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| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 91.5 pts. and median of 92 pts. in 186 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by jreis on 3/24/2024: Popped and poured at cellar temp. Very lovely dark purple color with just a hint of lightening at the rim. Violets, truffles and a bit of cigar on an intoxicating nose. Palate does not quite match the intensity of the nose - nice elegant structure, some black fruit and acid, but seems a bit closed down or quite restrained. Going to throw it in the decanter to see if it opens up by dinner time. (286 views) | | | Tasted by Romz on 3/23/2024 & rated 91 points: 230324: Celebrating DQ's Bday at Uovo Asador with immacutely curated menu & wines by bday boy himself. Bottle TB from SKT. Thought this was the most matured tonight - plenty of tertiary notes. Ripe dark fruits, forest floor, roasted bell pepper, accompanied by nuances of cedar, tobacco, & a touch of earthiness. Well integrated tannins with velvety texture & mouthfeel. My guess was a 20 yrs old pauillac, either a GPL or Clerc Milon (266 views) | | | Tasted by drmarclevine on 2/18/2024 & rated 93 points: Decanted one hour. Disjointed at first but came together after about 20 minutes in the decanter. Huge bloom of cassis, cigar ash, roasted green pepper, and earthy tree bark. Got more complex over time. Medium weight in the mouth with unsweetened cherry jam, charcoal, and a menthol finish. Very good structure and depth balanced by a strong showing of fruit. Long finish. The quality of the vintage really shows here. Near peak but probably can gain a bit more complexity with a few more years of patience. Very fine. (498 views) | | | Tasted by Andrea1975 on 12/27/2023 & rated 93 points: Pleasant experience. Decanted 45 min. Beautiful nose of porporri and violets, musk, bramble, coffee. Tertiary emerging. Great body with good concentration of fruit, mid-palate weight, and persistence. Everything is integrated well In a nice drinking window, enjoy now. I would not wait much longer. (707 views) | | | Tasted by atbarbar on 12/24/2023 & rated 92 points: A very accessible Bordeaux. Still intense color, palate of some flowers but above all horse hair the following day. Smooth tannins, this wine is open for business. Very smooth in general, very pleasant. Agreed with Andrea1975 consume, ready to go and not far from peak. One thing though, as other Bordeaux we had that night, a surprising thin body also reflected in the alcohol content of 13%. Enjoy this fine stuff before climate change will make it impossible to produce these fine wines. (660 views) | | | Tasted by t.c.green on 9/29/2023 & rated 92 points: Consumed at Copine with Jacobsons. Such a wonderful wine which still has another 10 years. A well rounded nose and flavor with tannin that can still soften with time. Some hints of cherry and a long smooth aftertaste. (1047 views) | | | Tasted by canan on 5/25/2023 & rated 92 points: Lovely for drinking right now as it seems to have the perfect balance between age and still retains a touch of fruit. (1554 views) | | | Tasted by Carson.McEvoy on 4/5/2023 & rated 94 points: An immaculate drinking experience.
Really started to open up after 45 minutes in the decanter. The nose remained muted for the first hour and a half with very little red fruit, but really started to open up. Bright strong red fruit.
The palate was remarkable on this bottle. Red fruit that showed so strong. Amazing acidity and a silky smooth tannic structure that continued to get better. Hints of earthy tones but the red fruit really stood out. This wine tastes young, fresh, and delicious for 23 years. This wine is drinking amazing now but could easily continue to age for 5-10 more years. (1634 views) | | | Tasted by fcxj on 2/2/2023 & rated 86 points: Quaffable. (1948 views) | | | Tasted by t.c.green on 12/28/2022 & rated 92 points: with Lauren at Metropolitan Grill
perfect with Kobe Steak
great balance of tannin and fruit, still at high point for this wine, could easily last another 10 yrs. (1818 views) | | | Tasted by forceberry on 10/28/2022 & rated 93 points: A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (44%), Merlot (32%), Cabernet Franc (14%) and Petit Verdot (10%) harvested on the first half of October. Fermented spontaneously in stainless steel tanks (60%) and new barriques (40%). Aged for 20 months in oak barriques (30% new). Bottled on 5th of July 2002. Total production 7600 cases. 13% alcohol.
