Château Kirwan Margaux GCC 2019 (13.5% alc) (59% CS / 28% M / 6% CF / 6% PV / 1% Carmenère) This wine smells and tastes very Margaux like. Not extremely dark coloured, the nose is very flowery with perfumed notes of violet, wild roses and carnation. These flowery notes continue on the palate, but on the mid palate raspberry comes threw in a very distinctive way, with traces of redcurrant, accompanying the flowery side, together with a very light salty undertone of rose fleur de sel into a very long and fresh finish. Not so far away from Neill Martin's 94 points at the Southwold blind tasting in February 2023. 92(-93) 8 days later (the wine had been stored in the wine cooler by 15°C): uprated to 93 points
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2019 Bordeaux Tasting, MW tasting (Vintner's Hall, London): 59% CS 28% Mer 6% CF 6% PV 1% Carm, 13.50% A bit shy, warmth, black fruit notes, licorice, shows layers of fruit Palate showing the same profile, juicy tannins, blue fruit, black fruit, juicy tannins, very fresh and youthful, oak presence, coffee chocolate, very dry at this point, med body and finish
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Perfumed nose of graphite, blackberry and violets.
Palate of leather and creamy dark fruit up front. Silky tannins with notes of leather and mulling spices with a hint of strawberry on the middle. The finish has rich flavors of black cherry and powdery cocoa.
Pleasurable and enjoyable, but the notes could be more distinct.
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Berries, acidic, pleasantly oily, but a bit too sweet for me. I think I drank it too early, didn't let it breath enough. Final glass on day three tasted by far the best.
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Bordeaux 2022 en Primeur and some recent vintages: Sophie Schyler manages this chateau since 2016. Previously, aromatically somewhat boring, very modern wines were produced here. It is important to know that the Parker formula of "late harvest, strong extraction, lots of wood" is almost always at the expense of aromatics. What was shown today is qualitatively on a different level. Especially the aromas, the wine is much more interesting, with nice herbal and licorice notes. Attractively priced.
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Kirwan's 2019 offering is a deep ruby blend of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot and 1% Carménère. This particular bottle was decanted through a Vinturi aerator and serially tasted over the ensuing three hours, during which time it continually improved. Loaded with Santa Rosa plums, red bramble fruits, cassis, graphite, violets and exotic spices, it is a medium-to-full-bodied red with fresh acidity, seamless alcohol (13.5%), well-proportioned wood and plentiful dusty tannins, Beautifully dense on the mid-palate and lengthy on the finish, this is a gorgeous Kirwan that will benefit from another couple of years in the cellar and then show beautifully for two or more decades. If you choose to pop the cork at this early stage, give it as much air as possible. Drink 2025-2045.
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UGC 2019 Singapore (Singapore): The Cab seems more dominant here than with most of the other Margaux. Good balance. Fun to drink already. Medium length. Well done.
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Some dark chocolate, blueberries, clove and gravel on the nose. Clean and fresh on the palate. Nice ripe berries with hints of herbs and dried flowers. Medium-bodied with some bite at the edge. Finish is spicy and long. Decant for an hour before drinking. A wine for enjoyment for the next 5-8 years.
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Correct and promising with earthy plums and espresso notes. A notch under the Lascombes, but a good representation of the application. I would hold this for 7 years before digging into the box. HOLD_
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UGC Bordeaux (Union Station - Chicago IL): Walk around tasting. A bit of a tannic beast compared to most, but that is some of the older school Bordeaux style, Very dense and powerful fruit, this will require patience, but I expect 89-91 point potential.
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It is the strong, initial floral notes that grab your attention before you find the ripe, red cherries, plums and currants. Medium-bodied, soft, polished, fresh and refined, leaving you with loads of sweet, juicy, elegant, red fruits in the finish. The end note comes with a little touch of spicy cocoa and minty herbs that adds a nice touch to the wine. This is such a pleasure to drink now, but hold off for a year or two for more complexity and nuance. Drink from 2024-2045.
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92 vvPunkte (Verkostet im November 2021 in Zürich, 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot, 1% Carménère): Dier Nase mit Röstnoten, Kräuterspeck, reifer Frucht, sehr ausdruckstark. Im Gaumen mild im Auftakt, herrlich cremig, zeigt eine knackige, rote Frucht und feines Tannin, endet auf Sauerkirschen und Würze. 2025-2039. vvWine.ch
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Unbalanced and disjointed on day one, but fully approachable with very good balance after being vacuumed and refrigerated for 24 hours. Red fruit, oak, and roses on the nose; red currants, raspberries, and cedar on the medium-bodied, silky palate full of soft tannins and oak. A very accessible, elegant wine with a lingering and satisfying finish.
