A lesson in patience, or my lack thereof, as seems to be so often the case. Pulled from the cellar to stand up a few hours before opening, then decanted for sediment. The nose gave a burst of warm fruit on open but receded quickly. Initial tastes were flat, muted, gravelly with faint fruit but overwhelmed by graphite and earth. I was concerned it may be flawed. Over the ensuing few hours each glass got progressively better. The last pour - at three hours open - was rich with florals and dark fruit, the graphite and wood well integrated, texture and mouthfeel rounded and luscious. From the bottom of the decanter, the traces seemed to whisper to me "how many times do we have to teach you this lesson, old man?"
Great expression of Margaux that is drinking well but needs a lengthy decant to show it's true colors. Hopefully you have more patience than I did. 91-93.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark ruby red/purple colour. Aromas of blackberry and graphite with floral notes. Dark red fruit and anise tastes. Very smooth with mild tannins. Paired well with steak and grilled potatoes/vegetables. Definitely decant due to sediment.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank over several days. Medium garnet. Oak fairly well integrated. On pnp this was somewhat light weight in the 2009 context, medium (-) good acidity but not much depth. Fairly short finish. Ok. With (much) more air this gained more weight and creaminess but side by side with a 2010 Segla came across as a rather internationally styled Bdx blend without much Margaux typicity. Clearly preferred the Segla.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautiful bouquet of violets, roasted coffee, night flowers. Very Margaux...Dark in color, the wine teeters on blue because of the heft and weight, yet its not heavy in the mouth. Really wowed me for a good 90 minutes and then, I sensed a decline starting and the wine lost balance and started a decline. I still think it is lovely, but probably at peak. Drink
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark fruit, limestone, bitter chocolate, pencil shavings and well integrated wood deliver an incredible example of a second tier Margaux wine. I love everything about this wine as it just enters a great drinking window. Good juice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Gang of 4 in Covid19 times; Bordeaux; Margaux (@ RW): Rustic bouquet with some stable impressions, smoke, cedar, vanilla, licorice and leather. On the palate red and dark berries, sweet spices, cedar, some pleasant sweetness, mild acidity and a good length. Beautiful wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep red, slight bricking. Black cherry, gunpowder, vanilla, oak, plum and jammy fruit nose. Black cherry, red cherry, raspberry, strawberry, oak, vanilla and pencil shavings taste. Deep fruit, mellow tannins that do retain some structure. Reasonable acidity.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
First bottle from a case purchased en primeur. Stored since release in a 55 degree cellar. Pnp.
Unlike other 2009’s in my cellar I found this aromatically clenched for the first two hours. Thereafter this slowly releases charcoal, cassis, briars, and lighter coffee notes. On the palate, the dusty tannins show up on the attack and accompany the chalky minerality, coffee, and charcoal wrapped blue fruits through the mid palate. The acidity remains in the back seat where the charcoal and chalk notes maintain primacy through the finish.
Overall this presented a primary oak influenced experience today. Nothing wrong with the wine, but I am unclear if the oak influence will step aside and allow secondary or tertiary development over the longer term.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very pleasant. Drinking well. Nose - cherry stems and slight fennel. Color - ruddy purple. Texture - light, no legs, not syrupy. Palette - no tannin, low acidity, cherries, almonds, rhubarb. Bought a case en primeur back in 2010 with my mates and am glad it turned out so well. Thanks Monkeybiz101 and Samkkay.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark ruby. Fantastic nose of blackberries and dark plums, which are prominent on the palate as well, with black tea and very nice sandalwood. Good acidity, round tannins, long finish. Tannins firm on the end, so it can age 2-3 years more. Such a good wine - unexpectedly. Drink now!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
pop and pour really has improved over the last 7 years , veey smooth last bottle so drank over 3 days vacuum sealed between drinking colour dark red almost purple fruit is still there . Just hope my 2010's are as enjoyable
