2008 Giscours, Margaux

Giscours style is quite masculine. 2008 gave a ripe merlot; tannins, and firm a la style the Commune Larbade. 80% of the Malolactic fermentation occurs in the tank, and 20% occurs in the barrel. The wine of Chateau Giscours is aged in 50% new French oak barrels for an average of 18 months. The style is pretty big. We di not tasted the wines recent, so we quote herewith the comments from international tasters:

94 points Wine Enthusiast A dense wine, powerful while also elegant. It shows all the best character of a grand Margaux, with fine tannins and dense structure. It will age well. *Cellar Selection* (RV) (4/2011). Edited.

91 points Vinous The 2008 Giscours is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. Compared to 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 a fine backbone. There is a little grit embedded in the texture, slightly chalky perhaps, but I like the energy conveyed by this Giscours; it feels minerally and extended towards the finish. Very fine. (NM) (2/2018). Edited.

90 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 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. (RP) (5/2011).