The wine still has a very deep, dark and almost completely opaque blackish-red color that has developed a dried-blood hue towards the rim. The nose feels maybe a bit restrained yet still remarkably youthful in nature with brooding aromas of ripe blackcurrants, some juicy plummy tones, a little bit of savory wood spice and cedar, light evolved notes of wizened red cherries, a ferrous hint of blood and a touch of Russian salami. The wine feels ripe and dense yet dry and silky rather than tightly-knit on the palate with a medium body and juicy, quite youthful flavors of blackcurrants and fresh plummy tones, some savory wood notes, a little bit of ripe redcurrants, light gravelly mineral notes, a hint of sour cherry bitterness and a touch of tobacco. The wine is high in acidity, but the ample tannins feel very ripe and resolved, contributing mainly to the silky texture, not to the structure. The finish is long, dry and very gently grippy with a juicy aftertaste of ripe blackcurrants and dark plums, some fresh cherry tones, a little bit of redcurrants, light gravelly mineral tones and a hint of savory wood spice.
A suave, classically styled and still surprisingly youthful Margaux. The youthful fruit here gives a lot of potential for additional aging, but structurally the wine is so resolved and silky that additional aging is not necessary - the wine drinks more than wonderfully right now. Unless one is really looking for those classic tertiary claret characteristics, this wine is fully open for business right now, finally sitting firmly on its plateau of maturity. It is superb both on its own and with food. Drink now or within the next 15 to 20 years. An excellent purchase at 38,25€. (2143 views) | | | Tasted by Rani on 10/20/2022 & rated 92 points: Tasted blind. Very nice leather, cigar box and sous bois. Quote balanced and elegant. Enjoyable now but will hold. (1706 views) | | | Tasted by Oliverl1 on 9/17/2022 & rated 95 points: Tasted again on my birthday one year later! Absolutely fabulous wine. I decanted for 4 hours (2 hours longer than my previous notes) and it really worked well. A fully mature Margaux with no sign of fading and has entered its plateau of maturity. This will go on for another 5 to 10 years. Absolutely gorgeous stuff. (1617 views) | | | Tasted by Endodr on 8/26/2022 & rated 91 points: Very nice mature Margaux. Deep ruby colored, with no signs of bricking. Despite 22 years of age, it still retains abundant nose of violets, black fruit, and cigar box. Tastes fruity, with cassis, black cherry, tar, and mocha. Tannins are present, but very smooth. Balanced and complex with adequate acidity, fruit, and alcohol. Moderate finish. Drink or hold. (1450 views) | | | Tasted by liber on 6/20/2022 & rated 92 points: 1st of 2, opened an hour, perfect cork and level - dark, translucent ruby, little development; attractive quite complex bouquet with hints of Margaux elegance, plum, bramble, floral hint, some tobacco and mineral; med/full, long, quite persistent and concentrated, fine balance with surprisingly relaxed fruit expression and acidity, almost fresh, on maturity plateau with limited upside, 10+ years. F (17.5)........a very nice surprise from a chateau I've rarely bought based on underwhelming to frankly poor bottles from the 60s and 70s. (1799 views) | | | Tasted by awever on 5/1/2022 & rated 92 points: Very classic (1918 views) | | | Tasted by edjBoca on 2/21/2022 & rated 93 points: Classic...ready after a decant. (1922 views) | | | Tasted by ameyer430 on 1/25/2022 & rated 94 points: Lovely perfumed nose that lasted throughout the evening. Still a bit youthful with fruit and tannins in the mix. Obviously old-world, with earth and depth. Really nice wine with steak. Good from first sip after decanting; held up for hours. (2023 views) | | | Tasted by Two Winos on 1/2/2022 & rated 96 points: Very well evolving, nearly mature Bordeaux. Did not decant, let it evolve in the bottle/glass. Starts with classic Bordeaux nose (intoxicating) and fairly closed down fruit. 15 minutes into the glass a fresh cranberry or (to me) Oceanside Cranberry Jelly flavor came up. On the next pour it turned to a plush raspberry that turned to dark cherry by the end of the glass.
Noted that the color is still rich and dark. It has slightly "watery" edges but no bricking at all.
Very happy I got to enjoy this bottle at this stage. (2071 views) | | | Tasted by PC99 on 12/9/2021 & rated 90 points: The nose is aromatic, leather, light tar, liquorice, floral.
