Château Giscours Margaux 2016 - 3ème Grand Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

This immense 300-hectare estate (80 hectares of which are cultivated), located in Labarde, has had a turbulent history due to delicate family succession issues. The vineyards have belonged to the Tari family since 1952, but the wine is produced by a talented team led by Alexander van Beek, inspired by the courage of the recently deceased Éric Albada Jelgersma. As the estate's farmer, he had restored it to its true status. Due to its terroir, this cru produces a particularly colorful and full-bodied Margaux with excellent aging potential and a character quite different from the crus in the northern part of the appellation. When successful, it can rival Château Palmer, but the prices remain more reasonable than those of its rival.

Guide Hachette des vins

About wine:

With its beautiful bright reflections, the deep ruby color inspires confidence. More timid at first, the bouquet opens up nicely with aeration, expressing the maturity of the grapes. Full-bodied, rich, and round, the palate is supported by beautiful tight but fine tannins and perfectly controlled oak. A serious, intense Margaux, built for long-term aging. 2023-2030

About the estate:

Giscours is one of the largest estates in the Médoc (100 hectares), dominated by a monumental château built by the Counts of Pescatore, a family of bankers, to welcome Empress Eugénie when she visited her holiday resort in Biarritz. Giscours is highly representative of Médoc grand cru wines, not only in terms of its buildings, but also its beautiful terroir of deep gravel soils, which are extremely consistent. This Margaux third growth also owns plots in the Haut-Médoc appellation for two labels: Ch. Duthil and Haut-Médoc de Giscours.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About wine:

With a deep garnet-purple color, Giscours 2016 offers aromas of blackcurrant, chocolate, earth, tar, pepper, and hoisin sauce with hints of flowers and a fleshy nuance. The palate is medium to full-bodied, firm, and grainy with a good core and a long finish.

About the estate:

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About wine:

The 2016 is a serious, full-bodied, and well-ripened Giscours. A well-structured Margaux with smooth tannins.

About the estate:

The estate, leased by the Dutch Albada Jelgersma family, is managed by the talented Alexander Van Beek. Let's leave aside the legal disputes between the Tari family, who own the land, and the operators, and focus on the wines. Giscours benefits from a first-class terroir, as evidenced by many older vintages. Like many others, it went through a slight slump in the 1990s and 2000s. However, a major restructuring of the vineyard has enabled the estate to move forward, and the latest vintages have returned to its full and intense style.

Wine Enthusiast

About wine:

This nearly 200-acre estate is located south of the Margaux appellation. The wine is another great success in a series of superb vintages. It is rich, but its structure and finely textured fruit give it style and longevity. Drink this wine from 2026 onwards.

James Suckling

About wine:

It has attractive, bright aromas of ripe red plum and licorice with cedar, flowers, and red fruit, as well as a stony edge. A very fragrant nose with a focus on Cabernet. The palate is elegant and graceful with a chic and charming style, well-balanced and a discreet tannic structure that maintains a long and fresh finish. A blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Merlot. Try from 2023.

Le Figaro vins

About wine:

Intense red fruit, floral. Full-bodied, rich, fresh on the palate, ample tannins, long finish, enveloping, silky wine. A great success.

Jean-Marc Quarin

About wine:

Dark, intense, beautiful, and youthful color. Very aromatic, refined, fruity, complex, and even noble nose. Delicate on entry, meticulous in the middle, with a refined tannic texture, the wine tightens and beautifies at the same time on the finish, offering a fine grain and sophisticated aromas reminiscent of red and white fruits. Very good length. A style apart and so beautiful!