Aromas of mint and currants with hints of fresh herbs. Then turns to plum jam. Full body, with well-integrated tannins and pretty fruit. Long and caressing. This is really outstanding. Better in 2017.

Tasted at the Château Giscours vertical, the 2010 Château Giscours is a blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon and 29% Merlot picked between September 27 and October 14. I contrasted this directly against the superb 2009, but I still maintain that this has the upper hand, albeit in a different style. The aromatics are very focused with black fruit, violets, fig and mineral scents that are very well defined. But you need patience - this is not as immediate as the previous vintage. The palate delivers, delivers and delivers brilliant delineation and poise, more freshness than it knows what to do with, an intensity that is supremely well focused and length in the mouth. There is even a dab of mint chocolate making a surprise appearance on the aftertaste. This is a very impressive Giscours. Tasted June 2015. (Neal Martin)

(a blend of 71% cabernet sauvignon and 29% merlot): Fully saturated ruby-purple with inky highlights. Captivating nose of cassis, violet, gunflint and aromatic herbs; this struck me as being very dominated by its cabernet component. Fresh, rich and dense, with palate-staining flavors of dark berries, coffee and cocoa complicated by ink and graphite. Very complex and long, this vintage appears to be a major achievement for Giscours and one of the best wines from this estate in years. Ian D'Agata

Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Giscours slips seductively out of the glass with notions of baked black cherries, mulberries and plum preserves plus hints of cassis, pencil lead and dried Provence herbs. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is toting a fair amount of oak with a sturdy frame of chewy tannins, coming through with a long, fruity finish.

Polished, with lots of alluring mocha and licorice notes leading the way, followed by creamy blueberry, blackberry and black cherry fruit. The finish is long and creamy. -J.M.

3rd Growth Margaux (43hl/ha)[71CS/29M] Very cabernet to smell, that touch of herbaceousness; rich, very firmly structured wine, a mass of fine fruit framed by a chewy tannin; quite complex, a lovely dense, freshly ripe black and redcurrant fruit, broad, mouthcoating, sappy, tenacious on the palate, with good length of fruit and aroma; a muscular style with an abundance of fruit and tannin. Long term. How long? 10-15 years, I suspect. 2022-35+ [M.Schuster, Bordeaux Mar/Apr 2011]

Bright ruby-red. Cassis, blackberry and licorice pastille on the nose. Then sweet, juicy and energetic in the mouth, with complex flavors of plum, currant, cedar, tobacco and spices along with a gamey nuance. Firmly built but not hard. Finishes with serious but fine-grained tannins and a note of licorice. Still a bit strict today, this wine has the structure to repay aging.

Fruit cake, baked plum and bramble fruit. Spicy oak, sweet and fragrant on the palate. Dry, lengthy, satisfying. Traditional but not austere or lean – plenty of generous flavour and supple structure. (RH)

Tasted blind. Browning garnet. Sweet and chocolatey on the nose, almost a hint of caramel. Lots of savoury undergrowth character too. On the palate, very ripe and a bit over the top in its sheer mass, especially for Margaux. A little sour on the finish. (JH)