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted of Chateau Kirwan wines on Zoom, run by Auriol Wines, Hampshire, UK. Predominantly cabernet sauvignon. Low yields this vintage. Dark cherry colour, still looking very young. The nose is leathery, eucalyptus, and has plenty of young, ripe fruit. The palate is clearly of a young wine, bursting with ripe blackcurrant fruit, very concentrated. General Manager Philippe Delfaut said this vintage was not typical of the usual Bordeaux style and he believes that this 2009 has peaked earlier than the '09s from other chateaux. (He also said that the '10 and '15 were more typical of the usual Bordeaux style.) So, whilst this is great now, it still has the potential to last another 25-50 years. Excellent.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted and drank over two days. Medium to mostly full body. First day barnyard nose with tar, a bit of funk on the palate, fruit mostly gone, but enjoyable. Second day was a different wine, the funk was gone leaving tar and anise. Tannins in a perfect spot. Very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bordeaux 2009 Grand Cru / 10-years on / tasted blind: Expressive nose with lots of cool, blue fruit, plum, blackberry. Relatively rich palate with lots of dry extract, stays fresh, plum on the finish. Modern in a good way I wrote down. Good showing.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is really developed nicely. With a floral edge, the fresh cherries, smoke, espresso and tobacco notes are right out in front. Soft, polished, round, easy to like and easy to drink, with a bit of air, this is drinking quite well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bluish red, long clear drops, clear edge. Black cherry, cedar wood, pencil shacvings, raspberry nose. Black cherry, pencil shavings, wood taste. Nice friut, decent balance, mature tannins. Will probably wait 5 years before taking the last bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep ruby with an immediately redolent nose of dark florals and blackberry, as if framed on a cedar chest. A low range of charcoal smoke emerges. Palate is rich, concentrated blackberry, raspberry, which conveys a really delicious mid palate and persists with an ever-so-slight tannic pull. Lovely with steak au poivre.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was a nice bottle of wine, but nowhere near as nice as I had thought it would be. I think the bottle may have been stored poorly as it was showing a significant amount of sediment already. Fruit forward with cherry, blackberry and currant. I thought the was a little flat (again, could have been due to poor storage) and lacking in length. Very little finish time which was disappointing. I would like to try this again, hoping this was just an off bottle.
87
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened using Coravin. Deep purple and dark fruit nose. Very smooth tannins and slight minerality. Medium finish. Drinking really nice now but was hoping for some secondary and tertiary characteristics to be present, maybe in a couple more years?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for five hours before pouring. Smooth and elegant. Balanced flavors and aromas. Delicious Margaux terroir. Ready to drink now or to hold it for another 6-10 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Purchased off list at Grillmarket in Reykjavik. Medium body with decent fruit and some vanilla. Not an uncious wine, yet even in fruit and tannin. Would I cellar long term? No. Drink over the next 5-7 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Right out of the bottle, it had a lovely, perfumed nose. Great fruit - red and black - and some floral notes. It was showy and open at noon (vs the 2010 which was closed). Nine hours later (no decant) it had blossomed into this beautiful, silky wine with refined fruit, flowers and a fine finish. So tasty with the French, roast herbal chicken (thyme, sage, rosemary). Jen wondered why we don’t drink this regularly.
In pretty good shape the next evening, too.
I was surprised this was only 10% merlot (vs 35% in the 2010) as it was so much more open. One of my favorites of the night.
Graciously poured by Sophie Schyler Thierry, family owner and Development Director of Chateau Kirwan. (220 views)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bordeaux tasting with Jen and Donna (Princeton, NJ): A lovely, perfumed nose right out of the bottle. Great fruit - red and black - and some floral notes. It was showy and open at noon (vs the 2010 which was closed). Nine hours later (no decant) it had blossomed into this beautiful, silky wine with refined fruit, flowers and a fine finish. So tasty with the French, roast herbal chicken (thyme, sage, rosemary). Jen wondered why we don’t drink this regularly.
In pretty good shape the next evening, too.
I was surprised this was only 10% merlot (vs 35% in the 2010) as it was so much more open. One of my favorites of the night.
Graciously poured by Sophie Schyler Thierry, family owner and Development Director of Chateau Kirwan.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Second wine in flight three for the Bordeaux Master's Class at Heart's Delight with all wines from Margaux.
