Chateau Kirwan Magnum 2013

Château Kirwan, 3eme Cru Classe Margaux, Bordeaux, France, Magnum 2013 

Grapes: 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 11% Cabernet-franc and 10% Petit Verdot, 40ha vineyard on gravel & clay soil, 38hl/ha yield, 18 months' ageing in French oak (40% new).

Producer Tasting Note: 

On the nose, Château Kirwan 2013 is open and seductive. It emanates exquisite notes of red and black fruits such as cherry and black currant. Sweet spices round out a particularly fresh and delicate bouquet. On the palate, it exhibits astonishing freshness and balance. Its constitution is average, but the wine is gourmand and particularly flavourful. While it does not possess great ageing potential, it will please lovers of elegant wines for the next 15 years. (Philippe Delfaut, Managing Director, July 9, 2015)

Critics' Tasting Notes:

"The 2013 Kirwan has one of the better sets of aromatics from Margaux with simple blackberry and bilberry scents, plus a tinge of damp earth. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly stringy tannin but good acidity, while the finish shows less under-ripeness than its peers. It does lack length and there is a distracting metallic note on the aftertaste that contradicts the quality of the nose. It is a decent Margaux, if not performing as well as I was hoping from barrel."

88/100 points, Neal Martin, robertparker.com, October 2016

"Redcurrant and cherry fruit with just the right amount of ripeness – generous but savoury. There's a woody note to the palate and modest length and perhaps less perfume than you'd hope for, but there's a lot to enjoy here too. Structured firmly enough to age." Drink 2018-2026

16.5/20 points, Richard Hemming MW, JancisRobinson.com, November 2015