“Now is an excellent time to consider squirreling a few of these recent Kirwan vintages away in the cellar.” – The Wine Independent

Value fans! 96 points for $55 on a library Margaux brings a drop-all-you’re-doing kinda urgency.

History fans! Per The Wine Cellar Insider, “Château Kirwan was one of the few Medoc properties that Thomas Jefferson visited… based on his personal records, written in 1780.”

Fast forward 155 years…

Imagine how we feel at the end of a Cyber Monday Marathon. Victorious, yet completely drained. Some of us younger Spies were still partying with the open lineup of dream wines deep into the week. So, I grabbed ONE bottle to finish at home on the way out once the dust settled. It was a 2018 Margaux. Just like today’s, and it was truly SEDUCTIVE. In fact, the final couple of glasses last night were THE BEST.

I deeply regret not buying more.

Not doing that today! This under-the-radar Margaux (if there’s such a thing these days) is already building a fine reputation as an overachiever. Smack in the heart of the commune of Cantenac - basically the tenderloin for the top wines of this mythical appellation.

Per Decanter, “That comes largely from the main slow-to-ripen Cabernet Sauvignon interacting with the particularly light gravel in the soil – among the lightest of the Médoc. This is especially true in vineyards located in Cantenac (such as Château Margaux), which make up the core of the appellation: 18 of its 21 classified growths are located within the commune.”

They add, “I recall tasting Château Kirwan before current director Philippe Delfaut arrived in 2007. From 1991 to 2005, Michel Rolland was consultant and the wines were very well made, but more plump than fine. Delfaut, who had prior experience at Château Palmer, improved the wines at this third growth by harvesting earlier and reducing the fermentation temperature to 27°C to preserve freshness. He has added different-sized tanks to match vine plots so as to express the terroir with purity and precision.” He also brought on consultant Eric Boissenot, who “is as highly regarded as they come, appreciated by his many clients for his precision, skill, and ability to bring vitality to a wine.”

Too good not to quote, The Wine Independent sums it up: “Château Kirwan is developing a more focused style with greater purity and delineation than in the past. Increasingly, it’s delivering impactful fruit and effortless grace thanks to a lively backbone of freshness that defines the palate.”

The result is in the glass, while it’s still half full before we sell out.

96 Points – Wine Enthusiast “This is a generous, full-bodied wine. Touches of vanilla indicate the wood aging, but that will go as the elegant structure and black fruits come to the fore. The wine’s future is assured, promising impressive drinking from 2027.”