Wine Advisor
Kirwan 1995
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The 1995 is impressive, with a smoked meat, highly extracted style that goes for the jugular. The deep purple color is followed by a rich, intense nose and medium to full-bodied, concentrated, ripe, smoky, enticing flavors. This concentrated, long wine is the most impressive Kirwan I have ever tasted. Could Kirwan really be this good? If this wine continues to display such character, watch out for an outstanding rating (and that would be a first). This could be one of the biggest sleepers of the vintage. It should last for 20 years. Last tasted 3/96
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Although Kirwan has been a perennial underachiever, the 1994 and 1995 offerings clearly demonstrate that the estate is coming back to life. The 1995 is even more impressive than the 1994, with a smoked meat, highly extracted style that goes for the jugular. The deep purple color is followed by a rich, intense nose and medium to full-bodied, concentrated, ripe, smoky, enticing flavors. This concentrated, long wine is the most impressive Kirwan I have ever tasted. Could Kirwan really be this good? If this wine continues to display such character, watch out for an outstanding rating (and that would be a first). This could be one of the biggest sleepers of the vintage. It should last for 20 years. All of the wines in this segment were tasted between March 19 and March 28 in Bordeaux. Most of the important wines from both the 1994 and 1995 vintages were tasted three separate times during my ten-day stay in Bordeaux.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
I downgraded this wine because of the aggressive new oak and vanillin that dominate the wine's personality. This dark ruby/purple-colored wine displays sweet cranberry and jammy black currant fruit on the attack, but narrows in the mouth with a compressed personality. Nevertheless, there is fine purity, medium body, and plenty of tannin. This 1995 will merit a higher score if it turns out the fruit is deep enough to absorb the wood. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2018.
About the Producer
Kirin Castle's vineyards are located on the Cantenac Heights and cover an area of 37 hectares. Due to the diverse terroir, the winery divides it into 35 parks, in order to adapt to local conditions and fully exploit the potential of each piece of land. Among them, the soil of the Cabinet Ouest is stratified clay, and the Merlot produced here is round and plump; the Mois de juin is distributed with gravel soil, which is conducive to Cabernet Sauvignon (Cabernet Sauvignon) ) ripening and giving it velvety tannins; while another, Canon, also on gravel soils, is located at the highest altitude and is mainly planted with Petit Verdot. The complicated vineyard work of wire racking, tying vines, thinning branches and leaves and grape picking is done manually. After the ripe grapes are picked, they are screened layer by layer before being transported to the winemaking workshop, where they undergo the same meticulous fermentation process. The fermented wine will be aged in French oak barrels with a proportion of about 50% new barrels for about 20 months. During this period, traditional egg white clarification and pouring are required before bottling. It is thanks to the understanding and respect of the vineyard, coupled with the meticulous brewing process, that the excellent quality of Kirin wine was born. In addition, the winery's winemaking consultant is Eric Boissenot, an influential winemaker who will guide the winery's winemaking together with the winery's general manager and technical director. At present, the wines launched by Kirin Castle mainly include the original wine—Chateau Kirwan, Margaux, France and the second wine, Charmes de Kirwan, Margaux, France. Kirin Castle red wine is made from grapes from the best plots of the Kirin Castle vineyard, the fruit picking and two screening are done by hand. Rich and concentrated on the palate, it perfectly expresses the extraordinary terroir of Kirin Castle. The second brand of Château Kirin is made from grapes from young plots in the vineyard. Its fruity taste is outstanding, the mouthfeel is supple, suitable for drinking in the morning.
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