CHÂTEAU GISCOURS

Tasted at the Château Giscours vertical, the 2010 Château Giscours is a blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon and 29% Merlot picked between September 27 and October 14. I contrasted this directly against the superb 2009, but I still maintain that this has the upper hand, albeit in a different style. The aromatics are very focused with black fruit, violets, fig and mineral scents that are very well defined. But you need patience - this is not as immediate as the previous vintage. The palate delivers, delivers and delivers brilliant delineation and poise, more freshness than it knows what to do with, an intensity that is supremely well focused and length in the mouth. There is even a dab of mint chocolate making a surprise appearance on the aftertaste. This is a very impressive Giscours. Tasted June 2015. Drinking range: 2018 - 2040 Rating: 93 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Jul 2016)

Bright ruby-red. Cassis, blackberry and licorice pastille on the nose. Then sweet, juicy and energetic in the mouth, with complex flavors of plum, currant, cedar, tobacco and spices along with a gamey nuance. Firmly built but not hard. Finishes with serious but fine-grained tannins and a note of licorice. Still a bit strict today, this wine has the structure to repay aging. Rating: 90 Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar (Jul 2013)

(a blend of 71% cabernet sauvignon and 29% merlot): Fully saturated ruby-purple with inky highlights. Captivating nose of cassis, violet, gunflint and aromatic herbs; this struck me as being very dominated by its cabernet component. Fresh, rich and dense, with palate-staining flavors of dark berries, coffee and cocoa complicated by ink and graphite. Very complex and long, this vintage appears to be a major achievement for Giscours and one of the best wines from this estate in years. Rating: 92-94 Ian d'Agata, www.vinousmedia.com (Jan 2012)

It is a little unsettling to realize that 2009 and 2010 may be the greatest back to back Bordeaux vintages produced in the history of the region. The over-achieving Giscours has turned in a great performance in 2010, which possesses an opaque purple color as well as notes of licorice, black truffles, sweet blackberry and cassis fruit, flowers and soil undertones. It is very full-bodied and exceptionally opulent, fat and round, but the vintage’s acids, precision, high glycerin, alcohol and extract are all present. Give it 2-3 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 25-30 years. 2013-2043 Rating: 92-95 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, www.RobertParker.com (May 2011)

Blackish crimson. Quite complex and complete. Just beautifully balanced. This is ripe claret. The sort that Edmund Penning-Rowsell never encountered. Nothing forced nor self conscious. Just great balance and confidence. Fresh finish. Real Margaux. Appetising and subtle. But no blockbuster. Even a little sinewy on the finish. 2020-2034 Rating: 17.5 Jancis Robinson OBE MW - www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2011)

Very good depth of fruit, perfect Cabernet ripeness, fragrance and smoothness of texture to see a very good future. Drink 2017-30. Rating: ****17.5 Steven Spurrier (Apr 2011)

This is very structured and muscular with a lots of toasty new wood showing now but if you dig deep you see a rich and beautiful fruit and velvety tannin structure. Is this the new 1970? Very sexy. Rating: 94-95 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2011)

Polished, with lots of alluring mocha and licorice notes leading the way, followed by creamy blueberry, blackberry and black cherry fruit. The finish is long and creamy. Rating: 91-94 James Molesworth, The Wine Spectator (Apr 2011)