Château Giscours

The site of Château Giscours was first documented in 1330 as a fortified keep. Vineyard history begins with Pierre de Lhomme's plantings in 1552, establishing one of the Médoc's earliest cultivation records. The estate passed through several notable owners, including the Saint-Simon family before the French Revolution. In 1793, during the Revolution, it was confiscated and subsequently sold to Americans John Gray and Jonathan Davis. Count de Pescatore acquired the property in 1845, commissioning the neoclassical château built in 1847. The Tari family purchased it in 1952, overseeing its return to quality and its place in the 1855 Classification's Third Growth tier. Dutch businessman Eric Albada Jelgersma paid $31 million for a controlling interest in 1995, and the Albada Jelgersma family, now led by Dennis, Derk, and Valérie, achieved full ownership in 2023.

• First documented 1330 as a fortified keep; vineyard history from 1552
• Confiscated during the French Revolution (1793), sold to American buyers
• Neoclassical château constructed 1847 under Count de Pescatore
• Albada Jelgersma family purchased controlling interest 1995 for $31 million; full ownership 2023

Château Giscours sits across the communes of Labarde and Arsac in the southern part of the Margaux appellation. The estate's 102 planted hectares are distributed across three distinct gravel hilltops, or croupes, which form the backbone of quality winemaking in the Médoc. Grand Poujeau rises to 21 meters, Bel Air reaches 12 meters, and the Cantelaude plateau sits at 17 meters, with the estate's highest peak at 32 meters. The primary soils are Garonne gravel, offering excellent drainage, supplemented by peyrosols, brunisols, sand, clay, and limestone. The Atlantic-influenced oceanic climate provides mild, temperate conditions that favor steady grape ripening across the estate's extensive plantings.

• Three gravel hilltops (croupes): Grand Poujeau (21m), Bel Air (12m), Cantelaude plateau (17m)
• Primary soils: Garonne gravel with peyrosols, brunisols, sand, clay, and limestone
• 102 hectares in the Margaux appellation; total estate covers 165 hectares including parks, forests, and lakes
• Oceanic climate moderated by Atlantic influence

The vineyard is planted predominantly with Cabernet Sauvignon, typically constituting 60-65% of the blend, reflecting the variety's natural affinity for the well-drained Garonne gravel soils of the Médoc. Merlot accounts for 30-32%, adding roundness and mid-palate texture, while Petit Verdot contributes roughly 3% and Cabernet Franc 2-3%. This blend composition is consistent with the house's goal of producing wines with classical Margaux elegance: refined tannins, fresh acidity, and aromatic complexity rather than sheer power. The large estate, spanning over 400 hectares in total including forests, parks, and lakes, provides a distinctive microenvironmental context that moderates temperatures and humidity around the vineyard plots.

Château Giscours holds a secure place among Margaux's classified estates as a Third Growth in the 1855 Classification, a ranking that has proven durable across the estate's modern history. Under the Albada Jelgersma family, the estate has undergone significant investment and quality improvements. The estate's recent milestone came in 2022, when a vintage was named Wine of the Year by Wine Spectator, placing it at the forefront of international attention. The estate's history is not without controversy; AOC violation allegations emerged in 1998, testing the property's reputation, but the estate has since rebuilt credibility through consistent quality and professional management.

• Third Growth (Troisième Cru Classé) in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification
• Wine Spectator Wine of the Year 2022
• AOC violation allegations in 1998; reputation rebuilt under continued Albada Jelgersma stewardship
• Full family ownership achieved in 2023 after initial acquisition in 1995