1999 Giscours
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Tasting notes
The 1999 Giscours doesn't quite have the complexity of the '98 on the nose, showing only blackberry, cedar and just a touch of pressed violet. It just doesn't have quite the same degree of intensity. The palate is medium-bodied with mocha and leather on the entry. It's quite fleshy in style but doesn't give you the complexity of a great Giscours. Given the season, this is not a bad wine by any measure, though the 1998 is better.
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Bitter chocolate and blackberry on the nose, finessed mint and eucalyptus that places us squarely on the Left Bank, more understated than the 1998 with a softly silken texture. A vintage where typically you should look to Pomerol to find the best wines, but this corner of southern Margaux produced some excellent bottles also. Holds on in the glass also, still delivering after 30 minutes. Earthy but enticing. Jacques Boissenot consultant, 50% new oak. Albada-Jelgersma family owners.
Tasted at the Château Giscours vertical, the 1999 Château Giscours is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Merlot picked between September 21 and October 5. It has a straightforward bouquet with scents of red plum, autumn leaves and a touch of rose petal that needs a little more vigor. The palate is better than the nose, a little more cohesive than the 1998, with more freshness. There is a savory, almost meaty tincture towards the finish, which has a slight ferrous note lingering on the aftertaste. I have not tasted this for ten years, but it shoots just above my expectations. Tasted June 2015
About the producer
Ch. Giscours is a Third Growth estate situated in the Médoc appellation of Margaux. With a long and somewhat chequered history, the estate has seen an impressive rise in quality since the early 2000s and is only getting better.