Giscours - Margaux 2018

Vinous

94

byNeal Martinthe2/17/2022

The 2018 Giscours was tasted alongside the 2019 for comparison. This is more extravagant on the nose, delivering slightly more red fruit, black pepper and touches of graphite. This has opened since I last tasted it. The palate is medium-bodied with bold tannins, very smooth and more sensual than the 2019, and more flamboyant, though perhaps without the same precision. Still, this is very fine.

Vinous

93

byAntonio Gallonithe3/31/2021

The 2018 Giscours appears to be going through a stubborn phase, as it is quite a bit less expressive from bottle than it was from barrel. Attractive floral, spice and citrus accents lift a core of super-ripe, reddish fruit. On the palate, though, the 2018 is far less expressive. It will be interesting to see how things pan out here. 93+

Wine Advocate

91

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe3/31/2021

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Giscours opens with fragrant notions of kirsch, black cherry compote and blackcurrant pastilles with suggestions of dried lavender, cinnamon stick and mossy tree bark. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers a good amount of red and black fruit flavors with compelling purity, framed by soft tannins and well-balanced freshness, finishing with a spicy lift.

Jeb DUNNUCK

93

byJeb Dunnuckthe3/16/2021

Lots of ripe black cherry and cassis fruits as well as graphite, lead pencil, and scorched earth notes emerge from the 2018 Château Giscours, a medium-bodied Margaux that has a fresh, focused texture, plenty of underlying structure, and the purity of fruit that's the hallmark of the vintage. This beautiful Margaux builds nicely with time in the glass, and while it plays in the more elegant side of the spectrum, it has terrific mid-palate depth, stunning balance, and outstanding length. I think the 2019 might ultimately surpass it, but it's certainly in the same ballpark as the 2016. Give bottles 3-5 years and enjoy over the following 20 years or more.

The Wine Cellar Insider

95

byJeff Levethe3/16/2021

Floral in nature, you find a sweetness and purity in the deep red fruits along with the violet bouquet that quickly grabs your interest. The wine is rich, sensuous, silky, sexy and lively. Concentrated with width, length and energy, the elegant, lushly textured finish feels just great on your palate. This should age for at least 3 decades, though it will start to shine in 8-10 years. The wine was produced blending 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot.

Vinous

92

byNeal Martinthe3/12/2021

The 2018 Giscours is based around a slightly higher proportion of Merlot (39%) this year. It has an attractive bouquet of tightly packed blackberry, bilberry and freshly rolled tobacco, desiccated orange peel emerging with time in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins, structured and grippy. The very saline finish needs a little more finesse and refinement. Not bad, but it needs bottle age to shave its rough edges.

Wine Spectator

95

byJames Molesworththe2/1/2021

Very expressive, with violet and lilac notes followed by creamed plum and mulled blackberry and black currant fruit flavors. Subtle anise, juniper and sanguine notes thread the very long finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2024 through 2036. –JM

Falstaff

95

byPeter Moserthe1/29/2021

Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Mit kandierten Veilchen unterlegte reife Feigen- und Pflaumenfrucht, eingelegte schwarze Kirschen, zarter Edelholztouch, tabakige Noten. Saftig, elegant, extraktsüß, reife Herzkirschen, feine, gut integrierte, tragende Tannine, mineralisch und anhaftend, sehr gute Länge, großes Zukunftspotenzial. (2025 - 2050)

Wine Spectator

95

byJames Molesworththe1/26/2021

Very expressive, with violet and lilac notes followed by creamed plum and mulled blackberry and black currant fruit flavors. Subtle anise, juniper and sanguine notes thread the very long finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2024 through 2036. — JM

Yvesbeck.wine

94

byYves Beckthe1/26/2021

Giscours 2018 commence par révéler de la fraîcheur grâce à des notes d'eucalyptus, suivies de nuances de réglisse puis de baies rouges. En bouche le vin affiche de l'ampleur et de la vigueur. Belle intensité fruitée dès l'attaque. Celle-ci est omniprésente jusqu'en fin de bouche. Finale persistante. Un vin qui aura besoin de temps.

