Château Giscours Margaux 2019 - 3ème Grand Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

This vast 300-hectare estate (80 hectares of which are under cultivation), located in Labarde, has had a turbulent history due to complicated family successions. The vineyards have remained in the Tari family since 1952, but the wine is crafted by a talented team under the direction of Alexander van Beek, inspired by the courage of the late Éric Albada Jelgersma. As the estate’s manager, he had restored it to its rightful level. Due to its terroir, this wine produces a particularly colorful and full-bodied Margaux with exceptional aging potential, possessing a character quite distinct from the wines of the appellation’s northern section. When at its best, it can rival Château Palmer, yet its prices remain more reasonable than those of its rival.

Decanter

About the wine:

Stunning floral aromas—so fragrant and lovely—burst from the glass, accompanied by an incredibly vibrant pink-purple color. On the palate, the flavors are excellent: the fruit is bright and vibrant, the terroir comes through beautifully, and the tannins are supple and smooth. The warmth of the vintage is evident in the density and depth of the slightly spicy red and black fruits, but also in a juicy, brilliant acidity that supports the fruit and maintains freshness. Full of elegance, precision, and confidence—all elements are in harmony, with consistency and persistence. A wonderful wine. 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot. 2025 - 2039

Guide Hachette des vins

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 host Empress Eugénie when she visited her summer residence in Biarritz. Highly representative of a Médoc grand cru through its architecture, Giscours is equally so through its beautiful terroir of deep gravel, characterized by great homogeneity. This third-growth Margaux estate also owns plots in the Haut-Médoc appellation for two labels: Ch. Duthil and the Haut-Médoc de Giscours.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

The 2019 Giscours has developed beautifully in the bottle, releasing aromas of sweet berries, cherries, smoldering embers, lilacs, and violets in the glass, framed by a subtle hint of new oak. Full-bodied, layered, and concentrated, it is polished and fragrant, with a velvety, seamless profile and lively acidity. It concludes with a long, resonant finish. Alexandre Van Beek and his team are taking this estate to heights it hasn’t reached since the 1970s, and this is another of the great bargains of the 2019 en primeur season.

About the estate:

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

About the estate:

The estate, leased by the Dutch Albada Jelgersma family, is managed by the talented Alexander Van Beek. Let’s set aside the legal disputes between the Tari family, the landowners, and the leaseholders, and focus on the wines. Giscours benefits from a first-rate terroir, as evidenced by many older vintages. Like many others, it went through a brief slump in the 1990s and 2000s. A major restructuring of the vineyard allowed the estate to bounce back, and recent vintages have returned to its full-bodied, intense style.

Vinous

About the wine:

The 2019 Giscours is just as compelling today as it was in the barrel. Deep in color and sumptuous on the palate, Giscours reveals its remarkable depth and breadth. The succulent flavors of black cherry, plum, leather, tobacco, menthol, and licorice intensify as this magnificent, layered Margaux develops over time in the glass. This 2019 is a great wine, though not quite as exuberant as the 2018. Tasted twice. 2029–2049

James Suckling

About the wine:

A ripe, layered red wine with plenty of blackcurrant and chocolate character, along with hints of nuts and cocoa powder. Notes of crushed stone as well. It is full-bodied and layered, with round tannins and a juicy, opulent texture. Like crushed velvet that transforms into silk. Very fresh and long-lasting. There’s a lot going on here. It needs 3 to 4 years to fully develop. But it will age beautifully in the years to come. A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot. Best enjoyed after 2026.

Terre de Vins

About the wine:

A very delicate nose, revealing a lovely sweetness alongside a refreshing crispness. The attack confirms this freshness. The 65% Cabernet Sauvignon gives this wine its signature blend of power and smoothness. The finish is very long—a masterclass in balance. A truly outstanding 2019.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

The bouquet of Giscours is remarkably refined. It unfolds slowly, revealing aromas of red berries, licorice, and garrigue. On the palate, the wine stands out for its finesse, density, and freshness. It possesses character and liveliness. The tannins are firm but fine-grained. They provide a solid foundation through an unexpected power that is supportive rather than overwhelming. What a long finish! A lovely return of fruit on the finish. A wine that will need time. I have rarely tasted a Giscours with such vigor, length, and potential. It is far from having reached its peak, and I believe it will surprise many as it continues to evolve. 2027–2049

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About the wine:

Freshness and purity are the hallmarks of this wine. The intensity of the bouquet—with its notes of violets, lilacs, and roses, as well as tobacco leaves, black and red fruits, damp earth, spices, and smoke—captures the attention. But I love the silky texture on the palate with all its depth and richness, the purity of the fruit, the liveliness, and the length. This is the best vintage produced in the long history of Château Giscours. It will age effortlessly for 2 to 3 decades. Drink from 2026 to 2055.