Château Kirwan: Tasting & Drinking

Over the past few decades Château Kirwan has not maintained a very high profile despite having a large vineyard and a good volume of production. It seems to be somewhat lost in the motley collection of Margaux third growths, which range from leading estates such as Château Palmer, down to some less illustrious and less frequently encountered wines.

Nevertheless, reports of significant improvements in the wines of the property – with positive notes on the 2000 vintage particularly prominent – make the wines of Château Kirwan worth evaluating. Doubtless recent investment and innovation, including the introduction of the second wine, have helped considerably in the improvements here.

Although I do not feel I know the wines as well as I know those of some other classed growth estates, looking back at my notes I see I have tasted most recent vintages at least once. And while few have put in a performance to rival the leading estates of the Margaux appellation, there have been wines of good potential here. The 2016 vintage showed promise, as did 2015, 2010 and 2009 in particular. Among older vintages, 2005 showed well, as did 2003, although how well this latter vintage will have aged is something of an unknown. Sadly, it was not a wine that cropped up in my Bordeaux 2003 at Ten Years tasting.

It is the more recent vintages, though, that Château Kirwan should be judged on. These are wines of charm and grace, but perhaps not substance or intensity. I look forward to seeing how the continued development of the estate influences future vintages. (5/5/05, updated 26/4/07, 7/12/17)

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