2021 Chateau Giscours

Chateau Giscours in Margaux has been making wine in the region as far back at the 1300’s, but it’s only recently that they’ve earned a reputation for outstanding wines. Extensive replanting of the vineyards and a change in composition to include more Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend has resulted in wines truly reflective of the appellation.

Another technology pioneer in the region, Chateau Giscours was one of the first to use gravity to move wine in the cellars. While this practice is common now, it was unique in the 1800’s. They were also one of the first to use optical sorting of the grapes, another common tool used more widely today.

Other Reviews....
The 2021 Giscours is immensely promising and shows just how far this important estate has come in the last few years. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of cassis, dark berries, cigar wrapper, violets, sweet forest floor and burning embers, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with terrific depth at the core, ripe tannins, lively acids and a long, penetrating finish. With wines like this, we're back to a level of quality that Giscours hasn't routinely attained since the 1970s! The blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot; and even if by the standards of the last decade, that isn't a particularly elevated percentage of Cabernet, this is nonetheless a very Cabernet-driven wine in style. Tasted six times.
93-95 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Apr 2022)

The 2021 Giscours is fabulous. In fact, the 2021 is one of the best Giscours in recent memory. Silky and impeccable in its balance, the 2012 possesses magnificent elegance that brings out its pedigreed personality. Rose petal, lavender, spice, gravel and black cherry all come together, framed by silky tannins that wrap it all up. The 2021 is less aromatic than most recent vintages, but the depth here is considerable, as is the potential. Taste two times. Drink 2028-2041.
94-96 points
Antonio Galloni - Vinous

The 2021 Giscours is matured in 50% new oak from nine cooperages. It has a very well-defined bouquet of blackberry, briar, graphite and light tobacco aromas, plus a touch of lavender in the background. Very pretty. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins. Not a deep or powerful Giscours, but elegant and poised with a long tail on the finish. It doesn't try too hard and the result is a delicious, refined Margaux wine. A great success in a tricky year. Drink 2026-2050.
91-93 points
Neal Martin - Vinous

Very precise and focused with tight, sleek yet firm tannins, framing a fresh core of black fruit, gravel and tobacco. Crushed stones and tea leaves, too. Savory and medium-bodied. Driven and linear. Lots of cabernet character. Chewy tannins. Rather muscular. But polished texture. 65% cabernet sauvignon, 32% merlot and 3% petit verdot.
94-95 points
James Suckling

Tasted on multiple occasions, the 2021 Château Giscours is another pretty, floral, more red and black fruited effort that has medium-bodied richness, wonderful tannins, no hard edges, and outstanding length. Based on 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot, it shows the pretty, finesse oriented, elegant style of the vintage.
91-94 points
Jeb Dunnuck

Violets, spice-tinged cherries and currants create the nose. On the palate, the wine exudes a sweetness to its core of red berries, along with elegance and refinement. Balance and freshness are the hallmarks of this wine, which finishes with layers of sweet, finesse styled red fruits and tannins. The wine is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot, 13.5% ABV, pH 3.8, the harvest took place September 27 - October 13. Yields were 38 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2026-2045.
92-94 points
Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider

Rich but so delicate, generous but refined, this has a lovely grip of fruit in the mouth - cooling blueberries and black cherries and plums with a soft mouth-watering effect. The tannins are textured and fill the mouth with a minerality and salinity - slate, liquorice, ash, tobacco and cinnamon. The overall motion is excellent and I love the acidity and the bite of the flavours. A very dynamic wine and one that will give a lot of enjoyment. Drinking Window 2025 - 2045.
93 points
Georgina Hindle - Decanter