Château Giscours 2019 [dubbel magnum]

Jane Anson - Inside Bordeaux

VertdeVin

The nose is elegant, racy, fine and offers power (in delicacy), richness (in finesse) as well as a very fine intensity very discreetly tight. It reveals notes of pulpy/juicy Boysen berry, wild strawberry, small notes of ripe/fresh raspberry associated with touches of small crushed black fruits, cornflower as well as hints of crushed violet plum, graphite, sweet spices, subtle hints of toasted and a very discreet hint of cuben pepper and an imperceptible hint of aromatic herbs/origan. The palate is beautifully fine, elegant, very finely tight and offers power/richness (in finesse), delicacy, freshness, gourmandize, tension, a good structure as well as a good freshness, a racy grain, a fine suavity, juiciness and a very discreet iodine hint (in the background). On the palate this wine expresses notes of fresh blackberry, pulpy/fresh cassis, small notes of pulpy/fresh raspberry associated with touches of small pulpy/fresh red berries, lily, lilac as well as hints of chocolate, fresh gravels, very fine hints of sugared mild tobacco, vanilla and an imperceptible hint of sage/origan (in the background). Good length.

Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

The 2019 Giscours has turned out very well in bottle, wafting from the glass with aromas of sweet berries, cherries, burning embers, lilac and Freshness and purity is the hallmark of this wine. The intensity of the perfume, with all of its violets, lilacs, and roses, along with tobacco leaf, black and red fruits, wet earth, spice, and smoke are attention-grabbing. But I love the silky palate textures with all of its depth and richness, purity of fruity, vibrancy, and length. This is the best vintage produced in the long history of Chateau Giscours. It will age effortlessly for 2 -3 decades. Drink from 2026-2055.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2019 Giscours has turned out very well in bottle, wafting from the glass with aromas of sweet berries, cherries, burning embers, lilac and violets framed by a discreet patina of new oak. Full-bodied, layered and concentrated, it's polished and perfumed, with a velvety, seamless profile and bright animating acids, concluding with a long, resonant finish. Alexandre Van Beek and his team are taking this estate to heights it hasn't hit since the 1970s, and this is another of the great bargains of the 2019 en primeur campaign.

Giscours produced some brilliant wines in the past, with a string of notable successes in the 1970s and early 1980s, but then it fell victim to neglect. The predominance of Cabernet Sauvignon in those old vintages, sometimes representing more than 80% of the blend, gradually ceded ground to more productive and facile Merlot; and the estate's reputation declined. When the Albada family acquired Giscours in 1995, all that began to change. Fully 140,000 missing vines were replaced, cultivating the soils was resumed and the winery was renovated. A young Alexander van Beek arrived for harvest in 1995 and ended up staying to oversee the work. And the results today are very exciting indeed. Giscours itself occupies three large gravel domes: one opposite the château itself, the other on the other side of the road and a third inland that hits fully 21 meters above sea level. There's a large park with a river at the heart of the estate, and the team are creating wildlife corridors and hedges to bring life back into the vineyards. Seeded cover crops now protect the soils, and canopies are a touch lower to limit excess sugar accumulation. At harvest itself, vines of different age have been marked out to be harvested separately: an immense task, considering that Giscours has 100 hectares under vine in the Margaux appellation alone. The 2019, however, demonstrates that all the work is worth it: this is the finest Giscours of the new era, and it's well worth seeking out.

Jeb Dunnuck

Based on 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot, the 2019 Château Giscours is another stunning 2019. Deep purple, with a fresh yet concentrated style on the palate, it has lots of red, black, and blue fruits as well as notes of sandalwood, flowery incense, and graphite. It's not massive, by any means, yet is flawlessly balanced and has integrated acidity, followed by a great finish. It's very much in the more precise, pretty, elegant style of this vintage yet still packs plenty of mid-palate depth. Give bottles 4-5 years of bottle age and enjoy over the following 25 years or so.

Decanter Magazine

This is a serious Giscours, with medium intensity violet-edged ruby colour. High aromatics on the nose with cumin and cloves, followed by black cherry and cassis fruits that do a good job of filling the palate, and a cooling menthol finish as the tannins close in. Enjoyable overall, succulent yet with precision. Harvest lasted for an entire month, from September 11 to October 12, the longest ever at the estate and a reflection of more precise plot-by-plot work, with vines separated according to age and terroir. Thomas Duclos is consultant here as of the 2019 vintage. A yield of 44hl/ha.

James Suckling

A ripe and layered red with lots of currant and chocolate character, as well as some walnut and cocoa powder. Crushed stones, too. It’s full and layered with round tannins and a juicy and plush texture. Crushed velvet that turns to silk. Very cool and long. Plenty going on here. Give it three to four years to come together. But will age beautifully for years to come. A blend of 65% cabernet sauvignon and 35% merlot. Try after 2026.