A 17th century château classed as a Historic Monument

Exclusive wine experiences at Château d Issan in Bordeaux, France

A third Growth Margaux whose wine was served at the wedding of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry Plantagenet of England in 1152.
The watchword for this Grand Cru Classé is authenticity.

Activities

A fortress in its origins

The present property still has some beautiful medieval features, such as its imposing gateway, its towers and its moat, relics of its former defences. A wall built in 1644 still surrounds the vineyard.

Today, the château is lived in after several phases of renovation. In 1970, after the Cruse family undertook refurbishment work, the château was included on the French complementary list of historical buildings.

The estate was left to deteriorate between the two World Wars, but was reawakened by the Cruse family, owners since 1945. Under the management of Lionel Cruse, the château has been restored, the installations modified and the vineyard replanted. As a result of investments made by Lionel’s son Emmanuel Cruse in the vines and cellars, Château d’Issan wines have become even more a faithful reflection of their exclusive terroir. In 2012, Françoise and Jacky Lorenzetti, owners of châteaux in Saint-Estèphe and Pauillac, joined forces with the Cruse family. With tenacity, passion and courage, the different generations have worked to achieve the renewal of Château d’Issan, which has regained its former glory.

Château d’Issan is in the heart of the Margaux appellation, a truly privileged location, which explains the outstanding quality of its wines. The mild weather, regulated by being close to the sea and the Gironde Estuary, provides ideal conditions for vine growth. The vines at Château d’Issan benefit from close, on-going care designed to produce perfectly ripe grapes. Everything is organized so that each individual plot can be tended independently in order to get the very best out of its fruit.

Château d’Issan is a Third Growth of the 1855 Imperial Classification. The wine is made from the old vines in the Château d’Issan enclosure in the middle of the Margaux appellation. The soil here is mainly made up of surface gravel on top of a clay subsoil, which contributes to optimal ripeness and freshness in our two grape varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Château d’Issan expresses the exquisite bouquet so characteristic of Margaux, and stands out with its suppleness, subtlety, elegance and long keeping potential that come from its unique terroir. Château d’Issan is aged in barrels for 16 to 18 months, half of which are new. Annual production is around 100,000 bottles.

 

Key features

  • Standard wine tasting
  • Cellar visit
  • Vineyards visit
  • Wine for sale on property
  • Gift shop
  • View more

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