Château Kirwan 2016

A pure, precise and elegant Margaux red wine

The estate

Château Kirwan, Third Cru Classé of Margaux during the 1855 Médoc wine classification, has belonged to the Schÿler family since 1925. Driven by the dynamism of Philippe Delfaut and equipped with infrastructures in keeping with its terroir, Château Kirwan belongs to the elite of Margaux grand crus.

The vineyard

Located on the Cantenac plateau, the Château Kirwan vineyard stretches across 40 hectares of vines. This superb gravel and clay hilltop produces great Margaux wines.

The vintage

The 2016 vintage was marked by heavy rainfall until mid-June, which required a lot of attention during the spring. However, nature brought the remedy of five dry and sunny days which allowed a fast and even flowering. Summer set in and brought with it heat and dryness. The peak came on 23 August, when the thermometer reached 36.4°C. The growth of the vines was halted and they were affected by severe water stress. The delay in the ripening of the grapes meant that the harvest was late. The rains of 13 September finally allowed the grapes to reach optimum ripeness before the harvest, which took place between 27 September and 20 October.

Winemaking and ageing

The wine was aged in barrels, of which 50% were new.

Blend

Cabernet Sauvignon (55%)
Merlot (33%)
Cabernet Franc (7%)
Petit Verdot (5%).

Characteristics and tasting tips for Château Kirwan 2016

Tasting

The 2016 Chateau Kirwan has a fine balance of the « flesh » of the wine, its the soft fullness and its tannins. The wines are fresh, spectacular, and bursting with fruit. Thanks to the new vat room, the expression of the grapes is of the utmost quality ; they are pure, precise and elegant. The barrel ageing is perfectly integrated and the fruit scents dominate.