Emmanuel Cruse is one of the smartest winemakers in the Medoc region, with a long lineage in the Bordeaux wine business. His family have been wine merchants there for more than two centuries and he continues to improve the quality of the wines at Chateau d’Issan, the popular third growth chateau in the appellation of Margaux. He is the co-owner of the estate with Jacky Lorenzetti, who also owns Chateau Pedesclaux in Pauillac and Chateau Lilian Ladouys in St.-Estephe.

I tasted 2019 barrel samples from all three estates with Emmanuel over Zoom. The most interesting comments came when he compared the 2019 to other vintages and explained how they blended the different lots to come to the final wine. Check out the two videos.

– James Suckling, editor & CEO

This is part of an extensive en primeur tasting campaign being conducted by James, which has already covered 850 wines, with about 200 more to come. The reports are listed below:

Bordeaux en primeur first report: A potentially challenging vintage
Bordeaux en primeur second report: 850 notes and scores
Pricing report: Pontet-Canet’s decision to slash its prices

HOW WAS THE BLENDING PROCESS FOR 2019 BORDEAUX?

WHAT IS THE STYLE OF 2019 LIKE AND HOW DOES IT COMPARE TO OTHER VINTAGES?

All our Bordeaux en primeur Zoom tastings:

[VIDEO] ZOOM TASTING WITH CHRISTIAN SEELY OF AXA MILLESIMES

[VIDEO] ZOOM TASTING WITH PIERRE GRAFFEUILLE OF LEOVILLE LAS CASES