Chateau Kirwan 2019

Lets very dark plum sauce, cassis and boysenberry preserve flavors unfurl over silky tannins, with black tea and a light sanguine hint infusing the finish. What you see is what you get -- and it's delicious. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Carmenère. Drink now through 2032. 10,416 cases made.

Rich nose, nicely expressive. The palate is filled with cool but also softly sweet blue fruits, black cherries, blueberries and blackcurrants. Liquorice and wet stone come through straight away, a real mineral aspect, while there are some stalky elements too — smoked cedar around the edges that needs a bit of time to soften. I like the structure and clarity here, such precision and balance. Lots to enjoy — one to hold on to.

Blackcurrants with bark, cedar and dried flowers coming through on the nose. Full-bodied with integrated tannins and a long, linear finish. Racy and refined. Sophisticated. Try after 2024.

The 2019 Kirwan has not really come together with élevage. It shows good brightness and energy, but the contours remain angular. There is no way around the lack of depth and complexity here. Tasted twice.

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 on 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.

Dark ruby, purple reflections, subtle brightening on the rim. Fresh sweet red cherries, notes of cassis and vanilla, inviting bouquet. Juicy, freshly structured, red berry notes, fine tannins, a hint of nougat on the fresh and mineral finish, a lively food wine.

Redcurrants, Bing cherry, graphite, licorice, violet, and flowery incense notes all define the bouquet of the 2019 Chateau Kirwan, a medium- to full-bodied, nicely concentrated Margaux that has a pretty, elegant, juicy style. It doesn't have the density of the top wines in the appellation, yet it's certainly nicely balanced, has supple tannins, and nicely integrated acidity, all making for a beautifully polished, elegant 2019 to drink over the coming 20 years or so.

Kunz barrel sample 2020: (59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot, 1% Carmenère, 13.3% alc./vol., production 100,000 bottles) Herbal, medium‑bodied bouquet, currants, red blackberries, cedar. Rustic, finely bitter palate with good fruit, fine sandy tannins, medium aromatics, muscular structure, bitter finish. Has room to improve.

(59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot, 1% Carmenère, 13.3% alc./vol., production 100,000 bottles) Herbal, medium-bodied bouquet, redcurrants, red blackberries, cedar. Rustic, subtly bitter palate with good fruit, fine sandy tannins, moderate aromatics, muscular structure, herbal finish. Can improve further. 16/20 2024 - 2036

Delivers power, balance, and juiciness, stretching across the palate. Less exuberant than the 2018; instead it is moreish, mouthwatering, classically balanced, with oyster-shell salinity, slate-like tannins, blackberries, crushed raspberry with white pepper and sage spice. First one to have a touch of Carmanère in the blend. 50% new oak for ageing, 50 hl/ha yield. Eric Boissenot consultant, Philippe Delfaut director.

The 2019 Kirwan has a deep garnet-purple color. To begin it offers classic notes of cassis, pencil lead, and cedar, opening out to notions of crushed rocks, wild sage, and roses. The medium-bodied palate is tight-knit, refreshing, and energetic, with fine-grained tannins and a mineral-laced finish.

Deep color; an attractive nose with notes of licorice and black fruit; flavorful and fleshy, but with less finesse than a few neighboring wines, at least for the moment. Good value for money for cellaring.

This is a lovely classic of the appellation, winning us over with its fine elegance and gently velvety texture. Well-balanced and flavorful on the finish. A benchmark Kirwan and a highly recommendable Margaux.

The wine is not showing at its best at this stage, with notes of blue fruits (blueberries, blackberries), bitter orange, and a hint of green. The palate, by contrast, is silky, smooth, and caressing, with notes of tangy candies.

What finesse and complexity in the bouquet of Kirwan 2019! Its freshness comes from delicate notes of red berries and eucalyptus aromas. On the palate, the wine confirms the bouquet’s finesse while also showing density and freshness. The tannins are velvety and align with the crunchy edge of the acidic structure. A fresh, indulgent, elegant wine, ready to spend time in the cellar!

Logo on the capsule: PK Dark, intense, purple color. Very aromatic nose, with fresh, spicy fruit. Precise on the attack, caressing, the wine glides across the palate, offering fine richness and a lovely taste of Cabernet Sauvignon and ink on the finish. Persistent, perfumed, with no angular tannins. Normal length.

95–97. Barrel Sample. With its new cellars, the estate is performing at top speed and this vintage keeps up the fine track record. Firm tannins and beautifully perfumed fruit are blending together to give a wine that has style as well as structured fruitiness, with all the elegance of great Margaux. Think long-term aging for this wine.