Kirwan - Margaux 2022

Alexandre Ma

96

byAlexandre Mathe3/10/2025

In the deep, purple wine, it feels as though countless tiny purple flowers are playfully dancing. A closer sniff unfurls a bouquet of aromas, with layers of ripe waxberry and the delicate fragrance of hibiscus tea. Despite the challenges posed by the intense heat and drought of the 2022 vintage, Château Kirwan has delivered an astonishing masterpiece, thanks to the clay layers beneath the soil. The wine’s refreshing palate, silky body, dense tannins, and unexpectedly low pH level all defy the oppressive heat, carrying a carefree “let it be” attitude that is irresistibly charming, even a seasoned wine critic like myself has become its admirer. It’s also noteworthy that 2022 marked the earliest harvest in Château Kirwan’s history (September 5 to September 22), and this bold, timely decision has paved the way for a fresh milestone in its own story.

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

94

byJane Ansonthe3/7/2025

Sandalwood, cumin and white pepper spice on the opening, well measured delivery, luscious black cherry fruits, love the lift through the finish, great quality and with real character. Very good with appellation typicity in this ripe year, this is the second time tasting since it bottle, and it continues to impress. 50% new oak.

The Wine Cellar Insider

92

byJeff Levethe3/4/2025

Kirwan, Château

Jeb DUNNUCK

96

byJeb Dunnuckthe2/28/2025

The 2022 Château Kirwan is based on 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Petit Verdot that spent 18 months in barrel. It has a classic nose of spicy oak, ripe red and black fruits, baking spices, and flowers. This carries to a medium to full-bodied Margaux with a concentrated, pure, layered mouthfeel, some nicely integrated, classy oak, polished tannins, and a great finish. It's a wonderfully complex, concentrated, balanced 2022 that's just about impossible to resist today, yet will have a lengthy drink window. It will ideally be given 4-6 years of bottle age and enjoyed over the following two decades.

Yvesbeck.wine

96

byYves Beckthe2/25/2025

55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot Kirwan se révèle avec la complexité, la profondeur, la fraîcheur et la finesse qu'on lui connaît depuis plusieurs années maintenant. Les équipes de Philippe Delfaut accomplissent un travail qui mérite la reconnaissance, pas seulement avec le 2022 d'ailleurs ! Les fines nuances boisées accompagnent des notes de pivoine et de myrtilles, tandis qu'une touche de garrigues assure la fraîcheur. En bouche, l'attaque reprend le relais en matière de finesse. Le vin est linéaire, précis, élégant et salivant. Ses tannins offrent de la puissance ainsi qu'une assise confortable communément avec la fraîcheur et le côté tonique de la structure. Un vin qui mise sur la finesse, l'harmonie et une puissance mesurée. 2028-2047 96/100

Vinous

93

byNeal Martinthe2/12/2025

The 2022 Kirwan was transferred into barrel early in October, blended at the end of January, aged for 20 months in 50% new oak and bottled in June 2024. It has a delineated, focused bouquet, with commendable purity of fruit, blackberry and bilberry notes, a light estuarine touch (sea spray) and cedar. The oak is very well integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with granular tannins, a keen thread of acidity and a little more structured than I remember from barrel, rendering it more similar to the 2020 than the 2019. It's lively and peppery on the aftertaste, with more precision than recent vintages. This vindicates my positive review from two years ago. It is one of the finest Kirwans in recent years.

Jamessuckling.com

94

byJames Sucklingthe2/3/2025

Blackcurrants and blueberries with violet and heather aromas follow through to a medium to full body with firm and racy tannins and a linear and persistent finish. Solid and precise. Drink after 2028.

Vinous

92

byAntonio Gallonithe1/28/2025

The 2022 Kirwan is a bold, juicy Margaux that will drink well on release. Inky dark fruit, chocolate, new leather and spice add an exuberant flair, while silky, plush tannins are beautifully measured. It’s hard to find much fault with a wine that offers this much pure pleasure.

Wine Maniacs

93-94

byLin Liuthe5/30/2023

Decanter.com

94

byGeorgina Hindlethe5/25/2023

Sleek and crunchy, the bright almost high-toned red fruit take centre stage backed by crisp, fine and firm tannins with soft blueberry elements and crushed stones. Feels relatively delicate overall despite the concentration - keeps a linear frame, everything well worked, all in its place with detail and definition. This will be very delicious and true to form. Tasted twice. Harvest 5-22 September. Yield of 27hl/ha. 3.55pH. 6% Petit Verdot completes the blend.

