Plenty of delicious fruit in this wine with strawberry and raspberry. Full body, with creamy tannins and a fresh and clean finish. Gorgeous. Fine. 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, and 4% Cabernet Franc.

A polished, silky style, with cashmere tannins that let the supple plum and boysenberry fruit glide along. Suave black tea chimes in on the finish. Appears easygoing at first, but there’s ample stuffing here. Solid. —J.M.

[] Ripe fruited nose; generous, fleshy, moderately rich and ripe fruited wine all within a well conceived and not too dry tannin, long and generous and juicily satisfying, another well conceived wine in the year with both complexity, flesh and nice warm length. 2020-30 [M.Schuster, Bordeaux Mar/Apr 2013]

Tasted at the Château Giscours vertical and a few months later again at the property, the 2012 Château Giscours is a blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc picked between September 27 and October 17. It has a rather conservative nose with raspberry, fresh strawberry, tobacco and light licorice scents. The palate is medium-bodied with supple black fruit, but with slightly aggressive acidity. Like the 2013, though to a lesser extent, it needs to show a little more concentration and finesse on the finish; but otherwise, enjoy this over the next decade or so. Tasted March 2016.

Dark crimson. Hint of wood shavings on the nose. Well-melded fruit and great balance on the palate. Nothing forced, with real zest and great balance. Something a little meat flavoured about this – a welcome change from all the obvious sweetness. Drink 2020-2035.

Not very expressive at first but smells riper than many – though there is still a light dustiness. Firm grip on the palate, dark and savoury and the tannins firm, dry but ripe. Good harmony without masses of fruit flavour. (JH)