Château Kirwan
This Third Growth Margaux estate is named after owner Mark Kirwan, a prosperous Irish businessman who constructed the stunning late 18th century chateau and put the property on the map for quality winemaking. Kirwan was even one of the few chateaux to be visited by Thomas Jefferson in 1787 who ranked the estate’s wines alongside those of “Ségur” and “Lynch”.
Today the chateau has 35 hectares under vine planted with 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 10% Petit Verdot. Recently a small amount of Carmenere has also been planted which may be used in future vintages.
The typical style of Kirwan has evolved over the past few decades since the arrival of Michel Rolland as consulting winemaker in the 1990s with a dramatic leap in quality. More recent vintages are richer and fuller with a remarkable intensity of fruit and muscular structure that responds very well to extended cellaring.