1970 Chateau Giscours

A trip down memory lane. I bought a case of this wine twenty odd years ago from a local importer/retailer and whatever is left has been in professional storage for a good baker's dozen years.

I just looked at Robert Parker's assessments and what they have in common is that the three are all rated at 87/88 points. I need to be humble and reproach myself; I would not have bought this wine in the last decade or so because of the score.

He initially saw it as tannic and loaded with fruit, in the second edition he saw it as more accessible and his only cavil was that it was lacking finesse. (it is interesting to note that the 78 and 75, both of which I've enjoyed and still have a couple of bottles of, were and are still rated in the outstanding category).

In the most recent edition (but with the same score as above, online), under "ancient vintages" he states "Certainly, the 1970 seems to be cracking up after a long 30 year run as a very tasty, delicious wine." I wondered about that as I had one of my bottles a couple of Thanksgivings ago and was delighted with it.

So the other night, with great company- and another bottle; the label was simply dazzling, virginal white, top shoulder fill. The wine was as I remembered it last time; plump, the tannins having melted away, plummy, black fruits,truffles and mushrooms, still full of fruit, dark and rich,a still satisfying finish, reminiscent of an older Palmer, no fall off in the course of drinking it; about an hour and1 a half.

So the foregoing is not intended to be a criticism of Robert Parker, rather, a reminder that provenance is still terribly important, and oh, the joy of discovering a bottle that is as it was; still offering up a wealth of pleasures.

Giscours is reputed to be back in fine Margaux form; I look forward to my 2000.

I haven't had a great Giscours since the 1961. Unfortunately, I missed out on the 1970.

Great write-up, Wine Mook. Thanks. I've got some '03 Giscours futures coming.