98pts Wine Enthusiast
Perfumed, ripe and juicy, this structured wine is already impressive. Its layered texture and black plum fruits have serious potential, packed with fruit and tannins with a generous aftertaste.
96pts James Suckling
Fascinating aromas of blueberries, crushed stone, and blackcurrants. Very aromatic. Full-bodied with juicy tannins that are creamy and intense. Slightly bitter, burnt citrus character. This is very muscular with velvety tannins. Needs time to soften.
96pts The Wine Cellar Insider
Richly colored, the wine kicks off with an intense display of flowers, with additional nuances of tobacco leaf, earth, currants, black cherries, spice and cigar box. The wine is silky, vibrant, sensuous and long with layers of ripe, sweet, vibrant red and black fruits that build in intensity. There is a beautiful purity to the fruit and symmetry on the palate, with a sexy endnote. Drink from 2026-2055
95pts Jane Anson
Deep plum in colour, lilting acidities, some angular tannins at this point, beautifully bitter dark chocolate alongside bilberry and blackberry fruits, with fragrant mint leaf and precisely carved tannic grip. Last year with Lorenzo Pasquini as technical director, before Jérôme Poisson took over in 2021. The first year also when Giscours became the only estate in Margaux owned by the Albada family, as they sold du Tertre. Thomas Duclos consultant, 50% new oak. Harvest September 8 to October 2, 35hl/h yield.
95pts Decanter
This is an excellent Giscours, extremely precise, well drawn and seductive. There is both concentration and spice, and a vivid sappy feel to the raspberry and bilberry fruits, all drawn out through the palate as the slate texture kicks in. Plenty of things to keep track on here, not least that this is now the only estate in Margaux owned by the Albada family, as they have sold du Tertre. The focus is now entirely on Giscours, and I would expect to see a concerted effort to raise the visibility of the property. Changes include Thomas Duclos as consultant since 2019, and vineyard choices such as intra-plot harvesting, meaning going in waves through the plots picking individual vines when they are at full ripeness.
95pts Wine Advocate
This estate is now enjoying its finest run since its glory days in the 1970s, and the 2020 Giscours is excellent. Unwinding in the glass with deep aromas of blackberries, cassis, pencil shavings, rose petals and sweet, loamy soil, it's medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, with a layered and seamless mid-palate, excellent concentration and powdery structuring tannins.
94pts Jeb Dunnuck
The Grand Vin 2020 Chateau Giscours is based on 56% Cabernet Sauvignon and 44% Merlot that spent 17 months in 50% new French oak. It has a gorgeous perfume of pure cassis, graphite, and flowers that gives way to a medium to full-bodied Margaux possessing ample tannins, a layered, concentrated mid-palate, remarkable purity, and one heck of a great finish. It’s another beautiful Margaux in the vintage that will benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and evolve for at least two decades. Best After 2027.
94pts The Wine Independent
The 2020 Giscours, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot, is deep garnet-purple in color. It wafts gracefully from the glass with pretty notes of raspberry coulis, Morello cherries, and crushed blackcurrants, plus touches of garrigue, bay leaves, and iron ore. The medium-bodied palate is silky and beautifully poised, delivering delicate red berry and savory layers, finishing on a mineral note.
92pts Wine Spectator
Ripe but fresh and sleek in feel, with black cherry and blackberry puree notes gliding through, infused with sandalwood, bay leaf and black tea accents. This has a pleasant dark earth tint to the finish, though the fruit still holds sway. Nicely done. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Drink now through 2035.
Winemaker Notes
Chateau Giscours is very proud of the 2020 vintage. The team's in-depth knowledge of the terroir and their risk-taking have produced a voluptuous wine. It is generous, with great personality. It has all the power and fleshiness of Chateau Giscours, and evokes a taffeta texture with silky tannins. It is a vintage that reflects the meticulous and bold approach that guided the team during this atypical year.
Blend: 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot
History
Located on a beautiful 300 hectare estate, the 83 hectare Giscours vineyard is located in the famous Margaux appellation. Though the estate was first mentioned in a document dating back to 1330, it was not until 1847 that Count de Pescatore laid the cornerstone of the remarkable chateau that now overlooks the vines. Giscours' quality was confirmed by its inclusion as a Third Growth in the 1855 classification.
The estate was purchased by Nicolas Tari after World War II. He made major investments in modernizing Giscours. In 1995, Eric Albada Jelgersma acquired the right to grow vines and make wine on the estate. He continues to lavish the care and attention that are necessary to maintain Giscours' standing as a world-famous great growth.