Deep mix of garnet and ruby red. Similar to the 2014 with some sweet spices and dark fruits but a bit softer with a savory twist. Notes of bret, meaty and a touch stinky overall. Nothing overpowering or out of place, well integrated together. Great structure and backbone with heavy tannins (7.5/10), definitely a wine built for the long haul. Notes of dark red berries, pepper and a touch toasted. Medium plus body with a long finish. Drink till 2040. (92+)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still deep and fresh appearance, although the purple hue starts to fade. No sign of bricking at the 8 years of age. Very pretty nose. Gamey, seaweed, cassis, concentrated sensation, rich and opulent. On the palate this 2009 reflects the profile of the vintage. High tannin, medium plus plus acidity. Almost chewy and salty. Smoky, animalistic, black fruits, white pepper. I personally could do away with the milk chocolate flavor associated with the international style of winemaking. Really hope that time would quiet down the intense oak notes. Ripe and long. Would not touch this baby until 2024 at least. 90+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted blind. Herbs, tobacco, and eucalyptus. Inky, almost meaty, with a little toast. Some cassis and plum, but this is past midway in the transition to maturity. Big oak. Big mouthfeel, but not in the voluptuous merlot sort of way, but rather in the more structured, cabernet sort of way. High class. Ready to drink now. Rating: 93
Guess the wine. I feel confident that this is left-bank Bordeaux. ~10 years old.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Smoke, incense, truffle, blackberry, barbecue and floral notes create the aromatic profile. With an hour of air, the wine softened, filled out and served up a lush, textured, dusty, earthy, dark chocolate and black cherry profile. While quite tasty now, even though it's young, this should be even better with another 5 years of age.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for 6 hours prior to consumption. It drank really well and was pretty accessible when poured into the glass from the decanter and continued to open up more with time in the glass. 13.5% alc - not too much heat, not overdone, the way I like it. Well rounded, hitting all the right notes, beautiful fruit and some nuances of tobacco/leather in the making. Sure this will be even better with time and could prove to be an excellent value for a 2009 which is drinking great already but with upside potential. 93+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Excellent. PnP with it opening up very nicely over 1.5-2 hours in the glass. Certainly young and a long life ahead, however, with some patience of letting it breathe it drinks quite well now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted this at the Quartet of Bordeaux Masterclass at The Tower Club.
This wines was tasted side-by-side with the 2010 Chateau Kirwan.
Colour of the wine is purple with hints of brown. Generally still closed with relatively higher alcohol content. Lots of dark fruits and oak on the nose.
Style of the wine is full bodied, concentrated and has a clean finish. Palate also experienced dark fruits and berries with a spicy finish.
Rich with earthy minerals.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beau Bordeaux séduisant et ample, jeune certe mais beaucoup plus convainquant que le 2007...effet millésime probablement. Un nez charmeur sur les cerises et la terre avec un peu de café. En bouche, assez velouté avec de belles notes d'élevage et de fruits rouges. Les tannins sont serrées et la finale assez longue et bien persistante.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep ruby with a charming crimson rim. Very deceptive nose early on with prominent coffee aromas as well as bitter chocolate masking the black fruity core and steering me towards the new world in blind tasting. Oak driven now on the palate with firm, even drying tannins that tend to soften in a few hours time. Bitter on the aftertaste. Too early to drink. If you still want to, at least two hours in the decanter will pay off.
