1996 | Château Kirwan | Margaux

Medium ruby-red color but with very dark pigmentation. Very ripe aromas with high-toned red-fruits are paired with chocolate & vanilla notes on the nose. Good acidity gives excitement to the ripe, but volatile, red-fruit on the palate. There are notes of chocolate & vanilla pod that merge seamlessly with the fruit in the smooth structure. The Alcohol adds a little warmth to the finish where the tannins show good grip.

Reviews:

• Wine Advocate: Readers should note that this property has significantly improved the quality of its wines, and now deserves a serious look in nearly every vintage. The 1996 Kirwan is a highly-extracted, rich, medium-bodied wine with a deep ruby/purple color, and ripe cassis fruit intermixed with a touch of new oak, prunes, and spice. The wine has come together nicely since I first tasted it from cask. It appears to be an excellent, nearly outstanding effort. There is moderate tannin in the finish, so give this beefy, rich, muscular wine 6-7 years of cellaring.

• Wine Spectator: Pretty plum and blackberry character. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a fresh finish. Just starting to come right now.

Producer Information

Château Kirwan is a producer located in Margaux, in the southern Médoc, some 30km (18 miles) north of Bordeaux town center. The estate was classified as a Third Growth in the 1855 Classification of Bordeaux wines. The château is named after Mark Kirwan, an Irishman, who acquired the property from Englishman John Collingwood in 1760 after marrying Collingwood's daughter. He built the château and put his name on the label to make it easier for merchants to identify and sell his wines. Thomas Jefferson, a lover of Bordeaux, wrote about Château Kirwan (he refered to it as "Quirouen" in his writings) in 1787, and listed it in his second tier of wines. This was, however, before 1855, when it was officially classified as a third growth. Despite losing the château in the French Revolution – and reclaiming it under Napoleon – the Kirwans sold the winery in 1827. It was acquired by the Godard family acquired Kirwan in the latter part of the 19th Century and expanded the holding. Current owners – the Schÿler family, who came to Bordeaux in the 18th Century to establish a wine merchant business – bought the property in 1926. Château Kirwan is situated on 40 hectares (100 acres) of the Cantenac Plateau on the Garonne River. In fact, the property sits on something of a rise 20 meters (60 feet) higher than the rest of the plateau at its highest point. Cabernet Sauvignon is the dominant variety grown here, thriving on the gravelly soils of the area, while Merlot enjoys more clay-based soils on another part of the property. Some Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot are grown as well. Château Kirwan believes in minimally invasive techniques in the wine cellar, calling winemakers "wine helpers" instead. The wine is aged for 20 months in 40 percent new French oak, allowing the quality of the fruit and soil structure to shine. Often described as elegant, silky, and firmly structured, it is considered a classic example of Margaux. In addition to the grand vin, the estate also make a second wine called Les Charmes de Kirwan.

DISCLAIMER** This is a single item listing unless otherwise noted in the description. Retailer advises either in stock or in route to their location. Usually ships within one to four business days. Longer processing times may occur especially around holiday(s). Some items may become backordered or delayed without notice due to demand & will ship out upon arrival. Overseas 700ml products typically have longer processing/transit times. You can always verify product availability by calling 1-888-548-0333. Please refer to our cancellations & returns agreement or reach out to our support team at help@caskcartel.com for any additional questions.

Our dedicated team specializes in creating personalized shopping experiences. If you’re looking for a specific item or collection that isn’t appearing on our marketplace, please reach out to us at concierge@caskcartel.com or fill out the product inquiry form and one of our dedicated team members will be in touch.  Whether it’s a product you’ve experienced while traveling or a rare, hard to find item you’ve been searching for, we have an established global network of retailers with the ability to locate and source the rarest and hardest to find products.