772 | Wine | Margaux, $20 to $50, 91 to 95

"This sports freshly brewed espresso, crushed currant, steeped blackberry and succulent black cherry fruit. The long, tar-coated finish is well-polished. A bit amped up in style, but stays balanced enough. Accessible now."

"A wonderful success of the vintage, the 2008 d'Issan exhibits a dark plum/garnet/purple color as well as abundant aromas of flowers, Asian spices, jammy plums and black currants. Broad, savory and medium to full-bodied with sweet tannin and an evolved, already delicious, complex style, this cuvee will age nicely for 10-15 years."

"A seductive, opulent, textured Margaux with notes of licorice, black fruits, asphalt, pen ink and truffle, this is one of the finest du Tertres ever made. It has a hedonistic quality to it, but at the same time, there is great class, precision and freshness to this full-bodied, concentrated, but very supple-textured wine. Drink it over the next 20+ years."-Robert Parker

"It exhibits a classic Margaux fragrance of acacia flowers/violets, blueberries, cassis, licorice and camphor. Opulent and full-bodied with silky tannins as well as a rich, dense style, it will be interesting to compare the 2009 with the brilliant 2000 and 2005 over the next two to three decades."-Robert Parker

"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."

"A spectacular effort from this estate rivaling their 2005, but more flashy/flamboyant, this dark ruby/purple wine has a strikingly intense nose of licorice, flowers, plums and dark berries. Medium to full-bodied, very approachable and silky, this suave, very sexy wine can be drunk early on as well as aged for 20+ years." Reviewed by Robert Parker.

"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."