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Giscours 2005

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Margaux
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyCabernet Sauvignon/Merlot

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Label

Tasting Notes

The 2005 Giscours is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and the rest tiny dollops of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot from this huge estate. It has loads of blue, red and black fruits, licorice, spice, a touch of background oak and earth. It is medium to full-bodied, offering up sweet, velvety tannins and impressive purity and length. This wine is already showing quite well and should continue to evolve gracefully for another 12-15+ years. Drink 2015-2030.

91
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (219), June 2015

The Château Giscours 2005 is more youthful in appearance than the du Tertre '05. The nose is more backward but possesses greater breeding: blackberry, raspberry, cedar and just a touch of blueberry developing in the glass, gaining in confidence all the time. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin. This feels dense in the mouth, understated at first but wonderfully proportioned towards the long finish. There is a great sense of energy here, real frisson. This is surely one of the best Giscours in recent years. Drink 2017 - 2040

93
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, February 2015

This is a beautiful Giscours with tension and finesse. It's full-bodied and shows plenty of berry and spice character, not to mention a long, silky-textured finish. It seduces you with each sip. Why wait?

94
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, October 2015

Tasted blind. Complex, refined, well-integrated bouquet. Fully evolved and a bit leathery on the end. Not for technopurists but a fair drink for now. Pinched finish.
Drink 2014-2025

16.5
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, March 2017

Good ruby-red. Lovely lift to the aromas of black fruits, licorice and minerals. Pure, intense and sweet, offering an enticing combination of black fruit, mineral and dark chocolate flavors. Finishes long and sweet, with plenty of tannic structure and a lingering note of bitter chocolate. A juicy, serious wine with some power. This has turned out very well.

91
Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, June 2008

Giscours (3G). Black-red, rich Cabernet fruit, totally ripe, even perhaps a little over-ripe, but sheer exuberance of fruit, not at all raisiny, bursting with energy, lovely ripe tannins. Drink 2009-20.

17.5
Steven Spurrier, Decanter.com, April 2006

Sweet, ripe, very pure, perfumed, cassis. Dense, flavoursome, big but balance is quite good. Quite chewy tannins, needs time. Drink from 2016. Awarded 3 stars.

15.5+
Decanter.com, Decanter.com, July 2008
Read more tasting notes...

This forward-styled 2005 possesses a dense ruby/purple color in addition to a big, sweet bouquet of roasted herbs, fudge, espresso, figs, and cherry jam. Opulent, even decadent, with low acidity, but high glycerin and fruit extract as well as a flamboyant fleshiness, this is a stunningly impressive, hedonistic, savory Margaux to enjoy between 2010-2025

91
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (176), April 2008

Giscours has been on a hot streak, fashioning full-bodied, powerful wines. The forward 2005 reveals notes of chocolate, sweet cherries, plums, figs, and dried herbs in its opulent, corpulent personality. With decent acidity, huge glycerin and concentration, and a long, fleshy, heady finish, it possesses an in-your-face, flamboyant style that is somewhat out of character for the vintage. It is an impressive, challenging, hedonistic as well as intellectually satisfying claret that should drink well reasonably young. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2025.

91/94
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (170), April 2007

A full-bodied, powerful Giscours, the 2005 displays a deep ruby/purple color as well as sweet aromas of red and black fruits intermixed with loamy soil, dried herbs, and a hint of pain grille. Good acidity, a plump, corpulent attack and mouthfeel, medium to full body, superb depth of fruit, plenty of glycerin (it must approach 14% alcohol), and a lusty finish suggest this beauty will be approachable young. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2022.

90/93
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (164), April 2006
93
James Suckling, WineSpectator.com, February 2008

Very big and juicy, with fabulous berry, chocolate and currant character. Full and round. Long. This could be the best Giscours of all time.

92/94
James Suckling, WineSpectator.com, March 2006

Blackish crimson. Fully evolved meaty nose that is not especially subtle and is pretty sweet on the front palate - just a bit oaky-chocolatey. But certainly very flattering. Rather thick velvety tannins on the finish rather than something purer. 13%
Drink 2018-2028

16.5
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, February 2015

Very dark - distinctly blackish tinge. Sweet, brutal, almost New World wine on the nose. This is sumptuous - Napa sur Gironde - and very cleverly made. There is freshness and extraordinary immediacy. Utterly seductive. Smooth and transparent. Silky textured. It has enormous ripeness but freshness too. As you can tell from the note, I'm a bit alarmed by the nose but the palate and balance will win many drinkers over. Perhaps the lack of persistence is a bit of a worry though? Drink 2014-26

17
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2006
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.