Château Giscours, 3ème Cru Classé, Margaux, 2017

The 2017 at Giscours was shaped by frost that reduced yields in the lower parcels by as much as forty percent, concentrating what remained and intensifying the character of the fruit. The wine shows a pretty, fragrant nose of plum preserves, warm cassis, wilted rose, and fragrant earth with cinnamon lifting the whole. On the palate, the profile is elegant and plush, showing the expressiveness that Margaux produces at its most charming: crushed black currant, blackberry, and black raspberry lifted by Indian spices, Sichuan pepper, violets, and a chocolate-box softness. A wonderful freshness defines the palate, and the finish shows ripe, grainy tannins that speak to the concentration of a reduced harvest.