i'm sure of it.
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3/27/2016 - ScottBunger Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great Bordeaux. Good structure. Aromatic nose. Dry finish.
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2/21/2016 - John McCabe wrote: 94 Points
One of the best I've had from this vintage. Beautiful, sweet, smoakey leather tones. Drinking great already. Not the concentration of the '05 or '10 but very nice for the price.
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1/28/2016 - mikeharris Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep ruby, borderline purple in the glass. The nose is jam filled with hints of dark cherry, coffee and just a little wet stone and smoke. The palate hits with fresh, young fruit and those wonderful Margaux style crushed flowers. The wine is medium bodied and surprisingly well integrated. The finish is medium/long and migrates satisfyingly from front to back of palate. Very successful wine for the vintage.
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11/21/2015 - TannicBeast wrote:
Tasted blind after a two-hour decant. The color is purple, medium (+) to deep in intensity, with no sign of aging. The nose is laden with oak, with burnt wood and espresso aromas dominating. Some ripe red currant, black plum and dried herb aromas manage to peek through after energetic swirling. The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, tannins and alcohol. The wine was fairly tight and monolithic, which made me think of a young Brunello. I just think this wine is much too young to drink at this point.
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10/8/2015 - Collector1855 wrote: 91 Points
During a merchant tasting. Medium purple. A very toasty nose with lots of vanilla and bakery. Nice to smell but a bit over the top on the oak may be. Nice fruit on entry, soft tannins but also a bit shy on the mid palate. This is aromatically the antipode to the Prieure Lichine. If you like it toasty stay here, if you like more of a blue fruit touch go to the former.
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9/21/2015 - jrh82 Likes this wine: 90 Points
2012 is proving to be a nice surprise. Perhaps a somewhat underrated vintage. D'Issan too is very fruity and charming. Great nose although lacking some depth on the taste.
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5/15/2015 - Jeff Leve wrote: 93 Points
Elegant, soft, fresh and forward, this medium bodied wine delivers an open, sweet, delicious splash of black cherry, vanilla and plums with a silky, elegant, fresh mouth feel.
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9/11/2013 - Omar Khayyam wrote: 90 Points
Bordeaux 2012 en primeur with WInefinder (Munchenbryggeriet, Stockholm): Very open and charming nose, spice notes and some heat.
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9/8/2013 - Andre Brattland wrote: 91 Points
En primeur in Oslo. The 2012 was good, would be nicely. Not the qulity as the 2005, but simular elegant.
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7/10/2013 - henrygjeffreys wrote:
n - raw plums
quite tannic
chocolate, perfumed, some fruit crunch
long
this could be very good
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7/9/2013 - chatters wrote:
Berry Bros & Rudd - Bordeaux en primeur 2012 tasting (the Lindley Hall, Royal Horticultural Society, London): floral, subtle (medium minus intensity) aromas of flack fruit and cream. In the mouth there is more black fruit, mint and leathery tannin. Needs a lot of time. Hmm. Okay to good.
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4/25/2013 - Jeff Leve wrote: 92 Points
From a blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon and 33% Merlot, the wine reached 13.24% alcohol. Dark ruby in color with coffee, truffle, licorice, tobacco, black cherry and smoke in the nose. Soft in texture with a supple core of cool black cherries and dark chocolate in the finish. 90-93 Pts
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