Giscours Margaux 2016

96 points James Suckling: "This has attractive, glossy, ripe red-plum and licorice aromas with cedar, flowers and red berries, as well as a stony edge. A very fragrant, cabernet-driven nose. The palate has elegance and grace with sleek and charming, balanced style and a discreet tannin structure that holds the finish long and fresh. A blend of 81 per cent cabernet sauvignon and 19 per cent merlot. Try from 2023. (2/3/19)"

96 points/'Cellar Selection,' Wine Enthusiast: "This nearly 200-acre estate lies in the south of the Margaux appellation. The wine is another great success in a series of superb years. It is rich but the structure and finely textured fruit give it style and longevity. Drink the wine from 2026. Alcohol 14%. (May 2019)"

95 points Neal Martin (Vinous): "The 2016 Giscours is built around 81% Cabernet Sauvignon. It has a wonderful bouquet with pure blackberry, crushed violet and mineral scents, with exquisite delineation and poise. The palate is framed by fine tannins and a perfect line of acidity. Slightly grainy in texture, it boasts gentle grip, yet there is real intensity and focus here. The 2016 is only just beginning to open and should be cellared for several years. Drink: 2030-2065. (Apr 2025)"

95 points Jane Anson (Inside Bordeaux): "(81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot). Intense and concentrated, with high levels of Cabernet Sauvignon after frost impacted the Merlot and you feel it, in this deeply textured dark berry fruits, with slate and mint leaf accents, stately Left Bank, a little closed still, but with so much balance and hidden power, tannic structure inching open to show ripe cassis, black cherry and grilled spice. Not ready yet, but already confident in what it is going to become. Axel Marchal and Valerie Lavigne consultants, taking over from Denis Dubourdieu. 50% new oak for ageing, harvest September 26 through to October 20. Alcohol 13.5%. Drink: 2024-2042. (2/7/24)"

95 points Chris Kissack (Winedoctor): "This wine presents a dark, smoky, brooding and somewhat roasted character to the fruit on the nose, with a little note of baked cherry fruit to it. The palate kicks off in the same vein, showing a rich and slightly smudged character right at the start, but it tightens up very nicely in the middle where it shows lovely definition and freshness of character, a welcoming presence framed by dark, tense and acid-fresh blackcurrant and berry fruits, swirled with toast and praline, while underneath it all there lurks a grip of smoky tannins. A very impressive wine, showing a fine composition and harmony, and a convincing length. (Dec 2018)"

95 points Jeff Leve (The Wine Cellar Insider): "Ruby gem in color, the wine is floral, with hints of licorice, cocoa, crème de cassis and tobacco in the perfume. Vibrant, silky, sensuous and energetic, the fruit offers its sweet, juicy sensations with ease. The finish, with its length, purity and poise makes you want to take another sip, just for the pleasure. (Sep 2019)"

95 points (17.5/20)/'Le Coup de Coeur,' La Revue du Vin de France: "Typical of Pauillac, the Giscours wines shine with their beautiful definition and depth. The 2016 has lost none of its charm. It is an absolutely delicious wine, carried by a dense but refined texture and very delicate tannins. A benchmark for the vintage. (Jan 2020)"

94 points Jane Anson (Decanter): "Concentrated autumnal fruit offers a hawthorny bramble of blackberry and bilberry. Big-framed, muscular tannins are joined by plenty of acidity - it's very clearly built to last and confident in its ability to reward those with patience. Matured in 50% new oak. Axel Marchal and Valerie Lavigne consult. Drinking Window: 2026-2045. (Oct 2018)"

94 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2016 Giscours is complex, aromatically intense and beguiling, with myriad layers of flavors that unfold with time in the glass. Black cherry, sage, leather, smoke and menthol add plenty of intrigue, but above all else, it is the wine's balance and sense of harmony that make the deepest impression. Under the leadership of Alexander Van Beek and his team, Giscours has been on a roll over the last few years. The 2016 is another fine vintage. Drink: 2022-2041. (Jan 2019)"

94 points Falstaff (5/24/17).