Château d’Issan

The name Issan emerged after five generations of the d’Essenault family held the former La Mothe-Cantenac property from 1575. The 1855 Bordeaux ranking placed Issan among Margaux’s Third Growths. The Cruse family has restored the estate since 1945, joined by the Lorenzetti family in 2012, while Emmanuel Cruse now guides its continuing renewal.

Within Margaux, gravel rises and alluvial hills support Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot alongside smaller plantings of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Hand harvesting and two rounds of selection lead into gravity-fed, parcel-by-parcel vinification across fifty-three temperature-controlled stainless-steel vats. After blending, the wines spend eighteen months in French oak, with traditional candle racking used to preserve clarity through élevage.