Alexandre Ma

94-96

byAlexandre Mathe5/17/2023

Within the deep purple wine, it appears as though innumerable tiny violet flowers are passionately blossoming, while closer examination unveils continuous waves of enticing bayberry aromas. Despite the challenging heat and drought of the 2022 vintage, Château Kirwan, supported by its underlying clay, delivers a gratifying and triumphant performance. Showcasing a revitalizing palate, silky texture, supple tannins, and an extraordinary pH of 3.55, the wine exudes an unyielding spirit, evocative of a "steely rose." The 2022 vintage marks the earliest harvest in Château Kirwan's illustrious history (September 5th-22nd), with this daring decision ultimately cultivating a distinctive brilliance characteristic of Château Kirwan.

Vinous

92-94

byNeal Martinthe5/17/2023

The 2022 Kirwan bestows plenty of luscious fruit on the nose with blackberry, bilberry, cedar and crushed iris flower, unfolding nicely in the glass. There is a satisfying depth to these aromas. The palate is medium-bodied, lively and packed full of fruit, with saturated tannins and decent acidity. This is one of the more approachable Margaux wines this vintage, yet it has commendable freshness and structure. This Kirwan will give plenty of pleasure over 20-30 years. A second and third bottles were a little creamier on the finish.

The Vintage Journal

93-94

byAndrew Caillard MWthe5/17/2023

Deep crimson. Intense black cherry, marzipan, roasted chestnut aromas and flavours with vanilla notes and fine looseknit slinky/ chocolaty tannins. Fresh cedary touch wood varnish finish. (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot 30% new oak)

matthewjukes.com

17

byMatthew Jukesthe5/15/2023

The Wine Independent

92-94

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe5/15/2023

The 2022 Kirwan is deep garnet-purple in color. Notes of plum preserves, cherry compote, and blackcurrant cordial spill from the glass, followed by nuances of rose oil, cedar chest, and dusty soil. The medium to full-bodied palate is rich and ripe, with a lively backbone and plush tannins, finishing with a skip in its step.

Yvesbeck.wine

95-96

byYves Beckthe5/10/2023

Le bouquet de Kirwan affiche une bonne pluralité en créant la symbiose entre l'élevage et les notes fruitées. Il révèle d'invitantes nuances de cassis, de cannelle et de caramel tandis que des notes de garrigues assurent une certaine fraîcheur. Le vin a un caractère charnu et est doté de tannins compacts, crémeux qui assurent une appréciable puissance. Cette dernière est bien canalisée et en accord avec une rafraîchissante tension. Un Kirwan qui a su dompter sa puissance et qui valorise autant sa richesse que sa finesse. Belle réussite.

Bettane & Desseauve

95

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/10/2023

Belle réussite, vin complet, avec une chair et une précision dans l’extraction du tannin rarement égalée dans son histoire récente. Vivement recommandé.

Jeb DUNNUCK

93-95

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/10/2023

The dense purple-hued 2022 Château Kirwan just about jumps out of the glass with its intense bouquet of cassis and blue fruits as well as spicy oak and violets. It's certainly not shy, yet it stays pure, precise, and nicely focused, with medium to full-bodied richness, ripe, building tannins, and a great finish. This beauty is just loaded with character and is well worth seeking out.

Vinous

90-92

byAntonio Gallonithe5/9/2023

The 2022 Kirwan is plump, juicy and super-expressive, all of which will make it a fine choice for drinking with minimal cellaring. Succulent black cherry fruit, plum, spice and licorice are nicely pushed forward, framed by soft contours that add to its considerable charm. Drinking window : 2027-2042

The Wine Cellar Insider

90-92

byJeff Levethe5/5/2023

Flowers, currants, spice, and espresso form the core of this medium-bodied, fresh, currant-filled fine. The touch of spice at the end adds a nice fresh note in the finish. Drink from 2026-2045.

Wine Advocate

90-92

byWilliam Kelleythe5/2/2023

A blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the 2022 Kirwan exhibits aromas of dark berries, cassis, sweet spices, pencil shavings and creamy new oak, followed by a medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy palate that's unusually lively for the vintage, checking in at a pH of 3.55, a number that it would be impressive to attain on gravel soils in this vintage without acidification.

Jamessuckling.com

94-95

byJames Sucklingthe4/19/2023

Deep, succulent fruit here with wide, velvety tannin structure. Polished and refined. Medium to full body. Structured and complex with a lingering finish.