Wine Advisor
Kirwan 2000
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Kirwan's 2000 is a full-bodied, dense, chewy, backward, muscular powerhouse (atypical for a wine from this appellation). The opaque black/purple color is followed by a chewy, concentrated, dense, long, persistent effort with terrific ripeness as well as copious aromas and flavors of cassis, new wood, licorice, and tar. If more nuances emerge, it will merit an even higher score. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2023.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
This Margaux estate is enjoying a renaissance with full-flavored, muscular wines being produced. The finest Kirwan I have ever tasted, the 2000 is a full-bodied, multidimensional, rich, powerhouse exhibiting a black/purple color and a sweet, chewy, concentrated style with superb intensity, ripeness, and length. It should last for decades. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2025.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
In June 2001: rich liquorice, cassis and kirsch nose. Rich and opulent on the palate with lush blackberry. More structured than Giscours, very expressive with superb depth. Best Kirwan ever? Then at the UGC in November 2002: this continues to impress. Plummy raisin nose. Very elegant and classy. Concentrated, silky palate with well-knit tannins. Feminine, lithe with cassis fruit dominating the rich and velvety wine. Best Kirwan to date. On song in November 2004. Like Giscours, this Margaux excelled itself in 2000. An attractive, minerally nose. Blackberry with a little iodine and black truffle. Excellent definition. Good concentration on the palate and good acidity that cuts through layers of pure black fruit. Feminine and graceful. Has the structure and balance to merit long-term cellaring. Drink from 2010 to 2020.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Still somewhat tannic but very much in the style that Kirwan has favored over recent vintages, this is a full-bodied, muscular, powerhouse effort. The wine still has a dense ruby/purple color, with loads of blackberries, cassis, and some noticeable new oak still lingering in the background. Powerful, rich, and full, this wine needs another 2-3 years of cellaring and should age nicely for another 20 years.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
This property continues to excel, with the 2000 the finest Kirwan I have ever tasted. An opaque purple color is accompanied by an explosive bouquet of smoky black fruits, minerals, earth, and new oak. As the wine sits in the glass, notions of licorice emerge. This is a powerful, concentrated vin de garde with enormous depth, extract, and richness. If everything comes into total harmony, my score may turn out to be low. Made in a blockbuster, super-concentrated style, it will age for 30 years. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2030. Kudos to the Schyler family who has done so much to resurrect this estate's quality over the last 4-5 vintages.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
Great nose of dark fruit, fresh tobacco and hints of licorice and cedar. Leather. Full body, extremely fine and polished. Lasts for minutes. Drink now or hold. A wine to enjoy for years ahead.
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.
1982(2)1995(1)1998(2)
Package Size
12 x 75cl
