Lance Anders

9.1

Sibling dinner! — a month ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Blason d’Issan – Margaux 2010
Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷

Overview
Second wine of Château d’Issan (a 3rd Growth Grand Cru Classé), this Margaux reflects the finesse and elegance of its prestigious sibling at a more approachable level. The 2010 vintage is composed of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon and 41% Merlot, delivering structure, freshness, and the signature grace of the appellation.

Aromas & Flavors
Dark red fruits, cassis, and plum supported by notes of cedar, graphite, and dried violets. Subtle earthy undertones round out the bouquet.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with silky tannins, still carrying freshness and vibrancy. The fruit remains integrated with a polished balance, showing that the wine has aged beautifully without losing Margaux’s hallmark delicacy.

Food Pairing
Perfect alongside roasted lamb, duck breast, or a classic beef tenderloin. Its elegance also pairs nicely with mushroom risotto or aged Comté.

The Verdict
A graceful, approachable Bordeaux that demonstrates how even the second labels from Margaux can age impressively. Still drinking beautifully today, with finesse and balance that embody the spirit of Margaux.

Personal Pick Highlight
One of my favorite “second labels” from Bordeaux — proof that patience rewards, as this bottle aged with remarkable elegance and still charms after more than a decade. Also, the 2010 vintage, a benchmark year in Bordeaux, lends added structure and longevity. Cheers! — 5 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2017 vintage. Punchy and unconsolidated like a younger sibling. Plenty of moments of great height afoot. Medium-heavy body. Not as well knit as I'd like given the year/age and da money. Flighty here, tangents there. Still, tasting the wine, the pedigree and quality are evident. 01.04.25. — a year ago

Jan de Weerd

9.2

Well, we were going to have a party for the senses tonight, so why not have a little vertical tasting. After the excellent 2012 that was so expressive and rich, we turned to the 2017. Wow, much tighter and a strong kick into the shins with vibrant spice. Again, young red flavors of red berries and tangy raspberries drenched in white pepper spice. It did open up more and revealed more of earthy under notes but remained much more single dimensional than its older complex sibling who will be ingrained in our memories for along time. — 4 years ago

with Gert-Jan and Tammy

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I remember when the 2005 Pichon Lalande was reviewed by RP, 89. I saw that & said, you would have to get in the way of the 2005 Bordeaux vintage to be that sad. I still bought 6 at a bargain basement price. A very good idea post 20 yrs+. Both Pichon’s don’t have a modern day history of getting in the way of a good vintage.

I also bought this one. 18 yrs in bottle and still acending. This will hold 5 more yrs and will last another 10 yrs properly stored.

I have visited Bordeaux 11 times. This chateau visually is still my favorite. It was showing a picture of this chateau to Sofia that launched our first visit. Sofia loved it and we have stared at it multiple times on every visit.

It was in our visit in 2007, I stood in the estate vineyard, looked & tasted their soils. After doing so, I said, “I get it.” I understood everything about what I was tasting in Left Bank Bordeaux’s early in my wine journey.

Sofia and I had dinner w/ Christian Moueix not long after the 2005 vintage was hyped/released. She asked him, when did you know you had something special?” He said, “as soon as I tasted the fruit at harvest.”

Tonight, it shows that it is a close relative, a sibling to Pichon Longueville. Cork, perfect.

The nose shows; classic left bank traits. Ripe, dark, brooding fruits, bright, mid berries, red cola, leather, tobacco, sandalwood, leather, led pencil, dark rich earth, limestone, dry river stone, hint of mushrooms, dark, red, fresh & withering florals.

The fruits on the palate show everything outstanding from the 2005 growing season. Ripe, juicy, brilliant; dark currants, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, black cherries, baked/poached strawberries & some hovering raspberries. Dark chocolate bar to pudding, red cola, anise, dark spices w/ palate heat, dark, rich earth w/ dry leaves, pronounced graphite, dry tobacco, leather, limestone, dry twig, dry river stone, moist clays, moist herbs, cedar to sandalwood, withering & dry, dark flowers, red roses, some lavender & violets, beautiful rainfall acidity, excellent; balance, tension, structure, length w/ an elegant finish that lasts minutes and lands on spice & earth.

13.4 ABV. Nice.

#TheTwoHourRibcap

This held up vacuumed sealed the same night, refrigerated & enjoyed exactly a week later. — 24 days ago

Raul Puga

9.3

Beautiful color and well balanced. Long delicious finish — a year ago

Chris Zitzman

9.3

The 2023 Cameron Winery “Ribbon Ridge” Pinot Noir is a completely different animal from its sibling from the ‘Dundee Hills”. The latter is fat, juicy, and stuffed with fruit. The Ribbon Ridge, to me, comes off as the much more mature older brother. Not austere: but it takes a bit of conversation to really get to know him. Far more depth and structure- and while maybe not as playful as the Dundee Hills- the Ribbon Ridge, to me, is undoubtedly the first born. — 2 months ago

with Beth

Josh

9.5

Love this. Grapey, sweet, a bit acidic to start but nice smooth finish. Yum. Easy drink — 6 months ago

Ming L

9.2

The Clásico is quite new world in style, just like the Macán, its senior sibling. It’s more concentrated and has a bit more depth than the 18’ Macán, a testament to the excellent 19’ vintage in Rioja. — a year ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Lemon in colour. See previous Delectable note. Paraffin notes developing. On the palate Barb thought white nectarine notes. Crisp and clean - a beautiful mature Riesling. My last bottle but it could have been left a few more years. Having said that it is hard to see it improving over the standard it is now. An earlier developing style than its sibling Cuvée, Polish Hill. — 3 years ago