Luxury Bordeaux Tasting of Iconic Margaux Estate ~ Château Giscours

RATED 90 WINE ADVOCATE AND WINE SPECTATOR : SECOND LABEL OF GISCOURS : 'The 2020 La Sirene de Giscours is especially polished and refined, offering up aromas of blackberries, cassis, violets and burning embers, followed by a medium to full-bodied, suave and seamless palate.' 

RATED 97 WINE ENTHUSIAST AND 95 VINOUS : 'The 2015 Giscours has a beautiful, clean, pure bouquet of generous ripe black cherry, raspberry and crushed violet aromas that could only come from Margaux. The medium-bodied palate is quite dense but wonderfully poised, offering sappy red fruit and very fine tannin and delivering impressive detail on the bay leaf and tea leaf finish. Alexandre van Beek oversaw one of the best Giscours in recent years.'

RATED 96 WINE ENTHUSIAST AND 96 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% cabernet sauvignon and 19% merlot.'

Château Giscours was named a Third Growth Grand Cru Classé in 1855, before the appellation of Margaux was even officially created. Over the centuries, this historic estate has maintained a reputation for excellence, and during our visit to Giscours in May 2024, we were incredibly impressed by every aspect of production from vineyard management with organic viticulture; their commitment to biodiversity and 'gentle' winemaking practices (such as on sulfites used in winemaking until very low amounts in the final blending to simply stabilize the wine); sustainable actions such as on-premise vegetable gardens and livestock on their farm; maintenance of a huge park and meadow.... it goes on and on! Giscours even provides housing on the property for all of their employees. This place is magical, and so are the wines. 

For this 2020 vintage, the aim was to craft a rich wine which preserves the typical characteristics of Château Giscours. To achieve this, the objective was to work on two notions that are close to the heart of Giscours: aromatic brilliance and fine tannins. The technical team at Giscours took great care to give each plant individual attention. As vine-growers, Giscours has detailed knowledge of the terroir and individual rows or plots of vines, treated as micro-gardens that they tend with great care. The 2020 became a voluptuous wine; generous with great personality, and all the power, silky tannins and fleshiness of Château Giscours. It is a vintage that reflects the meticulous and bold approach that guided our team during this atypical year. 

To explore the Caiarossa estate, you have to start by opening your eyes wide to take in the vastness, colors and landscapes, then close them to let the natural energies of the area and the charm of its wines wash over you. Because first and foremost, Caiarossa is a breathtaking vineyard. Dizzying, taming adversity, boasting such diversity that it takes no fewer than ten grape varieties to truly showcase the incredible range of soils and terroirs across the vineyard’s 67 plots. This demanding terroir is cultivated in harmony with nature to achieve a perfect expression of this part of Tuscany. Dotted with breathtaking panoramic views of the valley and the sea, this vineyard offers an adventure, a stimulating stroll.  

This is Caiarossa's top wine, made from their oldest vines, creating a wine of depth, passion and complex character with a beguiling Italian elegance. The harvest is always done by hand, and once the malolactic fermentation is completed, the wine selected for Caiarossa is blended. Then it ages approximately 14 months in French oak barriques. The blend varies, but is typically about 25% Cabernet Franc, 25% Syrah, 15% each Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sangiovese, 4% Petit Verdot and 1% Grenache.