Château Kirwan

Margaux 3 Grand Cru Classé

2018 Château Kirwan

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, slightly floral nose. Quite tight. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, cassis, elegant texture, some structure, long finish. 90-92

2017 Château Kirwan

APR 18 Ruby. Cassis, fruity, blueberries, lightly scented nose, tight. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, red berries, anise, some spices, long somewhat narrower finish. 90-92

2016 Château Kirwan

MAY 19 Ruby. Anise, herbs, dark fruits, cassis and blueberries nose, vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, cassis and spices, fruit driven, long finish. 90

2016 Château Kirwan

APR 17 Ruby. Blackberries, fruity, dark berries and vanilla nose, coffee. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries and anise, spices, detailed, long. 91-93

2015 Château Kirwan

APR 16 Ruby. Fruity, floral, elegant nose, dark and red berries, scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, rounded, textured, spices, long. 90-92

2014 Château Kirwan

JUN 15 Ruby. Red berries, fruit driven nose, vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, ripe, rich, intense, good length. 89

2014 Château Kirwan

APR 15 Ruby. Floral, dark berries, vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, lively, ripe. Good length. 88-90

2014 Charmes de Kirwan

FEB 19 43CS 40M 10CF 7PV. Ruby. Blueberries, anise, lightly scented nose, still a bit tight. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, red fruity core, fresh, good length. Drink from three to five years from now and another up to ten years after that. 88

2014 Charmes de Kirwan

OCT 18 Ruby. Scented, red berries nose, fruity, some blueberries. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, rounded. 87

2013 Château Kirwan
APR 14 Ruby. Ripe, plums, some herbs on the nose, clay minerality. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh and fruity, leaner, again slight herbal touch, oaky finish. 88-90

2012 Château Kirwan

JUN 12 Deep ruby. Fruity, richer and riper nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity and rounded palate, could be more nuanced, long. 90

2012 Château Kirwan

APR 13 Deep ruby. Somewhat scented but rather rich and sweet nose. Freshish acidity, ripe tannins, mellow and rounded body, quite elegant but ever so slightly boring. Good length. 88-90

2011 Château Kirwan

NOV 12 Deep ruby. Floral, cassis, blueberries, spices, intense yet elegant nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, elegant palate, lovely structure, long finish. 91

2010 Château Kirwan

OCT 18 Ruby. Anise, blueberries, some spices, intense nose, light floral note. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries and spices, long. 90

2010 Château Kirwan

NOV 14 Ruby. Cassis, ripe and fruity nose, intense, some vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, ripe, fruity, sweet, deeper, bit short. 89

2010 Château Kirwan

MAR 13 Deep ruby. Floral, violets, cassis, thrilling nose. Mint and vanilla to spice it up. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, elegant texture, refreshing and balanced. Long. 92

2010 Château Kirwan

JUN 11 Floral, elegant nose, layered and refined feel to it, for once, there seems to be a lovely Kirwan, nice length as well. 90-92

2010 Château Kirwan

APR 11 Deep ruby, nice fruit, but some roughness in the texture. 86-88

2009 Château Kirwan

NOV 14 Ruby. Vanilla, blueberries, ripe and fruity nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, bit sweet, oaky and rough texture. Long. 91

2009 Château Kirwan

MAR 13 Deep ruby. Opulent and intense nose, almost flamboyant and lacks nuances at the moment. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, again a ball, balanced if rich palate. Long. 91

2009 Château Kirwan

OCT 12   Deep ruby. Cassis, slightly scented, tight and fruit- driven. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh palate, fruity, very long. 93

2008 Château Kirwan

NOV 12 Ruby. Rich cassis with some floral over tones. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, grippy texture, long finish. 91

2007 Château Kirwan

NOV 11 Ruby. Green and herbal, light and fairly easy going. 85

2001 Château Kirwan

MAY 11 Ruby, herbs and paprika, the normal rusticity and greenness of the property, rough fruit. Fresh acidity, a bit hollow, astringent. 84

2001 Château Kirwan

MAR 11 (magnum) Ruby, first austere, thin and acidic, after decanting opening up, licorice, blackcurrant's, oak wood and some leather. Lean body, good acidity, ripe tannins, slightly astringent, some length. 84

2000 Château Kirwan

APR 19 Ruby, garnet rim. Anise, blueberries, figs, some tobacco nose, lighter. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, softer and gentler, figs and dates, anise, long finish. 90

2000 Château Kirwan

AUG 18 Ruby. Blueberries, cassis, vanilla, some spices and light tobacco note nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, spices, cassis, vanilla, long. 91

