Chateau d’Issan, Margaux, Bordeaux, 2009

Tasting: Medoc crus classes 2009

Toasty cassis nose. Rich, supple, and intense, with fine acidity and zest, and firm ripe tannins. It’s not overtly fruity at present, but the structure is admirable, and it’s taut and tight. This needs years to come out of its shell, but it’s balanced and has fine potential.

Tasting: Medoc crus classes 2009

Soft, plummy bouquet, ripe and sweet. Juicy and attractive on the front palate, spicy acidity on the back palate. Not quite the elegance and finesse one looks for in Margaux but full and positive with lots of crunchy red fruit. Tannins present but ripe, acidity quite firm but in balance, good length. No great complexity but chunky. Oak a bit intrusive at this stage.

Tasting: Medoc crus classes 2009

Fine deep and young red, lovely concentration of blackcurrant fruits with Margaux elegance. Quite fleshy and ripe with seductively broad fruit, robust depth, shows all the ripeness of 2009, perhaps at the expense of elegance.