Freddy R. Troya

9.2

La Sirène de Giscours – Margaux 2020
Margaux, Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷

Overview
This is the second label of the historic Château Giscours, a 3ème Cru Classé (Third Growth) estate in the Margaux appellation, with vines dating back to the 16th century. While more approachable than the Grand Vin, La Sirène still carries the château’s signature elegance, crafted from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot.

Aromas & Flavors
Nose: a refined mix of raspberry, redcurrant, and plum, touched with subtle spice and Margaux florality.
Palate: delivers crunchy red fruit, cassis, and herbal undertones, all wrapped in fine, elegant tannins. A trace of spice and graphite enhances the finish.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with silky tannins, balanced acidity, and an elegant structure. Youthful freshness dominates, but there’s enough depth and backbone to give it aging potential.

Value & Winemaking
Aged in oak barrels, this second label is designed to show Margaux’s terroir expression earlier in its life compared to the Grand Vin. It’s vibrant and polished, offering superb quality at a fraction of top-tier Margaux pricing.

Food Pairing
Perfect alongside red meats, roasted lamb, duck breast, or a spread of cheeses like Comté or aged Gouda. Decanting is recommended to unlock its full aromatic range.

Verdict
An elegant, youthful Margaux that delivers sophistication and finesse. A serious second label that shows the DNA of Château Giscours while being approachable much earlier. — 2 months ago

Delectable Wine

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9.4

The 2014 Trotanoy has a more complex bouquet than the 2014 Gazin, with more Pomerol DNA in the mix, iron-tinged red berry fruit, black truffle and cedar. Fine delineation and quintessentially Pomerol. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins and harmonious, soy-tinged black fruit with white pepper sprinkled over the finish. This has personality and class but needs time (comme d'habitude). One of the standouts in what is an inconsistent Pomerol vintage. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, March 2024)
— 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

You would never pick this as a 26 year old red wine from the colour. A rich Ruby red with no tawny rim. This has the Penfolds DNA of ripe plum, mocha, coffee bean and chocolate - a trace of liquorice. The palate is medium plus weight, balanced and harmonious maintaining that core strength. Those initially firm tannins have become supple. Drinking at its peak but could stay on this plateau for a couple more years. My last bottle of the 96 but I still have a few more bottles of the Bin 707 from 1996 which was a huge wine. — 4 years ago

eduardo

9.0

Vinho leve com DNA italiano — 3 months ago

Andrew McIntyre

9.2

Young but already so drinkable. Raspberries and strawberries with massive tannins that will no dount evolve beautifully. Vietti just dont make bad wines...goes against their DNA! — a year ago

Nicolas Greinacher

9.5

This is the 20th release of this wine and has the Pisoni DNA written all over. Always a bit shy on the nose at first, a few minutes of aeration do the trick and reveal well defined, fresh aromas of violets, red and black cherries, forrest strawberry, dried herbs, cola and wood smoke. The lively acidity balances the fruit concentration and the ripe, fine grained tannins neatly frame this medium to full bodied anniversary vintage. Drink now until 2032. — 3 years ago

Aaron Tan

9.1

There was a sense of disappointment with each waft of petrol aroma from the glass. It just shouldn’t be there in a Riesling this young, and especially in one from KP. Clearly the journey taken by this bottle hasn’t been the kindest on its condition. Nevertheless, the DNA of KP’s Kirchspiel still shone through - the regal elegance, palpable minerality, and youthful tannic tartness. Discounting the infuriating petrol note, it was all ripe citrus fruits, herbs, chalk, salt, chalk, salt, chalk and more salt. It was just so mineral, and even more so on day two! I do like it, but I can’t help but feel robbed of the full enjoyment of this wine due to the petrol notes (doubly so when you consider how long I’ve craved for KP’s wines - nearly a year since my last fix). Onwards to a better bottle! — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

See previous notes. From a warm vintage. Typical Penfolds DNA of choc/malt/mocha with Blackberry, mulberry. Palate strength remains at 17 years of age. Supple, pliant smooth tannins with great persistence. 15 months in older American hogsheads. — 7 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

A dense Ruby in colour. Black currant, dark plum, mocha, dark chocolate, and cigar box. The Penfolds Cabernet DNA if you like. Dense and powerful. This wine at 20 years of age is just a pup. The “Rewards of Patience “ has a window to 2045+. I’ll probably have the next one in 10 years or so. The release price of the latest vintage is now over $600 - too expensive IMO. Apparently substantial material from the old Block 42 in the blend - planted in the 1880’s. — a year ago

Andrea Silverstein

9.2

Surprisingly one of the best Cabs I’ve had under $20. So good, will stock up if I see any, next time I’m at TJ’s! — 4 years ago