2000 Château Kirwan

AUG 18 Ruby. Blueberries, cassis, spices, some tobacco notes nose, dense. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, spices, blackberries, anise, fruity, long. 91

2000 Château Kirwan

AUG 18 Ruby. Cassis, blackberries, vanilla, spices, scented, nose, ripe. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, fuller bodied Kirwan, blackberries, less rustic texture, suits it well, long. 91

2000 Château Kirwan

AUG 18 Ruby. Blackberries, anise, some spices, blueberries nose, bit tight. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, rounded, spices, nuanced and detailed, long. 90

1999 Château Kirwan

APR 12 Ruby. Blackcurrant's. Single minded nose, fresh acidity, ripe tannins, a bit hollow, OK length. 85

1996 Château Kirwan

MAY 15 Corked

1989 Château Kirwan

APR 19 Ruby, brick rim. Dried fruits, anise, figs, spices and anise nose. Tobacco. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner body, anise, figs, dates, spices, lighter bodied, starting to dry out, good length. 89

1985 Chateau Kirwan

JAN 10 Ruby, brown-orange rim. Some liquorice and floral notes, lean, simple, ok finish. More elegance and balance than any Bag in Box, but not more complexity or aromas. 82

1985 Château Kirwan

JAN 09 Ruby, brick rim. Figs, cassis notes, leather notes, some tobacco and something darker. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, figs, dates, leaner body, bit rustic finish. 87

1985 Château Kirwan

NOV 07 Ruby with broad brick rim. Anise, liquorice and a few dates nose. Rustic, stable notes. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, structured not really the fruit to back it up. 86

1983 Château Kirwan

FEB 10 Ruby, mahogany rim. Cassis, leather, cedar note and faint floral note nose. Youthful expression. Fresh acidity, ripe and soft tannins, anise, plums, figs and prunes, fresh, bit easy going. 89

1983 Château Kirwan

NOV 08 Ruby, brick rim. Figs, dates, faint minerals and stable notes nose. Fresh acidity, few tannins, anise, cherries, sweet and sour. 87

1982 Chateau Kirwan

APR 10 A level fill, cork dry on the upper half cm. Bright ruby, garnet rim, sediments. Pencil, prunes, liquorice, stable and leather. Well balanced, fresh acidity, mature tannins still giving structure and some grip, could have had a longer finish. But was both fresher and more complex than expected. Drink now. 84

1979 Château Kirwan

APR 13 Ruby core with broad brick rim. Figs, dates, some tobacco, not that intense nose, faint cigars nose. Fresh acidity, few tannins, leaner, quite fresh, sweet and sour. 85

1978 Château Kirwan

APR 18 Broad brick rim. Figs, scented, floral, lighter, fully mature but detailed nose, violets. Lovely nose on this. Fresh acidity, few tannins, figs, leaner, lighter but elegant, drink soon. 88

1967 Château Kirwan

APR 17 Orange. Sous bois, earthy, touch of figs and violets on the nose. Fresh acidity, no tannins left, leaner, light figs and dates palate, barely alive but what is left is charming. 88

1966 Château Kirwan

APR 16 Brown colour. Earthy, some figs and cherries, lean, barely holding on. 82

1965 Château Kirwan

NOV 08 Dead.

1939 Château Kirwan

AUG 08 Low shoulder fill, orange colour. A few raisins still, some coffee and dusty notes. Sharp acidity, no tannins left, lean and skinny with a touch of wild strawberries. 85

1902-1907? Château Kirwan

APR 11 Gorgeous bright ruby, brick rim. Fill 1 cm below neck, leather and wisteria high notes, rotten wood. Good acidity, OK texture, tannins gone, minerals, not very long, ads body and texture, long and lean. Still impressive considering the likely age of the wine. 88

Bottle is marked Schröder & Schÿler, Ancne Propriete de la Ville de Bordeaux, Cantenac-Margaux. There is no vintage stated on the cork either, but the cork is not in the best condition, but “gaux” of possible Margaux is possible to read. The estate was given to the city of Bordeaux when Camille Godard (former Mayor of Bordeaux) died childless in 1881.

In 1902 Oscar Schÿler, contracted with the city of Bordeaux for the exclusive distribution rights to the wines of Kirwan. In 1907 the city sold the estate in an auction to Daniel and Georges Guestier. It's a bit strange maybe that S&S did not buy it at this point, but they bought it in 1926.

So, with this information, it seemed likely to me that this bottle could be from the time when Kirwan was still under Bordeaux' ownership, and after S&S got the full distribution, so 1902-1907. I contacted Château Kirwan to ask if they had any idea, and the response from Nathalie Schÿler is that she agrees with my views and findings.