Elegant, with good stuffing. A lot of dark chocolate and expresso notes. Slightly stiff, but built to age. Of the couple dozen or so '09s I've had, while this is approachable now, it really will benefit from more time.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
As with many 09 chateaux, Kirwan performed nicely.... 4 hour decant... drank over 3 hours.... Soft tannins, with silk complexity.... fruit is held back a bit, but it has the structure to age effortlessly for a very long time.... Nose was fresh and fruity... Overall, this is a great wine that will offer pleasure for a long time through out its aging process.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened it by mistake, it wasn’t entered in my wine cell yet. Just by the smell I Knew I just made error. The feeling of it was just wonderful. It’s a wine that must be tasted. Elegance, finesse it carry’s You on a feeling that you don’t want to let go.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Full body, moderate tannins, moderate long duration and diverse palate. Touch of berry and peppery as well as chocolate flavors. Also with earth tones.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
2009 Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux Tasting. Very fresh on the nose, along with some currents. This wine packs a punch and has a ton of cassis slamming your pallet. Very nice round tannins. Excellent. 92-94 points.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and equal parts Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc produced a wine that opens with licorice, cocoa, smoke and aromas of fresh dark berries. The medium/full bodied, wine ends with chocolate covered, black raspberries.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose: Violets, Blueberry, Blackberry and Truffle. Palate: Ripe and mouth filling wine. Juicy red currant, blackberry jam and spice run across the mid palate. Slightly flashy style. Finish: Layers of blueberry, blackberry and red licorice. There is a nice herb and sweet oak component in the finish as well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I like this nose - sous bois and spice, dark fruits; nice elegance on the palate. Good concentration and extract. Lovely, pretty red fruits and good tannic backbone. Looking to be a very good Kirwan. 92-94.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
2/18/2024 - MonkeyBiz101 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Felt that this had moved towards a tertiary phase, which surprised me. Quite aged profile, and getting a bit of funk.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2023 - DizzyOneCheck Likes this wine: 92 Points
A lesson in patience, or my lack thereof, as seems to be so often the case. Pulled from the cellar to stand up a few hours before opening, then decanted for sediment. The nose gave a burst of warm fruit on open but receded quickly. Initial tastes were flat, muted, gravelly with faint fruit but overwhelmed by graphite and earth. I was concerned it may be flawed. Over the ensuing few hours each glass got progressively better. The last pour - at three hours open - was rich with florals and dark fruit, the graphite and wood well integrated, texture and mouthfeel rounded and luscious. From the bottom of the decanter, the traces seemed to whisper to me "how many times do we have to teach you this lesson, old man?"
Great expression of Margaux that is drinking well but needs a lengthy decant to show it's true colors. Hopefully you have more patience than I did. 91-93.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/3/2023 - peteramartens Likes this wine:
Dark ruby red/purple colour. Aromas of blackberry and graphite with floral notes. Dark red fruit and anise tastes. Very smooth with mild tannins. Paired well with steak and grilled potatoes/vegetables. Definitely decant due to sediment.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/26/2023 - merlotsmile wrote:
Comm Bx
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
3/30/2023 - pavel_p Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drank over several days. Medium garnet. Oak fairly well integrated. On pnp this was somewhat light weight in the 2009 context, medium (-) good acidity but not much depth. Fairly short finish. Ok.
With (much) more air this gained more weight and creaminess but side by side with a 2010 Segla came across as a rather internationally styled Bdx blend without much Margaux typicity. Clearly preferred the Segla.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/2/2023 - Purple Tooth wrote: 94 Points
Beautiful bouquet of violets, roasted coffee, night flowers. Very Margaux...Dark in color, the wine teeters on blue because of the heft and weight, yet its not heavy in the mouth. Really wowed me for a good 90 minutes and then, I sensed a decline starting and the wine lost balance and started a decline. I still think it is lovely, but probably at peak. Drink
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2022 - Oldmanzin Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark fruit, limestone, bitter chocolate, pencil shavings and well integrated wood deliver an incredible example of a second tier Margaux wine. I love everything about this wine as it just enters a great drinking window. Good juice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/26/2022 - MonkeyBiz101 Likes this wine: 91 Points
In its stride, drinking well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/29/2022 - Nontaco Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very pleasing, complete Bordeaux to enjoy with food.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/5/2022 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 90 Points
Académie des Cinquante Claret Tasting (Restaurant Rijsel, Amsterdam, NL): Tasted blind. Lovely warmth on the nose, light and bright palate, quite drying, cherries and berries, very tight finish, bay leaf. Marked by the heat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/18/2022 - Zweder wrote: 92 Points
Gang of 4 in Covid19 times; Bordeaux; Margaux (@ RW): Rustic bouquet with some stable impressions, smoke, cedar, vanilla, licorice and leather. On the palate red and dark berries, sweet spices, cedar, some pleasant sweetness, mild acidity and a good length. Beautiful wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2021 - pernod Likes this wine: 91 Points
I did not wait 5 years …
Deep red, slight bricking. Black cherry, gunpowder, vanilla, oak, plum and jammy fruit nose. Black cherry, red cherry, raspberry, strawberry, oak, vanilla and pencil shavings taste. Deep fruit, mellow tannins that do retain some structure. Reasonable acidity.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/10/2021 - COWineLover wrote: 90 Points
First bottle from a case purchased en primeur. Stored since release in a 55 degree cellar. Pnp.
