4 | Wine | Margaux, 86 to 90

"A ripe, woodsy wine with plenty of forest floor, black currant, cherry and dusty, loamy soil notes, this wine is showing quite well, with medium to full-bodied, silky tannins and a long finish. It should certainly last for 20+ years."
-Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, 89 pts.

"A bright, ripe style, with very fresh crushed plum, raspberry and blackberry fruit wrapped in silky tannins and laced with hints of anise and black tea. The rounded finish has modest grip for mid-term cellaring."

"A sleeper of the vintage. Sweet black currant fruit intermixed with some roasted herbs, licorice, and background oak is followed by a medium-bodied wine with excellent concentration, fresh acids, and ripe, sweet tannins."

"This is a step up, with a level of glycerin that sets it apart from the pack, showing ripe, mouthfilling plum, fig and blackberry fruit laid over a nice graphite spine. Sweet tobacco and violet notes fill in on the lengthy finish."

"Displays blackberry and blueberry aromas, with a hint of cappuccino. Full and silky, with a lovely texture of ripe tannins and an aftertaste of dark chocolate, berry and light vanilla. This is a solid estate making solid wines now."

"Although one of the appellation’s more tannic 2004s, the tannin is beautifully balanced by sweet black currant fruit, spring flower, camphor, and licorice notes. This impeccably well-made, medium-bodied Margaux reveals a lovely integration of acidity, tannin, and wood." Reviewed by Robert Parker.

"Tangy, with core flavors of red currant, damson plum and red licorice. Tobacco leaf and a pepper hint check in on the finish."

"Delivers black tea and singed vanilla aromas, with supple red currant and iron notes. A pleasant backdrop of cedar comes into focus on the sinewy finish."

"A major sleeper of the vintage, the 2012 is a Labegorce that finally reflects the investments and change of staff and ownership that had held so much promise. A dense ruby/purple hue is followed by abundant notes of black currants, blackberries, licorice, a foresty/underbrush character and a hint of smoke. It also possesses a medium-bodied, silky texture. Drink it over the next 10-12 years."
Reviewed by: Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate - 88 to 90 pts

"Vibrant, with a racy, well-stitched core of damson plum, raspberry and blackberry fruit supported by fruitcake and graphite notes. Displays range and energy. Solid."

"Nice sappy feel, with juicy kirsch and plum flesh notes and lots of well-integrated spice on the finish. Lightens up a touch in the end, but stays focused."
-Wine Spectator, 88 to 91 pts.

"Made in a sexy, perfumed style, this 2011 seduces the taster with its wonderful aromatics of blue, red and black fruits, flowers, damp earth and forest floor. With excellent to outstanding concentration, fresh acidity and velvety tannins, this plush Margaux is atypically opulent/flamboyant for the vintage."-Robert Parker

"The powerful, concentrated 2011 Giscours is not terribly dissimilar from their 2005. Composed of two-thirds Cabernet Sauvignon and one-third Merlot, it exhibits a deep ruby/purple color along with scents of charcoal, underbrush, forest floor, licorice, black currants and a hint of wood smoke. This rich, medium to full-bodied, dense effort should be consumed over the next 10-15 years."
-Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, 88 to 90 pts.

"This has nice ripeness, with cassis and blackberry paste flavors allied to sweet tobacco and roasted spice. Has a plump, weighty feel, but good focus, too."