2005 Château Kirwan, France, Bordeaux, Margaux, Wine Review

A very nice showing for this wine. Great vintage and the wine is in a great place. Purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose has cassis, dark cherries, cigar box, spice and slight leather. Full bodied. Medium tannins. On the palate, this is fresh, complex and deep. Flavors of cassis, tobacco, spice and char. Good finish. Just about at peak but still has another ten to fifteen years left of great drinking. Lovely on its own but even better with food. Lamb chops would work perfectly.

Grade:

Score:

Vintage:

2005

Current Price:

$110.00USD

1998 Château Margaux, France,Bordeaux, Margaux, Wine Review

Vintage:

1998

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$400.00USD

Any time one gets a chance to drink a first growth, it's a true pleasure. They have become prohibitively priced, so its nice when a bottle actually gets open and consumed. Perhaps not the greatest vintage of Margaux, but a very good one. At age 22, this is pretty much at peak and drinking very well. Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright. The nose has a bit of that Margaux liquor/perfume with cherries, cassis, slight spice, and leather but clean. Full bodied. Medium tannins. The palate has black cherries, slight black tea, and slight soy. Long finish.

1988 Château Margaux, France, Bordeaux, Margaux, Wine Review

Vintage:

1988

Score:

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Current Price:

$800.00USD

It is always a treat to drink a mature First Growth. This is fully mature and drinking beautifully. 12.5% abv according to the importer sticker on the bottle. Purple/ruby in color with some browning at the rim, mostly clear and a bit flat. The nose is dusty with cassis and tobacco. With air some dried fruits come out. Medium bodied. On the palate, this has a vibrant acidity. Nice cherry and black cherry fruit with some cassis. Layers of complexity. Fruit over spice and dried forest floor. Nice finish. This begs for food and went well with a roasted Brie but would work well with

2005 Château Margaux, France, Bordeaux, Wine Review

Vintage:

2005

Score:

Grade:

A+

Current Price:

$750.00USD

A First Growth in a top vintage? Yes, please. This is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, and 1% Cabernet Franc. Purple in color with some ruby at the rim, opaque and bright. The nose is great with cassis, leather, perfume, slight cigar box and spice. Full bodied. Medium tannins. On the palate, this is tight and young but delicious. Cassis, black cherries, spice and slight chocolate. Great balance. Long finish. This is drinking well but will get better with further cellaring (or air). Drink over the next twenty to thirty years. For now, it will be a t

1996 Château Siran, France, Margaux, Wine Review

Vintage:

1996

Score:

Grade:

A-

This bottle had been purchased at the Chateau on release and well stored. Decanted for sediment right before serving. The cork was perfect. Purple in color, opaque and still mostly bright. The nose is great with cassis, slight perfumed note, dust and char. With air some leather and cigar box notes emerged. Medium to full bodied. Tannins mostly resolved but still some silky ones. Good balance. On the palate, this is still fresh. Complex with layers of cassis, earth, tobacco and underlying char. Good finish. Overall, this bottle is at peak but seems right there. At age 28, this w

2005 Château Haut-Bergey, France, Bordeaux, Pessac-Leognan, Wine Review

Vintage:

2005

Score:

Grade:

The 2005's are really starting to come into their own now and this is one more data point supporting that. This is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot. Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright. The nose is nice with cassis, black cherries, char, slight cigar box, leather and spice. Full bodied. Medium tannins. On the palate, this is complex. Flavors of cassis and black cherries, slight leather and char. Great balance. Long finish. This is about at peak but should stay there for another ten years. Nice on its own, but better with food. This would wo

2005 Château Kirwan, France, Bordeaux, Margaux, Wine Review

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