Why this vintage
- 95/100 from Wine Enthusiastand 4 other scores above 90/100.
- The 2021 vintage in MargauxFrost, mildew, then a cool summer brought back Bordeaux of old: taut, vibrant wines, shorter but elegant.
Critic scores
- Wine Enthusiast95
- James Suckling93
- Decanter93
- Vinous92
- Jeb Dunnuck91
The 2021 vintage in Margaux
Vintage benchmark: 86/100 (appellation benchmark, not a score for this wine)
Vintage character: Frost, mildew, then a cool summer brought back Bordeaux of old: taut, vibrant wines, shorter but elegant.
Overall reading of the year’s season across Margaux. An estate can depart from it sharply, in frost or hail years, where two neighbours did not make the same vintage. What this particular wine actually gave is on its technical sheet and in the scores above.
Tasting
For once, it gives pride of place to the Cabernets, with a total of 81%, a record for Kirwan. This 2021 reminds me of the vintages from before anyone spoke of climate warming. It is characterised by lovely fresh fruit, a juicy character and a magnificent tension on the palate carried by very fine Cabernet tannins. It is an epicurean's wine for lovers of good taste.
Blend of the 2021 vintage
- 73 % Cabernet-sauvignon
- 13 % Merlot
- 8 % Cabernet franc
- 6 % Petit verdot
Shares for this vintage, as recorded on the 2021 technical sheet. The vineyard itself is planted with 47 % cabernet sauvignon, 34 % merlot, 10 % cabernet franc, 8 % petit verdot, 1 % carménère — a vintage blend departs from the area under vine as the year dictates.
Figures from the 2021 sheet
- 13 % vol.Alcohol
- 33 hl/haYield
Terroir
With 40 ha of vines and 46 separate parcels, Kirwan continues to develop the rich potential of its terroir, adapting viticulture to the soil and the climate. Situated on the gravel rise of Cantenac, bordering the river born of a thousand-year erosion, this terroir reveals and expresses its geological capital. Recently confirmed by a soil study aimed at better understanding the composition of the soils, the role of the gravels is essential: by aiding drainage and warming, it encourages the roots to explore deep down. The clay captures water and preserves its freshness, playing a key moderating role during severe droughts or heatwaves.
An offer on Château Kirwan 2021
Availability, allocations and terms: the Compagnie Médocaine will reply promptly. The estate and vintage are already filled in in the message.
Texts and documents 2021
The texts below copy in one click for your product sheets, catalogues and social channels. The printable sheet condenses the whole page onto a single A4 page.
Visuals
This wine’s visuals are grouped in the media library. High-definition packshots, labels, back labels and lifestyle photos are reserved for clients and partners, on the Compagnie Médocaine’s VinCod media library.
Sheet checked on September 21, 2026. Technical data: the estate’s VinCod sheets. Critic scores: sources cited above, with their date. Vintage benchmarks and character: Compagnie Médocaine’s own editorial read. Soils and relief, where shown: the Compagnie Médocaine’s parcel survey and the Mapbox/IGN terrain model.