Sweetness: Dry

Grapes: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot

Grape info: A blend of 57% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. Merlot’s soft, fleshy fruit marries well with Cabernet’s muscular tannins and refreshing acidity. Cabernet Franc adds aromatics and Petit Verdot lends richness, spice and colour. Often simplistically characterised as elegant, Margaux’s oeuvre ranges anywhere from graceful and fine to powerful and structured.

About: The second wine of Third Growth estate, Chateau Kirwan. Investment at Kirwan began in earnest in the early nineties when Michel Rolland was hired to consult. Yields were significantly lowered, fruit selection tightened up and by 2015 the entire estate was being farmed organically. Kirwan is distinguished for its comparatively high proportions of Cabernet Franc, well suited to the limestone soils south of the Chateau, and Petit Verdot, at home on the deep gravel soils of the Cantenac plateau.

20% of the blend is aged in new oak, the remainder in concrete tulip tanks for a total of 16 months.

Tasting note: The nose is complex, a mix of ripe fruit with fine woody and vanilla notes. With a fresh and gentle attack, the palate is round, ample and juicy and displays some quite ripe red and black berries, complimented by pepper hints; subtle and fine-grained tannins creating round length. Enjoy over the next decade.

Character: Blackberry, vanilla, spice