2019 Giscours: Robert Parker is "dead."

[JimHow]

Sipping on a gorgeous 2019 Giscours right now, 13.5%, I'm sorry, this is everything that the Farr folks are saying about the Margaux appellation.... Ripe, but 13.5%, balanced, crisp, structured, engaging, there's a personality to these 2019s. Richly colored, but nothing saturated, extracted, over the top... i.e., Parkerized.... Nothing of that sordid sort.

I'm sorry, I wish Robert Parker many happy years ahead. I was a fan. That fellow great American made his mark. But now, like Tom Brady, the GOAT, it is time to move on. There are the new bucks, the Patrick Mahones, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow.

As the benevolent dictator of "Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts" -- the greatest wine website on the internet -- I hereby declare Robert Parker DEAD. We are free. Free at last. Why do I say that? Because, in 2019, a consequential autumn, Giscours came in at 13.5%. And with amazing balance. And freshness. Of course, it is "light on its feet." Honestly, I've got a lot more 2019s that I've got to sample, but from what I've seen, there is a straight faced argument to be made that this is a vintage of epic proportions, "best ever (per Farr's)," 1982-like (per Farr's).

But perhaps most importantly.... Robert Parker is dead.... 2019 offers hope that after 40 years of abuse -- internationalization, global warming, financial market shenanigans, Parkerization, Rudy, Kapon, the "lux" selling-out of Lynch Bages, the Asian soap opera, the London soap opera, pandemic, financial crisis, terrorism, Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Vlad Putin, Harry, Emily in Paris, the decline of France, the pornographic, sadistic rise in influence of the internet in the wine world -- after all that abuse that I can think of off the top of my head, and much, much more.... Giscours still prevails, comes in crisp and clean at a beautifully styled 13.5%, a gorgeous, balanced 95 point effort. Robert Parker is dead. Long live Bordeaux.

[JoelD]

I think we are similar in that we can both totally appreciate what he did for the world of wine. Shit I literally got into wine by looking at Parker scores mostly. But also the harm it did when one palate like that wielded so much power. Especially as it faded.

I'm quite happy to see the wine world moving on at this point. Even Napa is as well. Some of the 2016's I was drinking last time I was there were anything but Parkerized. Good things on the horizon in that respect. However climate change may keep us closer to Parker than we would like.

[PghMike]

Very nice! Sitting on 3x 750s and 2 mags. It looks like 2020 might be another vintage in the right direction, if only the prices were a little more compelling.

Even in Napa there are producers breaking from the chains, though I'm sure there will always be monstrosities to be found.

[Nicklasss]

Nice! 2019 vintage, an improved 80´s? Can’t wait to receive mine, but will be hard to resist…

Good analysis on Parker and Brady (he lost everything lately, now have to do movies with 80 yo women?).

[JimHow]

Yeah, no kidding, Joel. I think when we say "Parkerization," the concept extends beyond the man himself.... There has been a 40 year assault on our senses, be it Parker, or global warming, or the internet, or the politicians, or the money markets, or whatever.... The list goes on.... All I want is something approaching that ideal of 1980s Bordeaux... Balance, finesse, strength, elegance, class.... Character. We'll never see it again in our lifetimes, but if we can at least get something like this Giscours and these other 2019s percolating into the market, I'll take it. Parker came, he conquered, and now it is time for a post-Parker era. We started to see it develop in 2012, 2014, 2016, and now 2019(?) Now we need to move on.

[RPCV]

Having grown up in a family that entertained many a European guest, I was exposed to classical wine from France, Italy, Spain and Germany before Parker entered the wine scene. My taste in Bordeaux never aligned with him, although like Joel, I did spy Parker scores and even subscribed to his newsletter for a few years. I would taste his high-scoring wines at events and found them homogenous and tiresome. However, his contributions can not be ignored.

[greatbxfreak]

Jim,

It's not nice imho to write Parker is "dead". You may get sued for this. Why don't you write "Parkerised wine style is dead" instead??

[JimHow]

On what basis would I get sued, GBF?
It's obviously just hyperbole.

[greatbxfreak]

Forget this with getting sued. I would never write dead even in citation if the person is still alive.

[Comte Flaneur]

Jim is talking metaphorically Izak.

I wrote something similar on the UK board. The article said: “In many ways these two vintages (2016 and 2019) represent "High Definition" versions of their 2010 and 2009 counterparts, representing the leaps producers have made in a short space of time in a changing climate and the shift towards balance, freshness and precision rather than power, ripeness and extraction”

I noted that this point is little appreciated in some wine forums where there is an understandable inherent nostalgia for older wines and particularly the wines of the 1980s, and this is why I think Bordeaux is currently so exciting. The Parker demons have been well and truly exorcised and productivity has been high.

Similar to what Jim is saying here.

[JimHow]

Yes I understand, GBF, you are often easily offended.
I'm sorry to offend you.

[JimHow]

What it means is "the phenomenon of Robert Parker and his influence on the world of winemaking is now behind us, thankfully, as evidenced by this beautifully balanced Giscours." I suppose I could have said it that way.

[stefan]

Yeah, even in the US of A, which encourages frivolous suits in order to keep lawyers off the public dole, a suit for this would get laughed out of court.

