Tasted at the Chateau Giscours vertical, the 1996 Chateau Giscours is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot picked between September 9 and 23. It has never been a really great vintage for this Margaux address, despite the benevolent growing season for the Left Bank. The nose is nicely defined with light red berry fruit, but there is a distracting medicinal scent that puts me off and detracts from terroir expression. The palate is medium-bodied with light tannin, a little dusty and dour with a thin and rather lackluster finish. It just seems ordinary. Tasted June 2015.

A disappointment for Medoc in this vintage, the 1996 Giscours has an evolved plum color with some pink at the rim. The wine is soft, shows some herbaceously tinged berry fruit, hints of licorice and black currants, but not much depth or texture. Obviously, little selection was employed at Giscours when putting together the final blend for 1996. Anticipated maturity: Now-2008. Last tasted, 3/02.