Jamessuckling.com

97

byJames Sucklingthe1/26/2021

Black currant, dried-blueberry, oyster-shell, black-olive, black truffle, and bitter-chocolate aromas. It’s full-bodied with firm, fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity. Savory and mineral layers interplay with the black fruit. Powerful and chewy yet very polished and beautiful.. Try from 2024.

Decanter.com

93

byJane Ansonthe1/12/2021

Wine Enthusiast

96

byRoger Vossthe1/5/2021

Always a significant wine, this latest release with powerful while also stylish black fruits fits into a well-regarded tradition. The density and broad fruitiness of the wine make fine foils for each other. It is firmly structured and set for aging. Drink this wine from 2027.

Vinous

91-93

byNeal Martinthe11/15/2019

The 2018 Giscours contains a high percentage of Merlot this year. It was picked from September 12 – incidentally, the same start date as in 2019. It was cropped at 35hl/ha after some mildew earlier in the season, especially on the organically cultivated plots. Matured in 50% new French oak, it has an attractive bouquet of blackberry, raspberry, rose petals and touches of orange peel. The medium-bodied palate is quite cohesive and refined, with fine tannins and notes of white pepper sprinkled over the red fruit. This is a classic Giscours and, with 13.8% alcohol at the moment, the DNA of the château really comes through.

WeinWisser

19

byTjark Witzgallthe5/7/2019

Vinous

93-96

byAntonio Gallonithe5/3/2019

The 2018 Giscours is another in a series of brilliant wines from the estate. Bold and explosive in the glass, with tremendous fruit richness, the 2018 has so much to offer. In 2018, Giscours is radiant, exotically ripe and incredibly inviting, with a relatively high percentage of Merlot that adds juiciness. All the elements are in gorgeous harmony. The 2018 is an especially fine Giscours. It is certainly the best recent vintage I have tasted. The blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot. Tasted two times.

Vinifera

92

byJacques Perrinthe5/1/2019

Très beau nez de fruits noirs et d'épices douces. Bouche veloutée, ronde et soyeuse, tanins très bien extraits, vin suave, belle suite, c'est vraiment bon.  

The Wine Cellar Insider

94-96

byJeff Levethe4/23/2019

Floral in nature, this wine shows a bouquet of ripe, dark red fruits with background notes of cocoa, mint and wet earth. On the palate, which is where this really shines, the wine is rich, full-bodied, elegant, fruity, luscious and lively. I like the spicy, fresh cherry ending with its sprig of mint. The wine was produced blending 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot, reaching 13.9% alcohol with a pH of 3.79. The picking took place from September 12 to October 12. Due to issues with mildew, the production was down close to 30%.

Wine Advocate

90-92

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe4/23/2019

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Giscours delivers expressive notions of baked raspberries, Black Forest cake and sautéed herbs with a core of crème de cassis, pencil lead, fertile loam and fallen leaves. Full-bodied, taut and muscular in the mouth with earth-laced baked black fruits, it has a firm, chewy texture and refreshing herbal sparks on the finish.

Wine Enthusiast

95-97

byRoger Vossthe4/17/2019

This is a powerful wine with a great future that displays a rich, juicy blackberry flavor and ripe tannins. It is well-structured and generous in fruit, yet well balanced and shows promise for the future.

Jamessuckling.com

96-97

byJames Sucklingthe4/12/2019

The black color indicates a solid and structured red with loads of blackberry and blueberry character. Full-bodied and very tight and tensioned. Savory tannins that are powerful and intense at the finish. Classically structured. Finely toned and formed young red.

Jean-Marc QUARIN

93

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/8/2019

Wine Spectator

93-96

byJames Molesworththe4/3/2019

A very solid wine, with a dense core of steeped plum and blackberry puree flavors, liberally infused with black tea, alder and sanguine accents. The long finish unfurls nicely, revealing depth and a caressing feel.

Decanter.com

95

byJane Ansonthe3/29/2019

Deep purple in colour with violet edging, this is beating fast with juicy bramble fruit and life. You can feel the texture of the berries in the mouth, making this a luxurious, confident Giscours, with swirls of smoke backed up by spice. There's an effortless quality to the tannins, but this is definitely built to last. It easily stands up to the 2015 and 2016. 
Harvest lasted for a full month, from 12 September to 12 October. Aged in 50% new oak. Drinking Window 2027 - 2042