As for Giscours, it was my favored Margaux and one of my favorite Bordeaux up until 1982. I gave up on it and only recently bought some young Giscours that I will try in a few years. I haven't drunk Giscours from the 1960s and 1970s in some time and wonder if they have held up. They were mostly very good with a lovely Margauxberry bouquet.

[JimHow]

I'm going to be picking up some more 2019 Giscours this weekend in NH, it's on sale for $52, it is a beauty.

[stefan]

>>
I'm sorry to offend you.
>>

ROTFL

To Izak: Have you thought about updating your book on Pomerol and publishing it in English, maybe in electronic form?

[greatbxfreak]

JIm,

I wasn't offended at all. The second version is just fine!

Stefan,

Book published in 1998. Would take me at least 2-4 years to write a new one. I am 77 so it's too late. No sponsor. My website contains many profiles of properties in Pomerol with recent updates.

[JimHow]

I’m glad you’re not offended, GBF, you know I value your input here. Man I gotta tell you, these 2019s are eye opening to me. I’m going to pick up some 2019 Gloria and uncork it at the Zoom tasting next Thursday night.

[greatbxfreak]

Jim,

If you purchase Carmes Haut Brion 2019 you will be in wine heaven!!

[JimHow]

I’ve seen that reported out there, Izak, I need to get some in my cellar.

[Blanquito]

I bought 6 of the 2016 Giscours for $45 a couple of years ago at Costco (6 was all they had left, they also had the ‘16 Purple Baron for $100 and ‘16 Lynch Bages for $80, bought all they had of those too). Seemed like something anyone would enthusiasm would have to do.

[JimHow]

well done, Blanquito, I believe Musigny 151 would tell you that, as great as the 2015 Giscours was, the 2016 was even better. Dare I say it? I have both the 15/16, the 2019 may be even better. Dare I be so beautiful?

[AKR]

Sadly, this thread reminds me of Merrick Dowson. SF Ed, MichaelP and some others with us had the 2009 Giscours with him before he passed away. Maybe I'm getting too brittle to ignore these quips about shuffling these earthy coils!

[JimS]

I’m glad you’re not offended, GBF, you know I value your input here. Man I gotta tell you, these 2019s are eye opening to me. I’m going to pick up some 2019 Gloria and uncork it at the Zoom tasting next Thursday night.

Jim that 2019 Gloria was the first 2019 I tried…I gotta say, I was pleasantly surprised, and continue to be. It’s like you get this wonderful fruit and ripeness of the vintage, but it still somehow maintains the tension and freshness to round it all out. Drinking beautifully now, and still will be in a decade or more.

[JimHow]

Thank you Jim, at its current price level, 2019 Gloria seems like a no brainer.

[Claudius2]

Guys
Today I got an offer on 2016 and 2019 Giscours for SGD126, which is about USD95 or E87.

The importer even used my tasting notes - he hosted the tasting - when it was the winner of the flight.

I already bought some EP so I don’t desperately need it but I’ll see what I can get the 2020 for, though it is clear that 2019s are increasing in price so maybe we better refrain from talking them up.

One point about Parker. In the early days I actually found his writings to be useful and did stimulate some interest in wine in several countries and he helped market wine for which he should be thanked.

At some point things turned bad. Not sure it was sudden but he started championing heavy, overly rich and alcoholic wines. The Australian wine industry was unfortunately too keen to chase those golden Parker points leading to many wines with dead fruit character, the viscosity of molasses, aromas of sump oil and tar, and with little ageing ability (the fruit faded leaving dried out, coarse and virtually unprintable wines).

Thankfully the Australian industry has largely turned this around despite global warming. While the industry was singing the praises of Parkerised wines - with 100 point prices - it is now encouraging freshness, balance, length and food friendliness. The wine companies have changed viticultural and winemaking processes and also planting out Tasmania - I seriously thought of planting the land I’ve got down there but the weather isn’t ideal.

I’d also say that Bordeaux was not as badly affected as several other regions. Rather he marketed Bordeaux more than most and the region has gained more customers as a result. Overall a double edged sword.

Cheers
Mark

[JimHow]

I now have 12 bottles of 2019 Giscours, I had a second bottle the other night with dinner at my brother's house, we both agreed it was outstanding. I got it for $52 on sale in NH. Love this wine, I still rate the Montrose higher but this puppy isn't far behind. Beautifully balanced.

Yeah, I think Parker was good up until his edition reviewing the 1996 left bank vintage, then it was all downhill from there.

[Claudius2]

Guys
Can't get the 2020 Giscours, though the 2021 EP is SGD71 plus about $20 in fees, thus $91 or so.
That is around USD70.
Malescot is $65 plus fees, thus USD4-5 less. It gets similar ratings from the usual suspects.
So it is clearly more expensive here but that's pretty cheap.
At least I can get tropical fruit by the truckload for low prices.

I've checked a few other importers and I can get the 2019 Giscours for about SGD103, which is a big improvement, though sill a lot more than the EP price.

[Robert M. Parker]

https://youtu.be/Jdf5EXo6I68?t=49

[JimHow]

DavidG at it again.
Where IS RMP these days, anyway, is he still around?

[DavidG]

I figured he should show up here every decade or so.

Parker has had health problems but I don't recall all of the details. Hanging in there as far as I know. I still think he had a major net positive impact on wine and wine lovers, even after subtracting the "Parkerization" effects on winemaking and prices.

[JimHow]

He showed up to JC’s birthday party a few years ago, his mind is strong but his body is falling apart.