Château Kirwan Margaux 2005

A third growth, this intense, powerful and concentrated wine should play to its strengths in a vintage such as 2005, with its enormous tannin and density. This is one of the more backward of the 2005s, quite masculine, tannic and bold, with a deep ruby/purple colour, lots of spice, a touch of wood and new oak as well as a medium to full-bodied, rather backward, tannic mouthfeel. It’s all there, and the wine certainly has plenty of concentration, but it needs another 3-5 years of cellaring. It should drink well for at least a quarter of a century.