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Giscours 2010

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

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Tasting Notes

Tasted at the UGC tasting in London. This could turn out to be one of the finest wines from this great Margaux estate in recent years. The Giscours 2010 has a lifted, generous bouquet with blackberry, boysenberry, mineral and just a touch of violets, all with superb definition and focus. The palate is medium-bodied with a little oak on the entry still to be subsumed. It is very well balanced with a keen thread of acidity. I like the tension here, the way it sashays towards the finish. Primal and brimming over with energy and animation, this Giscours should age with style. Tasted November 2012.

94
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, February 2013

I thought this could be even more spectacular than it is, given the way the 2010 from Giscours performed from the barrel, but it is certainly outstanding. A beautiful wine, stunningly opulent, accessible and almost atypically forward, it is plump and delicious already, and in that sense, it is almost reminiscent of the 2009. Deep ruby/plum/purple, with juicy black raspberry and black currant fruit as well as hints of cedar, licorice, forest floor and underbrush, the 2010 is medium to full-bodied, layered, round and impossible to resist already. It should drink beautifully for 20-25 years.

91
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (205), March 2013

Aromas of mint and currants with hints of fresh herbs. Then turns to plum jam. Full body, with well-integrated tannins and pretty fruit. Long and caressing. This is really outstanding. Better in 2017.

95
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, February 2013

Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Giscours slips seductively out of the glass with notions of baked black cherries, mulberries and plum preserves plus hints of cassis, pencil lead and dried Provence herbs. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is toting a fair amount of oak with a sturdy frame of chewy tannins, coming through with a long, fruity finish. Drink 2020-2037.

92+
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate (March 2020), March 2020

Blackish crimson. Quite complex and complete. Just beautifully balanced. This is ripe claret. The sort that Edmund Penning-Rowsell never encountered. Nothing forced nor self conscious. Just great balance and confidence. Fresh finish. Real Margaux. Appetising and subtle. But no blockbuster. Even a little sinewy on the finish.

17.5
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2011

Serious improvements are taking place here (and also at sister property du Tertre) under the Dutch manager, Alexander Van Beek. Those who remember the 1970 Giscours will know that this Chateau has the ability to make really great wine. 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot with all the Cabernet Franc relegated to the second wine. A really gorgeous ripe strawberry and cherry fruit nose. This is a wine of great purity yet it has a sexy creamy mouth-feel with a polished texture and a hint of Asain spices. Quite feminine with freshness and class. A pure linear finish.

93
Farr Vintners, April 2011

The nose has a good weight of fruit very black fruit in character. On the palate black cherry and sloe give a concentrated richness behind the slightly fresher bramble. There are hints of oak that add spice to the finish.

88/93
Derek Smedley MW, April 2011

Very good depth of fruit, perfect Cabernet ripeness, fragrance and smoothness of texture to see a very good future. Drink 2017-30.

17.5
Steven Spurrier, Decanter.com, April 2011
Read more tasting notes...

It is a little unsettling to realize that 2009 and 2010 may be the greatest back to back Bordeaux vintages produced in the history of the region. The over-achieving Giscours has turned in a great performance in 2010, which possesses an opaque purple color as well as notes of licorice, black truffles, sweet blackberry and cassis fruit, flowers and soil undertones. It is very full-bodied and exceptionally opulent, fat and round, but the vintage's acids, precision, high glycerin, alcohol and extract are all present. Give it 2-3 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 25-30 years.

92/95
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (194), May 2011

Tasted twice at the chateau and the UGC, a blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon (the highest ever) and 29% Merlot that cropped at 25-27hl/ha. It has a pH of 3.6 and 13.7% alcohol. I must say, I really love the purity on this nose as dark cherries, cassis and crushed flower soar from the glass. Very fine delineation here. The palate is medium-bodied with very silky smooth tannins, almost Burgundian in texture. Lovely poise and focus, long in the mouth, this is the finest Giscours in a long time. Tasted April 2011.

92/94
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, April 2011

This is very structured and muscular with a lots of toasty new wood showing now but if you dig deep you see a rich and beautiful fruit and velvety tannin structure. Is this the new 1970? Very sexy

94/95
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, March 2011
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.