Chateau Giscours 2020

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. Try after 2025 but will age a long time."

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."

THE 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."

WEINWISSER: "Verspieltes Bouquet, Wildkirsche, Sandelholz und heller Tabak, dahinter Schokopastille und roter Johannisbeernektar. Am geradlinigen Gaumen mit feinkörnigem Extrakt, engmaschigem Körper und stützender Rasse. Im konzentrierten Finale rotbeerige Konturen, dunkles Graphit und feinspröde Adstringenz. Kaufempfehlung."

DECANTER: "Wonderful aromatic expression, fragrant with wild flowers and dark bramble fruits as well as sandalwood. Rich and round on the palate, really so juicy and succulent, mouthwatering acidity balances the crushed stone texture and flavour - a combination of liquorice, slate, pencil lead and blackcurrants and black cherries. It’s concentrated but delivered so gracefully. Nicely layered, graceful and refined, a delicacy to this overall. It’s not weighty but precise and nuanced, lots of individual flavours really hitting different aspects. They haven't pushed this, it’s definitely still a little high-toned and slightly austere in the chalky tannins but I love the gentle fragrance, the air of quiet confidence but still with structure, concentration and persistence. Well worked. So much going on here, this will be delicious in time."

JEB DUNNUCK: "The Grand Vin 2020 Château 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."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, tiefer Kern, dezente Randaufhellung. Dunkle Beeren, etwas Edelholz, reife Pflaumen, Nugat, ein Hauch von Gewürznelken. Saftig, reife Herzkirschen, etwas trockene Tannine, schokoladig und entwickelt im Abgang, dennoch im Finish eine Spur spröde, benötigt noch Zeit, wird sicher noch zulegen. (2025–2040)"

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."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Deep crimson. Dark-fruited and spicy on the nose, aromas of oak but not overly sweet-smelling. Very dark and quite oaky on the palate and yet it is really refined, the finest tannin texture that leaves the mouth fresh and clean. Firm, dry, elegant finish."