95pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2012 Château d’Issan, builds on the richness of the second wine and adds more body, structure and density. It has an inky purple color and a stunning nose of spring flowers, blueberry and blackberry fruit as well as touches of incense and graphite. Medium to full-bodied and stunningly concentrated, this 2012 is a great success in the vintage, one of the superstars. Moreover, its precociousness suggests it could be drunk in the next 4-5 years or cellared through 2025. I underrated this wine dramatically in my report of April, 2013.

94pts Decanter

Sexy, spicy, gourmet aromatics on the attack, turning fleshy through the palate. This has a lot to enjoy, it maybe won't age quite as well as the 2011, but a definite one to note for enjoyment over the next decade. You can begin drinking now, enjoying the many rich raspberry and bilberry flavours, with smokey tobacco edging. (JA)

93pts Vinous

The 2012 d'Issan has a very perfumed and expressive bouquet with ebullient blackberry, iodine and cedar scents, very focused and classy with seamlessly integrated new oak. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, perfect acidity, compact at the moment but brimming over with mineralité and tension. This seems to have blossomed in bottle after a patchy showing in barrel and now it comes highly recommended. Tasted at the d’Issan vertical held at the property. 

93pts Wine Enthusiast

A ripe and fruity wine with some chocolate extract as well as black-currant fruitiness. This is a soft wine with attractive final acidity.

92pts James Suckling

This is an excellent red now with sweet tobacco, truffles and berries. Full body, vevlety tannins and a savory finish. This shows the Issan character of decadence and richness.

91pts The Wine Independent

A blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon and 33% Merlot, the 2012 d'Issan is deep garnet colored. Warm plums, black cherries, and mulberries leap from the glass with suggestions of bay leaves, graphite, and dusty earth in the undercurrent. The medium-bodied palate is laden with savory and earthy layers, framed by chewy tannins and finishing on a stewed black tea note.