WTN: 2003 Chateau Kirwan (Margaux)

[David M. Bueker]

2003 rears its ugly head with a wine that more resembles prune juice than Margaux. I picked this up in 375s & am glad I did not go whole hog. I only have two more bottles to go then it's all gone. No elegance, just sweet flab.

I suppose that I should hasten to drink up to only 03s which I bought, Talbot and Branaire I think, but this does not encourage me.

[David M. Bueker]

I liked the '03 Branaire very much on release. I should revisit that one as well.

I have never tasted the '03 Talbot.

At one point I was planning to get a couple bottles of the 2005 for laying down, based on predictions of huge aging potential. But I quickly changed my mind after seeing it consistently described as tasting more like a Cali Cab than Bordeaux. The consensus seems to be that Kirwan no longer tastes like Margaux. Instead, having tasted and loved the highly traditional La Louviere, I got a couple of those (plus a couple of the not-necesarily-traditional-but-damned-delicious Malmaison).

Still . . . . I have to admit I'm curious. If you'd like to get rid of one of those 375s David, I'd be happy to pay for the shipping! (seriously)

David,

Do me a favor. For purely scientific reasons hold on to one of those half bottles for at least 10 years. I'm guessing it will be better.

[David M. Bueker]

Well I have two, so 1 for Ryan and another to bury for 10 years. I can do that.