Ratings By Robert Parker 93 Tasting Notes This estate has been producing impressive wines since the mid-1990s, and much of the credit goes to the talented proprietress, Sophie Schyler. The 2003 Kirwan is a beauty and gets my vote as the finest Kirwan made in the last quarter century. A beautiful bouquet of forest floor,… Read More »
Ratings By Robert Parker 88 Tasting Notes A relatively masculine-styled effort, with some noticeably hard and elevated tannin, this deep ruby/purple-colored 2002 exhibits notes of forest floor, black currant, vanilla, and incense. Firmly structured, tannic, and muscular, it requires 3-4 years of cellaring, and should keep for up to two decades.(Wine Advocate #158 Apr 2005)… Read More »
Ratings By Robert Parker 90 Tasting Notes The 2001 Kirwan is nearly as good as their splendid 2000. A dense purple color is accompanied by a bouquet of barbecue smoke, graphite, black cherries, creme de cassis, and a hint of espresso. Full-bodied and layered, with outstanding richness, purity, and sweetness on the palate, this firmly… Read More »
Ratings By Robert Parker 90 Tasting Notes Still somewhat tannic but very much in the style that Kirwan has favored over recent vintages, this is a full-bodied, muscular, powerhouse effort. The wine still has a dense ruby/purple color, with loads of blackberries, cassis, and some noticeable new oak still lingering in the background. Powerful, rich,… Read More »
Ratings By Robert Parker 89 Tasting Notes The aromatic, oaky, modern-styled 1999 Kirwan boasts a deep ruby/purple color as well as considerable size, depth, and muscle (atypical for the vintage), abundant texture, and loads of flavor (primarily licorice, cassis, and earth). Anticipated maturity: 2004-2015.(Wine Advocate #140 Apr 2002) By Robert Parker
Ratings By Robert Parker 90 Tasting Notes This once moribund estate has totally reversed itself. A sleeper of the vintage, the opaque purple-colored 1998 boasts a smoky, licorice, cassis, and mineral-scented bouquet. Full-bodied, powerful, yet elegant, it successfully balances complexity with an unbridled richness and power. Very impressive, particularly in view of its exceptional concentration,… Read More »
Ratings By Robert Parker 87 Tasting Notes An attractive, dark ruby/purple-colored effort, this wine offers sweet cassis fruit, copious new oak, a fleshy, succulent texture, and an attractive, well-balanced finish with nicely integrated acidity and tannin. Consume this sexy Margaux over the next 7-10 years.(Wine Advocate #128 Apr 2000) By Robert Parker
Ratings By Robert Parker 88 Tasting Notes Readers should note that this property has significantly improved the quality of its wines, and now deserves a serious look in nearly every vintage. The 1996 Kirwan is a highly-extracted, rich, medium-bodied wine with a deep ruby/purple color, and ripe cassis fruit intermixed with a touch of new… Read More »
Ratings By Robert Parker 85 Tasting Notes I downgraded this wine because of the aggressive new oak and vanillin that dominate the wine’s personality. This dark ruby/purple-colored wine displays sweet cranberry and jammy black currant fruit on the attack, but narrows in the mouth with a compressed personality. Nevertheless, there is fine purity, medium body,… Read More »
Ratings By Robert Parker 88 Tasting Notes Abundant aromas of forest floor, underbrush, earth, black cherry, black currant and a distinctive spicy character emerge from this attractive 2008. Although not one of the most concentrated wines of the vintage, it is well-balanced and distinctive. It will provide pleasure over the next 10-15 years.(Wine Advocate #194… Read More »