Chateau Kirwan Margaux 2016 750ml

95 Points Wine Enthusiast This big, rich wine offers dense tannins as well as sumptuous black fruits. Fruit and acidity come together to create a wine with both richness and juicy blackplum flavors. Editors’ Choice

93 Points Decanter This is not generous but is hugely concentrated and opens with a Margaux floral flourish. Damson and cassis are joined by a shot of freshness on the well constructed palate. The tannins are a little overly tight on the finish – you can feel the juice slightly strangled by them – but it’s clearly a wine that’s built to last. 4% Petit Verdot rounds out the blend.

92 Points James Suckling There’s fragrant charm here with purple flowers and a swathe of ripe, juicy dark berries. This has a firmish overall feel with sturdy tannins, driving ripe and fresh, red and dark berries long. The oak is very nicely played.

90 Points Wine Spectator Bright damson plum, bitter cherry and rose petal notes lead the way in this fresh and focused version, with light rooibos tea and mineral accents underlining the silky, elegant finish. Sneaky long too.

90 Points Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Kirwan is scented of red plums, cassis, redcurrants, earth and cigar box. The palate is medium-bodied, lean, chewy and lively with an earthy finish.

90 Points Jeb Dunnuck One of the more finesse-driven examples of this cuvée that I can remember, the 2016 Château Kirwan offers up a medium ruby color to go with notes of smoke tobacco, gravelly minerality, graphite, and sweet cassis fruit. Medium-bodied, elegant and supple, if not a touch lean, it’s not a blockbuster but has outstanding purity and notable elegance. Drink it over the coming 15 years or so.