Winery - Château Kirwan
* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This is a solid, finely perfumed wine, the tannins giving concentration and structure. There is some severity as well, a sign that it is still settling into the bottle. But with its bitter chocolate character and tight texture, it should age well.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
The renaissance of Kirwan, with the consultancy of Michel Rolland, continues with this ripe, forward, concentrated wine. The tannins are sweet and soft, with a solid, chunky structure that promises a long life. The finish displays balanced new wood flavors and a smooth polish.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Lots of new wood here, very spicy, toasty on the nose and palate. There is a dense, firm tannic character as well and the finish offers fresh flavors, typical of 2008. For medium-term aging over 5–7 years.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
93-95 Barrel sample. Compact wine, bringing in juicy fruits and tannins into a complete, firm whole. A good success.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Dense and dark, this is an extracted wine with polished fruit. What stops it going over the edge is the delicious sweet fruits, the dense structure and the elegance that gives it shape and aging potential.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
88-90 Kirwan has been transformed in the past decade or so. Today, as with this 2003, it produces smooth, rich polished wines, with firm wood but never too much. Acidity completes the balance.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
91–93 The spicy aromas suggest quantities of new wood, and this shows on the very dry tannins on the palate. There is also richness, which comes through and gives the wine good potential.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
91—93 Barrel sample. With smoky new wood dominating its aromas, this is a wine which demands long aging. It is not yet integrated, the wood too dominant. Very spicy and toasty, just hinting at its black fruits.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
88-90 Barrel sample. Caramel new wood aromas are followed by spice and toast flavors. The fruit seems thin by comparison, hard to feel under all that polished toast.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
To call Kirwan a rising star is no longer true, since this property, owned by the Schyler family, and with Michel Rolland as consultant, is now firmly back in its right quality place among classed growths. It is modern in style, as is expected, but the dark, black currant, extracted fruits, new wood and structure don’t detract from its elegance.
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