Winemaker Notes
Blend: 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
A full wine, this comes from an estate at the top of its form. The balance between tannins and blackberry fruits is just right, offering density and richness. The wine will be ready from 2024.
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James Suckling
This shows fantastic depth and fruit quality for the vintage with crushed currants, raspberries and flowers to the medium to full body, round and ripe tannins and flavorful finish. Good tension and poise. Drink after 2022.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2017 Château Kirwan is another charming, high quality Margaux. Possessing terrific purity in its blue fruits, charcoal, graphite, and obvious minerality, it hits the palate with medium-bodied richness, a fresh, vibrant texture, and a ripe, yet present tannin. Given its purity of fruit and overall charm, it should be drinkable with 2-3 years of bottle age and cruise for 15 years or more.
Barrel Sample: 90-92 -
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Kirwan has a warm blackberries and black raspberries nose with hints of kirsch, roses and sandalwood. The palate is medium-bodied with plush tannins and plenty of freshness supporting the elegant fruit, finishing perfumed and very pretty.
Barrel Sample: 90-92 -
Decanter
Attractive, well brushed and softened raspberry and damson fruit that fills out the tannic structure. This is appealing but the aromatics are a little subdued and the acidity a touch high. Focus on the pleasure that is clearly ready to be taken over the next decade or two.
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Wine Spectator
Red currant and damson plum notes are melded together, while lilac, lavender and incense accents swirl around. The elegant, fine-grained finish pulls them together with a savory stitching. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2021 through 2029.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Silky, seductive and polished are the words that characterize the best wines from Margaux, the most inland appellation of the Médoc on the Left Bank of Bordeaux.
Margaux’s gravel soils are the thinnest of the Médoc, making them most penetrable by vine roots—some reaching down over 23 feet for water. The best sites are said to be on gentle outcrops, or croupes, where more gravel facilitates good drainage.
The Left Bank of Bordeaux subscribes to an arguably outdated method of classification but it is nonetheless important in regards to history of the area. In 1855 the finest chateaux were deemed on the basis of reputation and trading price—at that time. In 1855, Chateau Margaux achieved first growth status, yet it has been Chateau Palmer (officially third growth from the 1855 classification) that has consistently outperformed others throughout the 20th century.
Chateau Margaux in top vintages is capable of producing red Cabernet Sauvignon based wines described as pure, intense, spell-binding, refined and profound with flavors and aromas of black currant, violets, roses, orange peel, black tea and incense.
Other top producers worthy of noting include Chateau Rauzan-Ségla, Lascombes, Brane-Cantenac, and d’Issan, among others.
The best wines of Margaux combine a deep ruby color with a polished structure, concentration and an unrivaled elegance.