2006 Berrys' Margaux, Ch. Giscours

The Berrys’ Own Selection range, which now comprises over 70 products, has been designed to offer benchmark examples from around the world. When it comes to the Bordeaux we tend to work with individual chateaux to secure parcels of wine which are exceptionally true to their origins.

In this case we have gone to Chateau Giscours, a 3rd Classified Growth from Margaux, to source this wine. Giscours endured a chequered history in the 20th century and was in a dire state when acquired by the Tari family in 1952. Many improvements were made and the decade of the 1970s saw some scintillating vintages.

In 1995 the property was sold to Dutch businessman Eric Albada Jelgersma, who has continued with the improvements to both vineyard and chateau. The grapes are fermented in stainless steel tanks and are then aged in barrels, 30-40% new, for 18 months before bottling. Giscours is a big estate, making 35,000 cases annually, divided between the Grand Vin and the second wine, La Sirene de Giscours. For this wine we have been allocated a parcel of the second wine to bottle under the BBR label.

The wine is bright with a deep garnet core and pale rim. The nose is fragrantly perfumed with blackcurrant and cedar notes. The palate is dry with balanced acidity and supple, integrated tannins. Judicious use of oak shows itself with subtly spicy leather notes and complements the black cherry and cassis characters that come across on the palate as well as the nose.