Château Kirwan 2016

Compact and dense, with a firm, austere texture and great length; seems a little more restrained than en primeur (which is normal at this stage), and will regain its polish as it matures.

Almost more like a Pauillac in its expression of graphite and cassis, along with blackberry. The powerful, yet refined and racy tannins are a good sign for longer term ageing and although one can enjoy this today, it would be better to keep in your cellar for another three to five years for it to become more supple. Long finish.

There’s fragrant charm here with purple flowers and a swathe of ripe, juicy dark berries. This has a somewhat firm overall feel with sturdy tannins, driving ripe and fresh red and dark berries long. The oak is very nicely played.

Deep crimson with a purple rim. Ripe dark fruit and a touch smoky. Firm tannins, but there’s so much lovely fruit here it pours over the structure like a fountain. Pure cassis and just fresh enough. (JH)

The 2016 Kirwan has an attractive, well-defined bouquet of blackberry, crushed violet and light crushed stone aromas that gently unfurls in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, a fine bead of acidity and a lightly spiced, peppery finish. I absolutely love this Margaux, and it should age with style. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting.

Tobacco, flowers, earth and red fruits come alive in this medium-bodied, fresh, juicy, ripe, soft-textured gem. Give it a few years in the bottle before pulling a cork.

Deep, dark ruby with an opaque core, brightening at the rim. The attractive bouquet offers inviting dark berry fruit, a hint of vanilla, and oak. It is full-bodied, rounded and elegant, with fine, integrated tannins, and a pronounced fruit finish. Fresh and mineral. Good ageing potential.

Fine and layered nose blending some roasted notes, mild oak, coffee, mocha and ripe dark fruit. Dense palate with a soft extraction, fine tannin, crunchy dark fruit flavours like cassis, plum and cherry with sage and tobacco, savoury and fresh with a long lingering finish. Elegant and well-proportioned.

One of the more finesse-driven examples of this cuvée that I can remember, the 2016 Château Kirwan offers up a medium ruby color along with notes of smoky tobacco, gravelly minerality, graphite, and sweet cassis fruit. Medium-bodied, elegant and supple, if not a touch lean, it’s not a blockbuster but has outstanding purity and notable elegance. Drink it over the coming 15 years or so.

A touch of crème de cassis on the aromatics here, with slate, crayon, crushed rocks, cassis, blackberry, cocoa bean. More muscular and a little less charming than the 2015, at least for now, with a ton of ageing potential. This has character and concentration but needs longer in the bottle. Very Left Bank – the most typical Médoc of the vertical. 50% new oak for ageing, 50hl/ha yield. Harvest from September 27 to October 20, Eric Boissenot consultant, Philippe Delfaut director.

A blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot, the 2016 Kirwan is deep garnet-purple in color. It bursts from the glass with gregarious notes of baked blueberries, plum preserves and warm cassis, followed by suggestions of star anise, dark chocolate and camphor with a waft of crushed rocks. Medium-bodied, the palate is both intense and wonderfully elegant with firm, finely grained tannins and bold freshness to support the impactful black fruits, finishing long and pure.

2016 stands out as a benchmark for Kirwan, delivering a wine that is both intense, full-bodied, and refined on the finish. A fine balance that allows the fruit to remain vibrant.

Small black fruits, liquorice, red plum. Fresh on the palate, a frank attack, round tannins, long finish. Great pedigree.

Garnet red with violet highlights. Very much inspired by its terroir, this Kirwan shows notes of red berries, cherries, spices and plenty of freshness. On the palate, the wine is compact and balanced. It is well supported by its tannins, which build in a crescendo, while the acidic structure underpins the aromatic expression on the finish. A wine that deserves a bit of ageing.

Dark, intense, and beautiful color. Moderately aromatic nose with fresh, ripe, and spicy fruit. Delicate on the attack, with meticulous texture, a very fruity and flavorful body; the wine glides on the finish, with floral aromas and creamy notes. Long and very good. However, I don’t find the lush flesh described en primeur.

Bright damson plum, bitter cherry and rose petal notes lead the way in this fresh and focused version, with light rooibos tea and mineral accents underlining the silky, elegant finish. Sneaky long too. Best from 2021 through 2031. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 9,167 cases made.

This big, rich wine offers dense tannins as well as sumptuous black fruits. Fruit and acidity come together to create a wine with both richness and juicy black-plum flavors. Drink this powerful wine from 2025.