This is one of those producers that stumps me. The wines are not especially expensive on release, but then they’re not exactly cheap, either, and good back vintages rapidly climb in price. And yet, judging by CT notes, no one really seems to love this producer—ever. The same seems to be true of Calon Segur. I really don’t get it.
Make no mistake, this is a solid, very well made, and enjoyable wine, but I don’t think it’s good QPR at the full US retail price of about $55/bottle. When purchased on sale for $40, as this was, it’s a bit better, if still not great QPR or especially compelling. Except for it’s early accessibility, I’m not sure this really has a lot going for it given the price. 13.5% ABV (very good/***/16.5/91)
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92-94 vvPunkte (59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot, 1% Carménère): Rauchige Nase, exotisch, sehr würzig, expressiv. Im Auftakt mild, cremige Textur, wirkt weich aber nicht schwerfällig, zeigt einen guten Mix aus roter Frucht, saftiger Säure und abgerundeten Gerbstoffen, balanciert und im Abgang wieder mit sehr schöner Würzigkeit. Gelungen! 2026-2044. (Juni 2020)
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Flowers and sweet cherries with licorice and coffee notes on the nose start off nicely. On the palate, the wine is soft, silky, medium-bodied and fresh with a fresh, juicy, dark cherry and cassis finish. 90-92 Pts
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11/23/2023 - Léognan Likes this wine: 93 Points
Château Kirwan Margaux GCC 2019 (13.5% alc)
(59% CS / 28% M / 6% CF / 6% PV / 1% Carmenère)
This wine smells and tastes very Margaux like. Not extremely dark coloured, the nose is very flowery with perfumed notes of violet, wild roses and carnation. These flowery notes continue on the palate, but on the mid palate raspberry comes threw in a very distinctive way, with traces of redcurrant, accompanying the flowery side, together with a very light salty undertone of rose fleur de sel into a very long and fresh finish.
Not so far away from Neill Martin's 94 points at the Southwold blind tasting in February 2023.
92(-93)
8 days later (the wine had been stored in the wine cooler by 15°C): uprated to 93 points
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10/31/2023 - kostaslonis wrote:
2019 Bordeaux Tasting, MW tasting (Vintner's Hall, London): 59% CS 28% Mer 6% CF 6% PV 1% Carm, 13.50%
A bit shy, warmth, black fruit notes, licorice, shows layers of fruit
Palate showing the same profile, juicy tannins, blue fruit, black fruit, juicy tannins, very fresh and youthful, oak presence, coffee chocolate, very dry at this point, med body and finish
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10/1/2023 - Jfsiegel Likes this wine: 92 Points
Perfumed nose of graphite, blackberry and violets.
Palate of leather and creamy dark fruit up front. Silky tannins with notes of leather and mulling spices with a hint of strawberry on the middle. The finish has rich flavors of black cherry and powdery cocoa.
Pleasurable and enjoyable, but the notes could be more distinct.
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9/15/2023 - salexander2000 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Berries, acidic, pleasantly oily, but a bit too sweet for me. I think I drank it too early, didn't let it breath enough. Final glass on day three tasted by far the best.
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5/14/2023 - Collector1855 wrote: 95 Points
Bordeaux 2022 en Primeur and some recent vintages: Sophie Schyler manages this chateau since 2016. Previously, aromatically somewhat boring, very modern wines were produced here. It is important to know that the Parker formula of "late harvest, strong extraction, lots of wood" is almost always at the expense of aromatics. What was shown today is qualitatively on a different level. Especially the aromas, the wine is much more interesting, with nice herbal and licorice notes. Attractively priced.
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4/23/2023 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 93 Points
Kirwan's 2019 offering is a deep ruby blend of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot and 1% Carménère. This particular bottle was decanted through a Vinturi aerator and serially tasted over the ensuing three hours, during which time it continually improved. Loaded with Santa Rosa plums, red bramble fruits, cassis, graphite, violets and exotic spices, it is a medium-to-full-bodied red with fresh acidity, seamless alcohol (13.5%), well-proportioned wood and plentiful dusty tannins, Beautifully dense on the mid-palate and lengthy on the finish, this is a gorgeous Kirwan that will benefit from another couple of years in the cellar and then show beautifully for two or more decades. If you choose to pop the cork at this early stage, give it as much air as possible. Drink 2025-2045.
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12/3/2022 - pavel_p Likes this wine: 92 Points
UGC 2019 Singapore (Singapore): The Cab seems more dominant here than with most of the other Margaux. Good balance. Fun to drink already. Medium length. Well done.
