Château Giscours Margaux 2025 - 3ème Grand Cru Classé (Primeurs)

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 recently deceased Éric Albada Jelgersma. As the estate’s winemaker, he had restored it to its rightful level of excellence. Thanks to its terroir, this wine produces a particularly deep-colored and full-bodied Margaux with exceptional aging potential, whose character differs significantly 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:

A fabulous Giscours this year, which truly showcases the efforts and hard work put forth at this estate. A deep, dark nose with notes of blackcurrant leaves, dark chocolate, violets, and purple flowers, along with a hint of medicinal herbs, mint, and cinnamon—all presented with great delicacy and precision. Truly refined aromas. An elegant and silky palate, with perfectly balanced tannins that provide structure without overpowering. Astonishing depth and complexity, so well-balanced and executed, with great concentration, yet dark and melancholic—neither heavy nor sunny—fresh and calm, yet also focused and determined. A quintessential Margaux, without any excess. It truly embodies the personality of the vintage with the energy, tension, concentration, juiciness, freshness, maturity, and structure supported by the acidity characteristic of Bordeaux. pH of 3.68. A yield of 30 hl/ha. 2032–2049

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

Giscours is one of the largest estates in the Médoc (100 ha), 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 in terms of its architecture, Giscours is equally so for its beautiful terroir of deep gravel soils, which are remarkably uniform. This Margaux third growth also owns plots within the Haut-Médoc appellation for two wines: Ch. Duthil and the Haut-Médoc de Giscours.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

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, who own the land, and the operators, and focus on the wines. Giscours benefits from a first-rate terroir, as evidenced by numerous older vintages. Like many others, it went through a brief slump during the 1990s and 2000s. A major restructuring of the vineyard has allowed the estate to get back on track, and the most recent vintages have returned to its full-bodied and intense style.

James Suckling

About the wine:

A balanced and harmonious red wine that combines finesse, texture, and a long finish. It offers aromas of red berries, cedar, river stones, and baking spices. Medium-bodied, it features fine tannins. Velvety and alluring, it offers a long, flavorful, and precise finish. A blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc.

Terre de Vins

About the wine:

The Giscours team claims to have “never produced a wine this precise,” and it would be out of line to contradict them. We applaud the wine’s aromatic purity and its lively, fresh vibrancy, which expresses a joyful, sap-filled floral character. On the palate, the texture is beautifully defined—a silky smoothness just tinged with powdery, finely grained tannins. This is a 2025 vintage of great elegance, vibrant and easy to drink, with a finish that unfolds like lace throughout the wine’s length. A truly outstanding achievement that confirms the thorough work accomplished at the estate.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

The intensity and freshness of the bouquet go hand in hand with its subtlety. No single element dominates; rather, it is the overall profile that leads the nose, with notes of cherries and blueberries complemented by freshness, hints of eucalyptus, and notes of garrigue. What stands out about the bouquet is that a wine capable of combining intensity and subtlety is bound to have greatness in its sights. The silky yet lively attack heralds a vibrant, powerful, elegant, and perfectly balanced wine. Its tannins provide solid support, delivering energy and precision, while the acidity ensures freshness all the way through to the finish. The finish capitalizes on this energy, which transforms tension into a driving force designed to extend it. At times, you find yourself beginning to daydream—perhaps even dozing off—before an invigorating spark brings you back to reality… only to experience a waking dream! A full-bodied, muscular, vigorous, and persistent wine. A muscular marathon runner who will set off for a second lap once he’s crossed the finish line at full speed. That’s what we call persistence. A bewildering, fascinating, invigorating wine! What a character! 2030–2065