Unlike other 2009’s in my cellar I found this aromatically clenched for the first two hours. Thereafter this slowly releases charcoal, cassis, briars, and lighter coffee notes. On the palate, the dusty tannins show up on the attack and accompany the chalky minerality, coffee, and charcoal wrapped blue fruits through the mid palate. The acidity remains in the back seat where the charcoal and chalk notes maintain primacy through the finish.
Overall this presented a primary oak influenced experience today. Nothing wrong with the wine, but I am unclear if the oak influence will step aside and allow secondary or tertiary development over the longer term.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/7/2021 - Ash in Hermosa Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very pleasant. Drinking well.
Nose - cherry stems and slight fennel.
Color - ruddy purple.
Texture - light, no legs, not syrupy.
Palette - no tannin, low acidity, cherries, almonds, rhubarb.
Bought a case en primeur back in 2010 with my mates and am glad it turned out so well. Thanks Monkeybiz101 and Samkkay.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2021 - MonkeyBiz101 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/28/2021 - bugles Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drinking wonderfully now. Pop and pour. Complete crowd pleaser. feminine style.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/13/2021 - Condrieu82 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Dark ruby. Fantastic nose of blackberries and dark plums, which are prominent on the palate as well, with black tea and very nice sandalwood. Good acidity, round tannins, long finish. Tannins firm on the end, so it can age 2-3 years more. Such a good wine - unexpectedly. Drink now!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/13/2020 - Tony T Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very nice and elegant wine. Drinking well already.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/10/2020 - jerry6 wrote: 94 Points
pop and pour really has improved over the last 7 years , veey smooth last bottle so drank over 3 days vacuum sealed between drinking colour dark red almost purple fruit is still there . Just hope my 2010's are as enjoyable
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/18/2020 - Keith Cooper Likes this wine: 95 Points
Tasted of Chateau Kirwan wines on Zoom, run by Auriol Wines, Hampshire, UK. Predominantly cabernet sauvignon. Low yields this vintage. Dark cherry colour, still looking very young. The nose is leathery, eucalyptus, and has plenty of young, ripe fruit. The palate is clearly of a young wine, bursting with ripe blackcurrant fruit, very concentrated. General Manager Philippe Delfaut said this vintage was not typical of the usual Bordeaux style and he believes that this 2009 has peaked earlier than the '09s from other chateaux. (He also said that the '10 and '15 were more typical of the usual Bordeaux style.) So, whilst this is great now, it still has the potential to last another 25-50 years. Excellent.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/11/2020 - ChristoBretts Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted and drank over two days. Medium to mostly full body. First day barnyard nose with tar, a bit of funk on the palate, fruit mostly gone, but enjoyable. Second day was a different wine, the funk was gone leaving tar and anise. Tannins in a perfect spot. Very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/29/2019 - Collector1855 wrote: 95 Points
Bordeaux 2009 Grand Cru / 10-years on / tasted blind: Expressive nose with lots of cool, blue fruit, plum, blackberry. Relatively rich palate with lots of dry extract, stays fresh, plum on the finish. Modern in a good way I wrote down. Good showing.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/20/2019 - Jeff Leve wrote: 92 Points
This is really developed nicely. With a floral edge, the fresh cherries, smoke, espresso and tobacco notes are right out in front. Soft, polished, round, easy to like and easy to drink, with a bit of air, this is drinking quite well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/7/2019 - pernod Likes this wine: 89 Points
Bluish red, long clear drops, clear edge. Black cherry, cedar wood, pencil shacvings, raspberry nose. Black cherry, pencil shavings, wood taste. Nice friut, decent balance, mature tannins. Will probably wait 5 years before taking the last bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/14/2019 - MindMuse wrote: 93 Points
Deep ruby with an immediately redolent nose of dark florals and blackberry, as if framed on a cedar chest. A low range of charcoal smoke emerges. Palate is rich, concentrated blackberry, raspberry, which conveys a really delicious mid palate and persists with an ever-so-slight tannic pull. Lovely with steak au poivre.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/30/2019 - MH Amateur wrote: 92 Points
Opened for 3 to 3.5 hours before drinking.
