Giscours 2008

Dark plum/garnet, this elegant, medium to full-bodied, beguiling, seductive 2008 is a sleeper of the vintage. Round and silky-smooth with lovely black cherry and black currant fruit imbued with touches of smoke, herbs and earth, this relatively evolved effort is best consumed over the next 15-17 years.

The 2008 Giscours is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. Compared to the 1998 and 1988, this has much more fruit and vitality on the nose: blackberry, bilberry, cedar and just a faint tang of marmalade. I like the delineation and vibrancy here. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin, good fruit concentration and fine backbone. There is a little grit embedded in the texture, slightly chalky perhaps, but I like the energy conveyed by this Giscours and it feels minerally and long towards the finish. Very fine. 2018 - 2040

Healthy crimson. Already quite complex, seductive aromas. Fresh start with real spring in its step - energetic and lively and very well balanced yet with real intrigue still to be revealed. Good wine. Neat finish. Tightly packed. Limpid - wonderful confidence!

The nose has a mix of fruits with more red fruits showing than black. The fruit is sweet and feels
ripe and this with the dark chocolate that comes through on the mid palate gives richness yet
towards the back there is freshness that comes from the red fruits on the finish. 2014-2026

Giscours, made by the same winemaking team that makes Du Tertre (which did not show well in my tastings), reveals sweet tannins and overall far superior quality, which makes me think Du Tertre will improve with time in barrel. The sexy, opulent 2008 Giscours exhibits plenty of dark fruit, forest floor, and earthy notes, sweet, velvety tannin, and good fresh acids. This medium to full-bodied effort should prove to be outstanding with more time.