Wine Advisor
Kirwan 2015
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2015 Kirwan has a very opulent, heady bouquet that perhaps has its foot pressed down a little too hard on the accelerator? It just feels a little ostentatious compared directly with its peers. The palate goes some way to restore order with small dark cherries, taut and quite firm tannin with a very citrus-fresh finish. It is a Margaux that seems to be on full glare at the moment - I hope that during élevage the contrast is toned down, so that there is more balance and a sense of terroir can come through, because this estate can produce great wines.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2015 Kirwan has a straitlaced bouquet that does not quite deliver the flair and panache of its peers, although it is bestowed with attractive blackberry and raspberry coulis scents laced with rose petal. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, a fine bead of acidity, fresh in the mouth but just missing that extra dimension on the conservative finish. Not bad, but I think Kirwan will produce better in the coming years with their brand new winery. It must now start to deliver the goods where it matters—in bottle.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2015 Kirwan is positively stellar. Deep, fleshy and incredibly inviting, the 2015 will drink well right out of the gate. The balance of aromatics, fruit and structure is compelling. Plum, blackberry, chocolate, licorice and spice fill out the wine's creamy, supple frame. Readers should expect bold, fleshy style.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2015 Kirwan appears to have meliorated in recent months. It offers attractive raspberry preserve, mulberry and allspice aromas, gently unveiling tea leaf scents with aeration. The medium-bodied palate displays fine-grained tannin and a taut line of acidity; it is fresh and precise though never powerful, and it gently fans out toward the finish, leaving a dash of black pepper on the aftertaste. Classy. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.
Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
The 2015 Kirwan has a deep garnet-purple color and nose of crushed red currants, black cherries and black plums with wafts of tilled soil, fallen leaves and bark. The medium-bodied mouth offers nice intensity with soft, fine-grained tannins and plenty of freshness on the finish.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2015 Kirwan appears to have meliorated in recent months. It offers attractive raspberry preserve, mulberry and allspice aromas, gently unveiling tea leaf scents with aeration. The medium-bodied palate displays fine-grained tannin and a taut line of acidity; it is fresh and precise though never powerful, and it gently fans out toward the finish, leaving a dash of black pepper on the aftertaste. Classy. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
So much character here of wet earth, mushroom and black currants. Full and powerful. Chewy tannins yet polished and very fine. Focused intense.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
A sleek wine with plenty of tannins, but they are already so well integrated that this has a very elegant personality. The long finish is rather mineral and very pure. Drink or hold.
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)2003(3)2004(1)2005(7)2009(2)2010(5)2011(1)2012(2)2013(1)2014(2)
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