Excellent fruit; no tan is to speak of. Fantastic nose to start with - dust, plums, excellent aroma.
Really enjoyed it with tri tip.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/18/2019 - vinhonotte Likes this wine: 91 Points
Fine Wines SG - “Judgement of Paris” Bordeaux Blend Dinner (The Communal Bistro Delicacy - CBD): Quite a lot of earth, wood, grass and blackberries. High alcohol heat. Long grassy finish
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/4/2019 - bordeaux456 wrote: 87 Points
This was a nice bottle of wine, but nowhere near as nice as I had thought it would be. I think the bottle may have been stored poorly as it was showing a significant amount of sediment already. Fruit forward with cherry, blackberry and currant. I thought the was a little flat (again, could have been due to poor storage) and lacking in length. Very little finish time which was disappointing. I would like to try this again, hoping this was just an off bottle.
87
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/10/2019 - superboo Likes this wine: 91 Points
Opened using Coravin. Deep purple and dark fruit nose. Very smooth tannins and slight minerality. Medium finish. Drinking really nice now but was hoping for some secondary and tertiary characteristics to be present, maybe in a couple more years?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/20/2018 - jimyeni wrote: flawed
Sadly this smelled of Brett, lacked fruit and the acidity was off the charts. Calling it flawed and very very sad, was very hopeful about this bottle
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/3/2018 - Alvarovazquez Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted for five hours before pouring. Smooth and elegant. Balanced flavors and aromas. Delicious Margaux terroir. Ready to drink now or to hold it for another 6-10 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/18/2018 - BradA wrote: 90 Points
Purchased off list at Grillmarket in Reykjavik. Medium body with decent fruit and some vanilla. Not an uncious wine, yet even in fruit and tannin. Would I cellar long term? No. Drink over the next 5-7 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/18/2018 - M.Y. Chong wrote:
Muted nose. Uncorked May 2018. Previous Coravin about August 2017. Disappointing juice at this time. Much better last year. Don't know why?
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/9/2018 - TashNYC wrote: 92 Points
I had this wine 3 times over 2 days:
Right out of the bottle, it had a lovely, perfumed nose. Great fruit - red and black - and some floral notes. It was showy and open at noon (vs the 2010 which was closed). Nine hours later (no decant) it had blossomed into this beautiful, silky wine with refined fruit, flowers and a fine finish. So tasty with the French, roast herbal chicken (thyme, sage, rosemary). Jen wondered why we don’t drink this regularly.
In pretty good shape the next evening, too.
I was surprised this was only 10% merlot (vs 35% in the 2010) as it was so much more open. One of my favorites of the night.
Graciously poured by Sophie Schyler Thierry, family owner and Development Director of Chateau Kirwan. (220 views)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/8/2018 - TashNYC wrote: 92 Points
Bordeaux tasting with Jen and Donna (Princeton, NJ): A lovely, perfumed nose right out of the bottle. Great fruit - red and black - and some floral notes. It was showy and open at noon (vs the 2010 which was closed). Nine hours later (no decant) it had blossomed into this beautiful, silky wine with refined fruit, flowers and a fine finish. So tasty with the French, roast herbal chicken (thyme, sage, rosemary). Jen wondered why we don’t drink this regularly.
In pretty good shape the next evening, too.
I was surprised this was only 10% merlot (vs 35% in the 2010) as it was so much more open. One of my favorites of the night.
Graciously poured by Sophie Schyler Thierry, family owner and Development Director of Chateau Kirwan.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/6/2017 - lmbernstein Likes this wine: 93 Points
Great. Long finish. Awesome
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/29/2017 - Jeff Leve wrote: 91 Points
Lushly textured, round, supple, and already expressive. Very ripe on the nose, with richness on the palate.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
5/13/2017 - Millennial Drinkers wrote: 92 Points
Second wine in flight three for the Bordeaux Master's Class at Heart's Delight with all wines from Margaux.
