2008 d'Issan: Another 2002-like Bordeaux.

[JimHow]

I like it. Nice restraint. Moderate presence of wood. Pleasant bouquet, I was struck by the rich purple color from the outset. Reminds me of the 2002 d'Issan and the 2002 Smith Haut Lafite. I'm too lazy to get up off the couch and check the bottle, but if I didn't know better I'd guess 12.5%. I know better, of course, so I'm assuming 13%.... ok, let me get up and check... Yep, 13%. a JimHow kind of wine... 91 points.

[Bacchus]

Hmmmmmmmm, I can't help but wonder whether Jim will prefer the '08s over the '09s, or vice versa? I picked up a few bottles of the '05 a few days ago -- in fact, the last 3 bottles in the system.

[robertgoulet]

i've tasted the '06 and its rock solid 91-92 points

[Chasse-Spleen]

There's no way anyone is going to prefer '08 over '09. Trust me.

[JonoB]

I reckon I can prefer 08 over 09...

I have a case of this wine, so maybe I will hang onto it after all, I have sold one case of Duhart, my Mouton and two cases of Lynch when their prices were peaking a touch before this recent slowdown in the fine wine market (according to Liv-Ex.com data), which paid for a fair amount of my summer drinking and I still have a few things that I will probably sell on to swap for some 2010 Burgs and Piemontese wines, but in general if BD thinks these are tasting like young 02s. I am a happy man.

P.s. People are comparing 2011 to 2008 by the way.

[JimHow]

I had it again last night, Jono, two thumbs up. Maybe a slight upgrade to 92 points.

[Bacchus]

Something seems to be going on at d'Issan these days. After reading this and Jim's other thread on it, I decided to do a quick internet search. Everybody seems to like it these days. You've got to take notice when Jancis Robinson and the MAN agree with Jim that this is good stuff. Farr says the '06 is the best d'Issan they've every tasted (I'm sure that was written before the appearance of the '08, but after the '05!). I'm going to have to get a little more serious about this stuff. Could it become the new Pontet Canet if improvements continue, although in a Margaux rather than Pauillac style? Get it while it's pricing remains rational!

[JimHow]

We had a couple BWE dinners with Emanuel Cruse a few years back, Bacchus, d'Issan has been really producing quality wines since at least 2000, and perhaps before that.

[Bacchus]

1/2 case of the '06 has now mysteriously appeared in my cellar.

[JimHow]

Well done, Bacchus. Very well done indeed.

[DavidG]

We had a couple BWE dinners with Emanuel Cruse a few years back, Bacchus, d'Issan has been really producing quality wines since at least 2000, and perhaps before that.

And an excellent visit to the beautiful Chateau during BWE '05.

[JimHow]

Didn't realize that David. Was Emanuel Cruse there?

[aimeedogdogdog]

Jim,

Nice note. Funny that we also bought a bottle 2 weeks ago. We have not opened it yet. D'Issan and its quality are always in my mind now, since the visit to the Chateau on our BWE '05 trip. It was the first visit on the first day of Bordeaux, and it immediately captured my heart. Simply a beautiful wine, year in and year out!

Werner

[DavidG]

Didn't realize that David. Was Emanuel Cruse there?

d'Issan tasting.jpg (46.7 KiB) Viewed 1204 times

[DavidG]

IMG_0120 b.jpg (80.22 KiB) Viewed 1199 times