Palate
The 2018 vintage of Château d’Issan has intensity. The precision of the Merlot fruit is offering a great attack on the palate. It moves on to become more profound thanks to the Cabernet in this great vintage, reminiscent of 2016.
Growing Conditions
After a rainy winter and spring, slightly above the 30-year average, the sun came back magnificently at the end of June and flowering was good and homogeneous. July was warm and especially dry with some hot spells, which weren’t enough to provoke hydric stress in the vines after the abundant winter rains had built up sufficient reserves of water. August started with a hot period, which had no impact on our vines, and veraison is complete by the middle of the month. Sunny, sometimes hot days were followed by cool nights.
This weather in September is always very good as our grape varieties finish ripening.
The analyses carried out on 7th September yielded exactly the same results
with the Merlot grapes as in 2009.
Harvest
Merlot grapes harvested from 24th September to 2nd October
Cabernet Sauvignon grapes harvested from 3rd to 11th October
The harvest was serene in radiant sunshine. The grapes were quite small with thick skins. They were generous and crunchy with lovely colour, as well as silky, sophisticated tannins.
Winemaking
Fermentation was traditional with very gentle pumping over to preserve the body
and liveliness of the fruit. The three weeks maceration, followed by malolactic fermentation, allowed to transfer the wine into the barrels by mid-November. The final blend took place in mid-January with an obvious, well-balanced selection.
Aging
35% New Barrels