Deep mix of garnet and ruby red. Similar to the 2014 with some sweet spices and dark fruits but a bit softer with a savory twist. Notes of bret, meaty and a touch stinky overall. Nothing overpowering or out of place, well integrated together. Great structure and backbone with heavy tannins (7.5/10), definitely a wine built for the long haul. Notes of dark red berries, pepper and a touch toasted. Medium plus body with a long finish. Drink till 2040. (92+)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/29/2017 - NarunP wrote: 90 Points
Still deep and fresh appearance, although the purple hue starts to fade. No sign of bricking at the 8 years of age. Very pretty nose. Gamey, seaweed, cassis, concentrated sensation, rich and opulent. On the palate this 2009 reflects the profile of the vintage. High tannin, medium plus plus acidity. Almost chewy and salty. Smoky, animalistic, black fruits, white pepper. I personally could do away with the milk chocolate flavor associated with the international style of winemaking. Really hope that time would quiet down the intense oak notes. Ripe and long. Would not touch this baby until 2024 at least. 90+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/8/2016 - rmalloy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tasted blind. Herbs, tobacco, and eucalyptus. Inky, almost meaty, with a little toast. Some cassis and plum, but this is past midway in the transition to maturity. Big oak. Big mouthfeel, but not in the voluptuous merlot sort of way, but rather in the more structured, cabernet sort of way. High class. Ready to drink now. Rating: 93
Guess the wine. I feel confident that this is left-bank Bordeaux. ~10 years old.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/5/2016 - broadband013 wrote: 91 Points
Trop jeune, mais déjà très bon, il faut encore le garder pour plus d'équilibre.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/12/2016 - Jeff Leve wrote: 92 Points
Smoke, incense, truffle, blackberry, barbecue and floral notes create the aromatic profile. With an hour of air, the wine softened, filled out and served up a lush, textured, dusty, earthy, dark chocolate and black cherry profile. While quite tasty now, even though it's young, this should be even better with another 5 years of age.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/8/2016 - Gwen Lim wrote:
Pretty good actually. Young wine, with good amount of tannin and structure. Fleshy, full but light
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/10/2016 - sigge wrote: 88 Points
Dark red with a slightly brown rim. Floral and perfumed with some oak in the back ground. Half body and a bit short. Dissapointed
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/7/2016 - BenBlu Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for 6 hours prior to consumption. It drank really well and was pretty accessible when poured into the glass from the decanter and continued to open up more with time in the glass. 13.5% alc - not too much heat, not overdone, the way I like it. Well rounded, hitting all the right notes, beautiful fruit and some nuances of tobacco/leather in the making. Sure this will be even better with time and could prove to be an excellent value for a 2009 which is drinking great already but with upside potential. 93+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/17/2016 - 1964vintage wrote: 92 Points
Excellent. PnP with it opening up very nicely over 1.5-2 hours in the glass. Certainly young and a long life ahead, however, with some patience of letting it breathe it drinks quite well now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/17/2014 - eddieng3388 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Need to wait longer time to taste
Well balanced， soft tannin ， great fragrance
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/2/2014 - StefanAkiko Likes this wine: 91 Points
Seconding Umay Ceviker on all accounts.
Tasted at the Chateau.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/20/2014 - stayhappy21 wrote: 88 Points
Tasted this at the Quartet of Bordeaux Masterclass at The Tower Club.
This wines was tasted side-by-side with the 2010 Chateau Kirwan.
Colour of the wine is purple with hints of brown. Generally still closed with relatively higher alcohol content. Lots of dark fruits and oak on the nose.
Style of the wine is full bodied, concentrated and has a clean finish. Palate also experienced dark fruits and berries with a spicy finish.
Rich with earthy minerals.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/31/2014 - maxima wrote: 91 Points
Beau Bordeaux séduisant et ample, jeune certe mais beaucoup plus convainquant que le 2007...effet millésime probablement.
Un nez charmeur sur les cerises et la terre avec un peu de café.
En bouche, assez velouté avec de belles notes d'élevage et de fruits rouges.
