2009 Chateau Kirwan 3eme Cru Classe, Margaux

Tasted at the Margaux UGC. The Kirwan evinces promise on the nose with sweet black cherry fruit, briary, cedar and a touch of graphite. Quite rounded and with great purity. The palate is full-bodied, more sinewy than other Margaux wines, but it does not compromise on balance, that tannins masculine and a little austere, but counterpoising the exuberant fruit nicely. Good grip on the finish: this is an excellent Kirwan. Tasted March 2010.

A big, powerful Margaux that should age for 20+ years, this inky purple-colored wine exhibits notes of spring flowers intermixed with blackberries, raspberries and cassis. Some lead pencil shavings and toasty oak are also present in this powerful yet at the same time very pure, textured, full-throttle Kirwan. It needs about 5-7 years of cellaring and will be among the longest-lived wines of the vintage.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 29/02/2012 A big, powerful Margaux that should age for 20+ years, this inky purple-colored wine exhibits notes of spring flowers intermixed with blackberries, raspberries and cassis. Some lead pencil shavings and toasty oak are also present in this powerful yet at the same time very pure, textured, full-throttle Kirwan. It needs about 5-7 years of cellaring and will be among the longest-lived wines of the vintage. This inky/purple-hued Margaux reveals aromas and flavors of blackberries, cassis, espresso roast, graphite, and new oak. Full-bodied, layered, and rich as well as elegant and precise, it needs 5-6 years of cellaring, and should last for 25-30+ years. It is a very strong effort from Kirwan. (Tasted two times.) (90-92+)

Opaque inky purple. Aromas of blueberry, sweet plum and chocolate pudding are complicated by hints of wet earth and animal fur. Enters sweet and ripe, but shows very good grip and inner-palate energy to its black fruit and herbal flavors. This ultimately suave and smooth wine finishes with supple, broad tannins and sneaky length. Only a few years ago, I found Kirwan's wines to be rather boring-too similar to many others and hardly reflective of its favored Margaux terroir But recent vintages have been better and more interesting, and this is a now an estate to follow. The devotion of owner Sophie Schyler to her estate shows.

Bright red-ruby. Wild meaty nose lifted by a floral element. Sweet, fine-grained and fairly generous in the mouth, with plenty of baby fat to its dark fruit flavors. But ultimately a wine of moderate richness and concentration. The persistent but slightly dry-edged finish shows a sweet/sour quality.