Wine Advisor
Kirwan 2003
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
A sleeper of the vintage, the 2003 Kirwan exhibits a dense plum/ruby color, sweet creme de cassis notes intermixed with spicy fruitcake and cedarwood, medium to full body, good freshness, sweet tannin and a long finish. This beauty has hit its plateau of maturity, but it is in no danger of falling apart. Drink it over the next decade.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Impressive out of barrel. Tasted again after bottling at the UGC in October 2005. The nose is closed, but eventually some aromas of blackberry leaf and cassis. The palate is well-balanced with a lot more freshness than other Margaux wines. Raspberry, a touch of kirsch. It lacks typicity, but it is vigorous and cohesive with an elegant finish. Fine. Lasted tasted blind in July 2006. Deep garnet colour. The nose is a little disjointed. Slight savory (some Cabernet Franc in here?) Sweet red fruits, cassis, touch of tobacco. Full-bodied palate, smooth understated entry but it whacks you on the mid-palate. Very tannic, lacking some refinement. Spicy, peppery black fruits. Brutish, rather forced. Maybe time will round out the edges? This is turning hedonistic and over the top.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The nose is again lacking lift with faint aromas of blackcherries, damp earth and Xmas cake. The palate is tannic with firm grip and good depth. Chewy black fruits, muscular and upfront, a wine with a lot, perhaps too much hubris. A little dry on the finish. Drinking 2009-2014. Tasted January 2007.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The antithesis of so many Margaux offerings, which are generally open-knit, forward, low in acidity, and already easy to drink, the muscular, heavyweight 2003 Kirwan is impressively structured, and built for the long haul. Deep purple-colored with a tight but promising nose of black fruits, melted licorice, earth, and spice box, it is a layered, medium to full-bodied, deep, concentrated effort that should be forgotten for 5-6 years. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2020+
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
This estate has been producing impressive wines since the mid-1990s, and much of the credit goes to the talented proprietress, Sophie Schyler. The 2003 Kirwan is a beauty and gets my vote as the finest Kirwan made in the last quarter century. A beautiful bouquet of forest floor, plums, licorice, creme de cassis, and smoke emerges from this opaque ruby/purple-tinged effort. Medium-bodied with plenty of sweet tannin in addition to low acidity, it leaves a beautiful tactile impression that is concentrated yet fresh and lively. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2022+.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted blind at Farr Vintner’s Left Bank tasting. The Kirwan ‘03 has a fragrant, violet-tinged bouquet with raspberry coulis, wild strawberry and cedar. Good lift. The palate has a slightly chewy entry, strong tobacco elements that obscure the fruit underneath. It is dry and austere on the finish. Tasted October 2010.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Deep ruby/purple-tinged with a pure, classic nose of acacia flowers intermingled with creme de cassis, sweet cedar, and licorice, this expansive, opulent, full-bodied wine has loads of glycerin, low acidity, but high levels of concentrated fruit and moderate tannin. This is a beauty and certainly a successful wine for the vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2020+.
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)2000(3)2001(1)2002(2)
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