Chateau Kirwan 2005

Château Kirwan is a distinguished Third Growth Margaux with captivating aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, violet, cedar, graphite, and refined oak spice. Silky tannins, vibrant acidity, and exceptional precision create a polished, elegant palate with remarkable complexity, freshness, and outstanding aging potential.

Food Pairing: Pair with beef Wellington, roast lamb, venison, duck breast, truffle dishes, aged Comté, or herb-crusted prime rib.

93 Points - Wine Enthusiast

Dense and dark, this is an extracted wine with polished fruit. What stops it going over the edge is the delicious sweet fruits, the dense structure and the elegance that gives it shape and aging potential.

93 Points - Wine Spectator

Aromas of cedar, spice box, incense, burning embers, black currants, and new wood jump from the glass of this full-bodied, structured effort. Behaving more like a Pauillac than a Margaux, it is a long, concentrated, powerful wine meant for long aging. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2025.

92 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

I remember tasting a number of Kirwans from the 19th century that had held up surprisingly well for over 100 years. While the 2005 will probably not last that long, it may be one of the finest wines this estate has made in the last fifty years. This brilliant, full-bodied, powerful, broodingly backward Margaux exhibits a dense purple hue along with notes of charcoal, licorice, blackberries, and graphite. Exceptionally concentrated, possessing high tannin, zesty acidity, and a 45-second finish, it should be purchased only by patient connoisseurs. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2035.