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11/26/2022 - Psdycp wrote: 90 Points
Some dark chocolate, blueberries, clove and gravel on the nose. Clean and fresh on the palate. Nice ripe berries with hints of herbs and dried flowers. Medium-bodied with some bite at the edge. Finish is spicy and long. Decant for an hour before drinking. A wine for enjoyment for the next 5-8 years.
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11/4/2022 - pmik Likes this wine: 93 Points
Vinnørd. Powerful but balanced, with great length. Medium/high tannins. Cassis and pepper. Classic Cab.
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9/20/2022 - englishman's claret wrote: 90 Points
Pretty, red, high-toned, some nice berry notes on the 2nd nose.
59 CS, 28 M, 6 CF, 6 PV, 1 Carmenere
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8/17/2022 - pmik Likes this wine: 92 Points
92- Vinnørd
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7/4/2022 - englishman's claret wrote: 91 Points
Union des Grands Crus: With a nose of fresh, mixed berries, and a slightly floral character, this is easy to love and should drink well young. 91-92
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7/2/2022 - Purple Tooth wrote: 93 Points
Correct and promising with earthy plums and espresso notes. A notch under the Lascombes, but a good representation of the application. I would hold this for 7 years before digging into the box. HOLD_
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6/30/2022 - Roger Patterson wrote: 89 Points
Floral, european fruit, some spice. Complex but inharmonious. At LA UGC.
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6/28/2022 - Burgundy Al wrote: 90 Points
UGC Bordeaux (Union Station - Chicago IL): Walk around tasting. A bit of a tannic beast compared to most, but that is some of the older school Bordeaux style, Very dense and powerful fruit, this will require patience, but I expect 89-91 point potential.
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3/29/2022 - Jeff Leve wrote: 92 Points
It is the strong, initial floral notes that grab your attention before you find the ripe, red cherries, plums and currants. Medium-bodied, soft, polished, fresh and refined, leaving you with loads of sweet, juicy, elegant, red fruits in the finish. The end note comes with a little touch of spicy cocoa and minty herbs that adds a nice touch to the wine. This is such a pleasure to drink now, but hold off for a year or two for more complexity and nuance. Drink from 2024-2045.
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2/16/2022 - pmik Likes this wine: 92 Points
92++ Vinnørd
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1/13/2022 - vvWine.ch wrote: 92 Points
92 vvPunkte (Verkostet im November 2021 in Zürich, 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot, 1% Carménère): Dier Nase mit Röstnoten, Kräuterspeck, reifer Frucht, sehr ausdruckstark. Im Gaumen mild im Auftakt, herrlich cremig, zeigt eine knackige, rote Frucht und feines Tannin, endet auf Sauerkirschen und Würze. 2025-2039. vvWine.ch
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1/4/2022 - Jake Barnes Likes this wine: 91 Points
Unbalanced and disjointed on day one, but fully approachable with very good balance after being vacuumed and refrigerated for 24 hours. Red fruit, oak, and roses on the nose; red currants, raspberries, and cedar on the medium-bodied, silky palate full of soft tannins and oak. A very accessible, elegant wine with a lingering and satisfying finish.
This is one of those producers that stumps me. The wines are not especially expensive on release, but then they’re not exactly cheap, either, and good back vintages rapidly climb in price. And yet, judging by CT notes, no one really seems to love this producer—ever. The same seems to be true of Calon Segur. I really don’t get it.
Make no mistake, this is a solid, very well made, and enjoyable wine, but I don’t think it’s good QPR at the full US retail price of about $55/bottle. When purchased on sale for $40, as this was, it’s a bit better, if still not great QPR or especially compelling. Except for it’s early accessibility, I’m not sure this really has a lot going for it given the price. 13.5% ABV (very good/***/16.5/91)
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5/22/2021 - vvWine.ch wrote: 93 Points
92-94 vvPunkte (59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot, 1% Carménère): Rauchige Nase, exotisch, sehr würzig, expressiv. Im Auftakt mild, cremige Textur, wirkt weich aber nicht schwerfällig, zeigt einen guten Mix aus roter Frucht, saftiger Säure und abgerundeten Gerbstoffen, balanciert und im Abgang wieder mit sehr schöner Würzigkeit. Gelungen! 2026-2044. (Juni 2020)
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6/8/2020 - Jeff Leve wrote: 91 Points
Flowers and sweet cherries with licorice and coffee notes on the nose start off nicely. On the palate, the wine is soft, silky, medium-bodied and fresh with a fresh, juicy, dark cherry and cassis finish. 90-92 Pts
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