WOW- Wine of the Week, a Hidden Margaux Gem
I wouldn’t be a good Sommelier if I didn’t have a great wine recommendation for you. Every Friday, I’ll make one, usually from a different region- you might just discover wines and styles you never knew existed.
I’m not going to get into any crazy wine terms or the same old reviews you can read anywhere else. I’ll just recommend a great bottle I myself have had, then tell you a little bit about it.
This week’s WOW is Chateau Kirwan, a Third Growth from Margaux in the Bordeaux region of France, well known for being Thomas Jefferson’s favorite wine region. He actually visited Chateau Margaux.
The wines of Margaux are known for being soft and feminine with exotic, perfumed noses, and Chateau Kirwan 2018 delivers on that. Another great thing about Margaux wines is you can drink them early, instead of waiting decades for them to hit their peak. Due to more clay and limestone soil in Margaux, the wines tend to have more Merlot in them giving them a softer, rounder mouthfeel, but the primary grape is still Cabernet Sauvignon.
I’m a big fan of blends, and Chateau Kirwan 2018 is a beautiful blend. The breakdown is:
· 42% Cabernet Sauvignon
· 29% Merlot
· 15% Cabernet Franc
· 13% Petit Verdot
This was a fantastic bottle for, and as I went through it, I could feel all the different wines come together. It was a classic Margaux, and great value for around $60. I got it at Total Wine, so it’s pretty easy to find.
I shot a great YouTube video, all about Margaux where I open and taste the Chateau Kirwan, so check it out now, then treat yourself to a bottle, especially if you’ve never had Margaux or even Bordeaux before.