Château D’Issan is set to release the inaugural vintage of its new dry white wine, Jardin d’Issan 2024, during this year’s en primeur campaign. The launch coincides with the Cruse family’s celebration of 80 years since purchasing the renowned Margaux estate.
Originally announced by The Drinks Business last August, the “unique and experimental” white wine was conceived during the Covid pandemic and will make its debut during the en primeur tastings in April, ahead of its official release in June.
A limited micro-cuvée, only 1,200 bottles of Jardin d’Issan 2024 will be produced. The wine comes from a small, 1.7-hectare plot located near the Château, situated on the 45th parallel and featuring a unique argilo-calcaire soil. The plot, divided into four roughly equal sub-plots, is planted with grape varieties rarely associated with the Margaux region: Viognier, Roussanne, Marsanne, and Rolle. These varieties are more commonly linked to regions located along the 45th parallel, such as Piedmont and the Côtes du Rhône. The vineyard’s planting density is set at just 5,000 vines per hectare, and the wine will be bottled under the Vin de France label.
The wine’s élevage (aging) took place in three distinct containers: a 225-litre ceramic egg, as well as Bordeaux barrels of 225 litres and 400 litres. The cuvée’s name reflects the small size of the plot, the diversity of its grape varieties, and its location between the estate’s biodiversity reserve and the historic Issan vineyard. The wine’s label will be unveiled at the en primeur tastings.
Due to the limited production, Jardin d’Issan 2024 will be distributed through La Place by a select group of négociants. The anticipated price point is expected to fall between that of Blason d’Issan and the estate’s flagship Grand Vin.
Emmanuel Cruse, co-owner of Château d’Issan and director-general of Vignobles Cruse-Lorenzetti, shared with The Drinks Business that the vineyard was planted in 2021 after extensive soil analysis during the pandemic. The analysis revealed the soil to be particularly well-suited for white wine production. The team conducted a blind tasting of white wines from regions located along the 45th parallel, including Bordeaux, Côtes du Rhône, and Piedmont, to select the best varietals for their experimental project.
“We are on the 45th parallel, and these grapes grow on the 45th parallel in Piedmont and Crozes-Hermitage, so it was a bit experimental, but why not?” Cruse said.
This release marks the latest chapter in the ongoing evolution of Château d’Issan, following recent developments such as the acquisition of a small 7-hectare vineyard of Petit Verdot and the establishment of a new vat house to enhance winemaking precision. Since 2020, a portion of the Petit Verdot from this vineyard has been included in the blend of the estate’s Grand Vin, alongside Cabernet Franc and a small amount of Malbec.
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