A classic Bordeaux and Margaux. On the palate, elegant and balance with some plum, some berries. Do drink up and don't think it will improve a lot over years. (1855 views) | | | Tasted by Oliverl1 on 12/4/2021 & rated 95 points: I wrote a note on this wine a few months ago. I give it the same excellent score of 95. Tasted alongside ‘09 Langoa Barton, ‘10 Langoa Barton and ‘09 Talbot. The 2000 Kirwan was the runaway winner! Completely at its best. At its peak and will go on very nicely for at least five more years. Decant for 2 hours is sufficient. What a fabulous wine for c. $100. (1626 views) | | | Tasted by paulst on 9/18/2021 & rated 90 points: Light earthy nose; blackberry; revolving; elegant; balanced; soft balanced finish. (1844 views) | | | Tasted by Oliverl1 on 9/17/2021 & rated 95 points: A birthday gift from my dad who introduced me to Bordeaux wine all those years ago. Not easy to find 2000 Bordeaux. Fully mature Margaux from an excellent year. Great fill level. This will go on for another 10 years. What a treat! (1410 views) | | | Tasted by merlotsmile on 9/2/2021: Commanderie Bx (1614 views) | | | Tasted by BrionHammond on 1/15/2021 & rated 92 points: Classic margaux there starts with 90 score in youth and evolve too 92 with age. Drink now IMO (2333 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Jeb Dunnuck
JebDunnuck.com, Up From The Cellar No. 17 (3/2/2022)
(Chateau Kirwan) Login and sign up and see review text. | By James Suckling
JamesSuckling.com (3/30/2016)
(Château Kirwan Margaux, France) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (8/10/2007)
(Ch Kirwan Margaux Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (1/20/2005)
(Ch Kirwan Margaux Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Chris Kissack
Winedoctor, November 2004
(Chateau Kirwan Margaux) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (10/16/2003)
(Ch Kirwan Margaux Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, May/June 2001, IWC Issue #96
(Chateau Kirwan Margaux) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (5/19/2007)
(Château Kirwan) Medium red violet color; leather, shitake mushroom nose; plush, tart red fruit, cherry, cassis palate with sweet tannins; medium finish 91+ pts. 91 points | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (6/5/2003)
(Château Kirwan) Purple black red violet color; nice berry, cassis, herbaceous nose; lovely, concentrated, berry, cassis, herbaceous palate; medium-plus finish 92 points |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of JebDunnuck.com and JamesSuckling.com and JancisRobinson.com and Winedoctor and Vinous and RJonWine.com. (manage subscription channels) |
| Château Kirwan Producer website - Read more about Chateau Kirwan
Map on weinlagen-infoRed Bordeaux BlendRed Bordeaux is generally made from a blend of grapes. Permitted grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and rarely Carménère.Today Carménère is rarely used, with Château Clerc Milon, a fifth growth Bordeaux, being one of the few to still retain Carménère vines. As of July 2019, Bordeaux wineries authorized the use of four new red grapes to combat temperature increases in Bordeaux. These newly approved grapes are Marselan, Touriga Nacional, Castets, and Arinarnoa.
Wineries all over the world aspire to making wines in a Bordeaux style. In 1988, a group of American vintners formed The Meritage Association to identify wines made in this way. Although most Meritage wines come from California, there are members of the Meritage Association in 18 states and five other countries, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Israel, and Mexico.France Vins de France (Office National Interprofessionnel des Vins ) | Pages Vins, Directory of French Winegrowers | French Wine (Wikipedia)
Wine Scholar Guild vintage ratings
2018 vintage: "marked by a wet spring, a superb summer and a good harvest"
2019 vintage reports
2021: "From a general standpoint, whether for white, rosé or red wines, 2021 is a year marked by quality in the Rhône Valley Vineyards. Structured, elegant, fresh and fruity will be the main keywords for this new vintage."