Les tannins sont serrées et la finale assez longue et bien persistante.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/28/2014 - Umay Ceviker wrote: 91 Points
Deep ruby with a charming crimson rim. Very deceptive nose early on with prominent coffee aromas as well as bitter chocolate masking the black fruity core and steering me towards the new world in blind tasting. Oak driven now on the palate with firm, even drying tannins that tend to soften in a few hours time. Bitter on the aftertaste. Too early to drink. If you still want to, at least two hours in the decanter will pay off.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
4/6/2013 - strawbo Likes this wine:
Nice but had it after long day of tasting so did not make detailed notes
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/30/2013 - John McCabe wrote: 92 Points
Elegant, with good stuffing. A lot of dark chocolate and expresso notes. Slightly stiff, but built to age. Of the couple dozen or so '09s I've had, while this is approachable now, it really will benefit from more time.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2013 - METRIK wrote: 92 Points
As with many 09 chateaux, Kirwan performed nicely.... 4 hour decant... drank over 3 hours.... Soft tannins, with silk complexity.... fruit is held back a bit, but it has the structure to age effortlessly for a very long time.... Nose was fresh and fruity... Overall, this is a great wine that will offer pleasure for a long time through out its aging process.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/19/2012 - levesqueph wrote: 92 Points
Opened it by mistake, it wasn’t entered in my wine cell yet. Just by the smell I Knew I just made error. The feeling of it was just wonderful. It’s a wine that must be tasted. Elegance, finesse it carry’s
You on a feeling that you don’t want to let go.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/5/2012 - Omar Khayyam wrote:
November releases at Systembolaget with munskänkarna (Näringslivets hus, Stockholm): Unforgiving at this point, tight, dense, there's a lot there, but right now not showing much. For the cellar. Not rating it. (88-92)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/31/2012 - jerry6 wrote: 91 Points
Big berry nose ,smooth for such a young wine can't wait to see how it ages 5 years on . Should be great . Will be picking up more .
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/10/2012 - cyak wrote: 87 Points
Full body, moderate tannins, moderate long duration and diverse palate. Touch of berry and peppery as well as chocolate flavors. Also with earth tones.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/25/2012 - mcease wrote: 93 Points
2009 Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux Tasting. Very fresh on the nose, along with some currents. This wine packs a punch and has a ton of cassis slamming your pallet. Very nice round tannins. Excellent. 92-94 points.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/1/2012 - Jeff Leve wrote: 91 Points
The blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and equal parts Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc produced a wine that opens with licorice, cocoa, smoke and aromas of fresh dark berries. The medium/full bodied, wine ends with chocolate covered, black raspberries.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/30/2012 - Vino Me wrote: 92 Points
2009 Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux Tasting; 1/27/2012-1/31/2012 (Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Chicago, Illinois): 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, a remarkable 13% Petit Verdot and 13% Cabernet Franc. A fine showing. Not as good as the very impressive 2005 though. Blackish red color. Solid acidity. Notes of cassis and crushed grape skin. Tannic. 91-93 points.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/28/2012 - mike410 wrote: 89 Points
Union Des Grands Crus de Bordeaux Tasting (MONTREAL). Medium color. Pepper, berry nose. Medium body.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/27/2012 - lumpyelbow wrote:
Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux 2009 (Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, ON): Nice and round. Sandy tannin.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/23/2012 - RockinCabs wrote: 93 Points
Nose: Violets, Blueberry, Blackberry and Truffle. Palate: Ripe and mouth filling wine. Juicy red currant, blackberry jam and spice run across the mid palate. Slightly flashy style. Finish: Layers of blueberry, blackberry and red licorice. There is a nice herb and sweet oak component in the finish as well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/23/2012 - alanr wrote: 91 Points
UGC 2009 Bordeaux tasting San Francisco: Rich, lush, nice balance, forward, dark red fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/21/2012 - Redguy wrote: 89 Points
2009 Bordeaux at UGC San Francisco (Bentley Reserve Building, San Francisco): Rich and very ripe, this was certainly tasty but came across as a bit sloppy. Lacked direction and focus.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/12/2011 - Philippe_C wrote: 90 Points
Nose of red fruit, sous-bois... in the mouth, powerfull tannins, fresh red fruit, average lenght
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/18/2011 - vespasian wrote: 93 Points
I like this nose - sous bois and spice, dark fruits; nice elegance on the palate. Good concentration and extract. Lovely, pretty red fruits and good tannic backbone. Looking to be a very good Kirwan. 92-94.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment