CHÂTEAU GISCOURS

Polished and rounded in feel, with a solid core of plum and blackberry compote flavors, lined with light hints of charcoal, tobacco and violet. Nice perfumy tobacco and warm tar notes show on the finish. Very well-integrated, making this approachable now, but there’s no rush. Drinking range: 2020 - 2035 Rating: 93 James Molesworth, The Wine Spectator (Jan 2018)

The 2015 Giscours is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. That is in stark comparison to older vintages, for example the 2000 Giscours that was 50/50 Cabernet and Merlot. This vintage is matured in 50% new oak. Winemaker Alexandre Van Beek told me that the 2015 "...reflects the true terroir at Giscours that created the great wines of the 1960s and 1970s." That is something to live up to with fresh memories of the 1961 in my brain. The bouquet is very intense and almost "untamed" at first, but it calms down in the glass, revealing attractive scents of blackberry, raspberry, cedar and graphite. This is a Giscours determined to make a good impression...and it does. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, very pure, a little spicier than recent vintages, adorned with a gentle crescendo in the mouth towards a really quite fantastic, tensile, complex and compelling finish. Having tasted the 1961 and 1970 Giscours just a few months ago, I wager that the 2015 will be the best since the 1961. Time to fall back in love with this great Margaux property. Drinking range: 2025 - 2060 Rating: 94-96 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Apr 2016)

Rating: 89 Tim Atkin MW, www.timatkin.com (Apr 2016)

This has a convincing nose, smoky fruit, grilled almond barrel spice, the former showing a more blackcurrant-led character, with a fresh and plump style, rich not only in confident fruit, but perfumed too. The palate shows a supple texture at the start, with creamed black plum and blackcurrant, all very pure and elegant, with nothing too desiccated here, with very harmonious integration of tannins, ripe but well buried in the wine, and fresh acidity. A really charming, confident finish. Given time, this could be excellent. Rating: 17-18/20 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2016)

Slightly smoky cassis nose then good florality and fine depth of Cabernet fruit and fine tannins. Has the classic Giscours charm with more weight than usual; will show very well. Drinking range: 2021 - 2035 Rating: 92 Steven Spurrier (Apr 2016)

Dark crimson. Relatively light nose. Very luscious sweet fruit on the palate - a very winning wine with a medium charge of tannin. Just a little inky on the finish. But good and appetising. Drinking range: 2023 - 2035 Rating: 17 Jancis Robinson OBE MW - www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2016)

This sets a new level for Giscours with blackberry, black truffle and blueberry. So much walnut and cedar. Full body, dense and incredibly long and powerful. Clearly the best Giscours since 1970 and 1975. Rating: 96-97 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2016)

Solid, with warm plum, fig and blackberry reduction notes, inlaid with a lovely alder accent. Flows beautifully through the long, velvety finish. Rating: 92—95 James Molesworth, The Wine Spectator (Apr 2016)