2022 harvest: idealwine.info | wine-searcher.comBordeaux Bordeaux Wine Guide
Vins Bordeaux (Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux)
History of Bordeaux
History of 1855 Bordeaux Classification
"2009 is all about ripeness, with wines impressively packed with ripe fruit and high alcohol levels. They are showy, in-your-face, and full of pleasure. The 2010s have the fruit and alcohol levels of the 2009s, but with a compelling freshness on the finish that balances the fruit and provides a perfect sense of structure." - Ben Nelson
"2016 is a landmark vintage in certain spots of Bordeaux and it should be remembered as one of the most inspired campaigns of the last 40-50+ years." -Jon Rimmerman
"The quality of red Bordeaux in 2016 was universally lauded – although the response to the en primeur campaign was muted. Quantity was high too, with the equivalent of 770 million bottles of wine produced. An exceptionally dry summer with cool nights eventually, thanks to mid September rain, resulted in small, thick-skinned, ripe grapes, and the wines are marked by high tannin and acidity, with superb aromatic fragrance." - Jancis Robinson
"2017 was complicated, but there are some excellent wines. Expect plenty of freshness and drinkability from wines that will offer excellent value, and others that will rival 2016 in terms of ripeness and ageability. But they are likely to be the exception not the rule, making careful selection key." - Jane Anson
"In the past, a vintage such as 2022 may have been overripe, raisined and low in acidity but 2022 had a sneaky little reservoir in its back pocket - a near perfect marriage of cool/cold/rain the previous winter and the previous vintage that literally soaked the soils (a key to why 2022 is not 2003...or 1893)." - Jon RimmermanMédoc Vins du Médoc (Conseil des Vins du Médoc) - Read More about the Medoc
VdB
The eight precisely defined appellations of the whole of the Médoc (from Blanquefort Brook to the north of the Bordeaux built-up area, almost to the Pointe de Grave) may claim the Médoc appellation. But there is also a specific territory in the north of the peninsula which produces exclusively wines with this appellation. In the great majority, the Médocs come from the north of the peninsula. The great individuality of this region is that the number of vines has increased more recently here than elsewhere, apart from a few isolated spots where vines have grown for many years. Today, the size of the small estate has brought about the development of a powerful co-operative movement. Four co-operatives out of five belong to the group called Unimédoc which ensures aging, bottling and marketing a large proportion of their wines.Margaux Read more about Margaux and its wines As with a large part of the Bordeaux vineyards, vines first appeared in Margaux during the Gallo-Roman period.
In 1705 a text mentions Château Margaux . But we have to wait for the end of the eighteenth century and the coming of the earliest techniques in aging for the concept of wines of high quality to develop. The confirmation of this was the famous 1855 classification which recognized 21 Crus Classés in the Margaux appellation. One hundred years later, the Viticultural Federation and the Margaux appellation of controlled origin were born. The appellation, which stretches out over five communes, is actually unique in the Médoc in that it is the only one to contain all the range of wines, as rich as they are vast, from First Great Cru Classé to the Fifths, not forgetting its famous Crus Bourgeois and its Crus Artisans.
In Margaux there is a predominance of Garonne gravel on a central plateau of about 4 miles in length and one and a quarter wide. To the east-south-east, it overlooks the low lying land by the estuary. Its east side is marked by gentle, dry valleys and a succession of ridges.The layer of gravel in Margaux was spread out by a former Garonne in the early Quaternary. Rather large in size, it is mingled with shingle of average dimension and represents the finest ensemble of Günz gravel in the Haut-Médoc. It is on this ancient layer on a Tertiary terrace of limestone or clayey marl that the best Médoc crus lie. All the conditions for successful wine are present : a large amount of gravel and pebbles, poor soil which cannot retain water and deep rooted vines.
It is customary to say that Margaux wines are the "most feminine" in the Médoc, thus stressing their delicacy, suppleness and their fruity, elegant aromas. This does not affect their great propensity for aging; just the opposite, for the relatively thin terroir imparts tannins which give them long life. The other characteristic of these wines which combine an elegant vitality, subtlety and consistency, is their diversity and personality. Over and above the flavour which is their "common denominator", they present an exceptional palette of bouquets, fruity flavours which show up differently from one château to another.
Production conditions (Decree dated August 10 1954)
In order to have the right to the Margaux appellation of controlled origin, red wines must:
- come from the commune of Margaux, Cantenac, Soussans, Arsac and Labarde, "excluding the land which by the nature of its soil or because of its situation, is unfit to produce wine of this appellation".
- satisfy precise production conditions: grape-varieties (Cabernet-Sauvignon, Cabernet-Franc, Carmenère, Merlot Noir, Petit Verdot, Cot or Malbec), minimum of sugar (178 grammes - 6.27 oz. - per litre of must) degree (an acquired 10°5) base yield (45 hectolitres per hectare).
Vins de Bordeaux:
Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Merlot
Soil: Gravel and silt plateau on a layer of limestone or silt on clay
Surface Area: 1,530 ha |
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