Country: France Region: Bordeaux  Varietal:  65% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon Vintage: 2019 Colour: Red Style: Dry Producer: Chateau Giscours Description: Located on the left bank of Bordeaux, Chateau Giscours is a historic property of the Margaux appellation with vines planted for the first time in the 16th century. This superb 3rd Classified Growth of Margaux is a true standard of the Bordeaux region. The Château Giscours vineyard covers 95 hectares of vines in production on 300 hectares in total. A real gem, the Château Giscours terroir stands out for its 3 outcroppings of deep Garonnaise gravel, which play a decisive role in the ripening cycle of the grapes. Tasting Note: On the palate, this fine red wine of Margaux testifies to the greatness of Cabernet which bring structure, freshness and density to the blend. The Château Giscours 2019 will seduce the fans of this property with its precision and balance. 97 points James Suckling  A ripe and layered red with lots of currant and chocolate character, as well as some walnut and cocoa powder. Crushed stones, too. It’s full and layered with round tannins and a juicy and plush texture. Crushed velvet that turns to silk. Very cool and long. Plenty going on here. Give it three to four years to come together. But will age beautifully for years to come. Try after 2026.  (2/2022) 95 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate  The 2019 Giscours has turned out very well in bottle, wafting from the glass with aromas of sweet berries, cherries, burning embers, lilac and violets framed by a discreet patina of new oak. Full-bodied, layered and concentrated, it's polished and perfumed, with a velvety, seamless profile and bright animating acids, concluding with a long, resonant finish. Alexandre Van Beek and his team are taking this estate to heights it hasn't hit since the 1970s, and this is another of the great bargains of the 2019 en primeur campaign. (WK)  (4/2022) 95 points Vinous  The 2019 Giscours has certainly calmed down since its bravura performance from barrel, now more streamlined and focused, albeit retaining that black and blue fruit interlaced with pressed violet. The harmonious palate is very finely tuned and beautifully structured, with a touch of salinity. This is one of the more precise Giscours in recent years, perhaps partly due to consultant Thomas Duclos, who began working with the estate in 2018 (he was actually born nearby). This reminds me of some of the classic Giscours such as the 1966 or the 1970. It may even merit a higher score with bottle age. (NM)  (2/2022) 93-95 points Jeb Dunnuck  Based on 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot, the 2019 Château Giscours is another stunning 2019. Deep purple, with a fresh yet concentrated style on the palate, it has lots of red, black, and blue fruits as well as notes of sandalwood, flowery incense, and graphite. It's not massive, by any means, yet is flawlessly balanced and has integrated acidity, followed by a great finish. It's very much in the more precise, pretty, elegant style of this vintage yet still packs plenty of mid-palate depth. Give bottles 4-5 years of bottle age and enjoy over the following 25 years or so.  (6/2020)