Chateau Kirwan Margaux Bordeaux Wine
Chateau Kirwan Margaux Third Growth, Bordeaux wine producer profile, with wine tasting notes, wine ratings, a history of the property, information on wine making and terroir, along with wine tasting reviews. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles
In 1710, Chateau Kirwan was bought by Sir John Collingwood. Collingwood was a known a merchant in the Bordeaux wine trade. The daughter of Collingwood married Mark Kirwan. At that point in time, both she and the Margaux property took on a new name.
Chateau Kirwan was one of the few Medoc properties that Thomas Jefferson, the Ambassador to France and the future third president of the United States visited on his Bordeaux wine tasting trip. We know this based on the personal records and diaries of Thomas Jefferson, written in 1780. Mark Kirwan passed away in 1815. The title was given to Camille Godard who was later elected Mayor of Bordeaux. In 1882 Godard gifted Chateau Kirwan to the city of Bordeaux.
Jumping ahead a century or so, after a long period when Chateau Kirwan was not known for producing the quality of wine the Left Bank estate was able to produce, the management hired Michel Rolland to consult the estate starting in 1991. Aside from tasting the wine and visiting the beautiful grounds, one of the unique features of visiting the estate is the tasting room. Located upstairs, with couches, chairs and coffee tables, it feels like you’re sitting in a friends living room, while tasting the wines instead of a grand chateau in the Medoc. It’s really quite charming.
The 35 hectare Bordeaux wine vineyard of Chateau Kirwan is planted to 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot planted on gravel and sand soils. On average, the vines are close to 30 years of age. The vineyard is planted to a vine density of 8,000 vines per hectare. The wine of Chateau Kirwan is vinified in stainless steel vats. Malolactic fermentation takes place in vat. The wine is aged in 33% new French oak barrels for between 16 and 18 months, depending on the vintage. Since 1993, the property started producing a second wine, Les Charmes de Kirwan. The estate releases close to 16,000 cases a year of Chateau Kirwan.
Wine Tasting Notes
Displaying 8 vintages | 35213 Views Sorted by vintage
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2011 Château Kirwan
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From 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 9% Petit Verdot, reaching 13.4% alcohol, the wine will see aging in 45% new oak. Coffee, black cherry, and licorice with medium body and fresh, ripe cherry, coffee and bitter chocolate in the finish. 89-90 Pts
89 points - Tasted Apr 19, 2012
1430 Views
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2010 Château Kirwan
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Coffee bean, flowers, oak, smoke and black cherry notes are the best part of the wine. While sweet, round and well made from a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot, in the end, the wine lacks that extra special something.
90 points - Tasted Feb 13, 2013
872 Views
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2009 Château Kirwan
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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.
91 points - Tasted Feb 1, 2012
3010 Views
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2008 Château Kirwan
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This wine opens with floral cassis, earth and spice aromatics. The elegant, already open Margaux, combines cassis and cherry flavors in the finish.
90 points - Tasted Jan 28, 2011
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08 Château Kirwan sported a lot of color and body; but while the wine was certainly well made, it lacked the level of complexity found in the 05. 86-89 Pts
87 points - Tasted Aug 31, 2009
3673 Views
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2005 Château Kirwan
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Still deeply colored with licorice, espresso, cassis, blackberries and earthy scents, this round textured, flashy, Margaux wine needs at least another 5 years before it moves into its prime time drinking stage.
90 points - Tasted Jul 25, 2011
5997 Views
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2004 Château Kirwan
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Coffee, licorice, spicy black cherry jam and earthy scents open up the wine. Tannic and sturdy in nature, the wine needs at least a few more years before it beings to soften and open up.
90 points - Tasted Sep 25, 2011
3979 Views
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2003 Château Kirwan
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Licorice, smoke, coffee, juicy black plums and jam make up the fun perfume. Fleshy, soft and round in texture, the wine ends with a black licorice and blackberry liqueur infused finish. This is drinking well now and should continue to improve for at least another 10-15 more years.
91 points - Tasted Dec 7, 2011
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Licorice, coffee, floral, plum, damp earth and cassis scents pop from the still deeply colored wine. With rich, fat, round textures and a sweet, ripe, licorice, chocolate and jammy plum tinged finish, this fleshy, opulent Margaux wine is already is starting to drink well.
91 points - Tasted Sep 20, 2011
3410 Views
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2000 Château Kirwan
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Black fruit and licorice filled perfume pairs well with soft textures and reasonable concentration, but lacks excitement.
88 points - Tasted Mar 5, 2010
5700 Views
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