Château Kirwan, 3eme Cru Classé, Margaux, 2022

In this vintage Kirwan is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot. The nose feels very true to the Kirwan style, with lightly degraded summer berry fruits to the fore, with a fresh and leafy lift to them, underpinned by a sandy mineral edge, bolstered by a trace of oak. The palate follows the lead of the nose in a quite charming fashion, with degraded fruits swirled with leather and tobacco oak, set over a delicately spiced character, with powdery and spicy tannins underpinning the dark and savoury fruits, leading to a delicately peppered finish. A charming example of Kirwan which has a little mettle, and which will be drinking well in five or ten years. Tasted twice. The alcohol on the label is 14%.

DRINKING WINDOW 2027 - 2047

date of review 06/2025

Sandalwood, cumin and white pepper spice on the opening, well measured delivery, luscious black cherry fruits, love the lift through the finish, great quality and with real character. Very good with appellation typicity in this ripe year, this is the second time tasting since it bottle, and it continues to impress. 50% new oak.

DRINKING WINDOW 2028 - 2042

date of review 03/2025

The 2022 Kirwan was transferred into barrel early in October, blended at the end of January, aged for 20 months in 50% new oak and bottled in June 2024. It has a delineated, focused bouquet, with commendable purity of fruit, blackberry and bilberry notes, a light estuarine touch (sea spray) and cedar. The oak is very well integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with granular tannins, a keen thread of acidity and a little more structured than I remember from barrel, rendering it more similar to the 2020 than the 2019. It's lively and peppery on the aftertaste, with more precision than recent vintages. This vindicates my positive review from two years ago. It is one of the finest Kirwans in recent years.

DRINKING WINDOW 2030 - 2065

date of review 02/2025