Tasted at the Chateau Giscours vertical, the 1998 Chateau Giscours is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc picked between September 28 and October 9. It has a healthy deep garnet color with a thin brick rim. The bouquet has melted somewhat since I last tasted it, offering mulberry, overripe oranges and light violet scents. The palate is medium-bodied with a savory opening, the acidity quite noticeable, but beginning to show just a little dryness towards the finish. This had a period where it was quite plump in the mouth. There is still the weight here, the presence, but the grainy finish tapers away too quickly. Drink this sooner rather than later. Tasted June 2015.

The 1998 Giscours is a supple, consumer-friendly, commercially-styled offering with considerable appeal. Jammy black fruits intermingle with spicy oak in this medium-bodied, straightforward yet plump, cedary, tasty, savory effort. Enjoy it over the next 10-14 years.