Giscours

2011

Wine Advocate 90: Tasted at the Château Giscours vertical, the 2011 Château Giscours is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, picked between September 8 and October 1. It offers more fruit intensity than the 2012 and I find more Margaux florality here. It would benefit from more delineation, but there is decent delineation here. The palate is medium-bodied with supple ripe tannin on the entry, red cherry and raspberry fruit intermingling with cedar and tobacco notes. It feels a little conservative on the finish and needs more finesse, but it is a commendable contribution to the vintage. Tasted June 2015.

James Suckling 92: This is so beautiful now. It's full-bodied with tight and compressed tannins and fruit. Long and intentional. Savory and juicy finish. Drink or hold.

Vinous 91: The 2011 Giscours is tighter on the nose than its peers and demanded more coaxing, blackberry and melted tar, graphite and hints of blood orange. Good complexity. The palate is taut and fresh, well defined with crisp, edgy tannins, graphite and tobacco towards the finish that has a Paulliac-like character. This is drinking well, better than two or three years ago, and should give a decade's worth of drinking pleasure. Tasted blind at the annual 10-Year-On tasting.

2021

Wine Advocate 94+: The 2021 Giscours has turned out beautifully, wafting from the glass with aromas of dark berries and licorice mingled with hints of violet and forest floor. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and suave, it's seamless and enveloping, with good depth at the core, beautifully polished tannins and a long, perfumed finish. This is one of the real successes of the vintage. As readers may remember, it's a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot.

James Suckling 94: Outstanding for the vintage, this wine has true precision and beauty. Medium body, with flavors of currant and chocolate as well as some sandalwood and spice. Nicely balanced. 65% cabernet sauvignon, 32% merlot, 3% petit verdot. Drink or hold.

Vinous 95: The 2021 Giscours is not quite as showy as some recent vintages, but all the ingredients are there. Aromatic, deep and layered, with tremendous balance, the 2021 has so much to offer. Rose petal, mint, spice, orange peel and dried herbs are some of the notes that build. The 2021 is a wine of exquisite precision—bright and driving, with notable tension. It is seriously impressive at this stage.

Wine Enthusiast 96: Dark spice aromas are here, along with rich tannins and structure, just hinting at the wood aging. The wine, from the south of the appellation, has a rich effect, while also having the Margaux elegance. It is beautifully finished.