| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Margaux |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
As always, this estate has produced a blockbuster style of Margaux in 2010, with the more masculine side of the appellation providing density, power, big body, loads of fruit, extract and richness. This wine is powerful and concentrated, but by no means excessively extracted. Dense purple, muscular, deep and impressive, it is a wine that allows for no compromise among wine lovers. Forget it for 6-10 years and drink it over the following 20-40 years.
Keep in mind that in the 19th century, Kirwan was making some of the longest-lived wines of Margaux, so it is nothing new to see this property produce big, blockbuster reds that require considerable patience from their prospective purchasers.
Tasted at the UGC tasting in London. The Kirwan has a generous bouquet with blackberry, boysenberry, a touch of undergrowth and cedar. It is nicely defined although it needs just a little more tension. The palate is medium-bodied with a firm grip on the entry. There is plenty of black tarry fruit here with a dash of spice towards the finish, but again, it needs to develop a little more tension and vibrancy in the glass. Tasted November 2012.
Blackish crimson. Intense blend of very ripe fruit and some tobacco savour. Racy green finish - a bit angular - but lots of pleasure too. Edgy for the moment. Not the densest but with real verve.
There is an unusually low percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon here for the Medoc. The vineyard being planted with 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 10% Petit Verdot. However this year the blend is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot. The Boissenots have consulted here since 2007 (replacing Michel Rolland) and the wine is now less new-oak, less late-picked and less jammy in style. Kirwan is now a wine of classic Margaux elegance. Good purity and structure, well rounded tannins, attractive red fruit.
The nose is quite sweet fruited but there is a fresher feel on the palate. Ripe blackcurrant and bramble are underpinned by fresher red cherry. The tannins are firm but not over aggressive.
Richly-extracted slightly earthy fruit with both intensity, purity and aromatic complexity, a rich, harmonious wine, with everything there for the long term, one of the best ever Kirwans. Drink 2018-35.
Readers looking for a masculine, powerful, concentrated, broodingly backward style of Margaux need look no further than the 2010 Kirwan. A dense opaque purple color is accompanied by notes of graphite, licorice, blackberry and cassis. Intense and concentrated with good acidity as well as a boatload of tannin, it should be forgotten for 7-10 years and drunk over the following three decades.
A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot, including 13% vin de presse and being raised in 45% new oak (13.9% alcohol) the Kirwan '10 has a very ripe bouquet with blackcurrant, blueberry, plum and cedar. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe tannins, quite robust on the entry, very good weight but mellowing nicely towards the creamy textured finish. This is a very fine, modern style Margaux, one that is very well crafted. Tasted April 2011.
