The vineyard remains key, where everything is decided
Blend
Château Kirwan
65 % Cabernet Sauvignon
23 % Merlot
6 % Petit verdot
5 % Cabernet Franc
1 % Carménère
Charmes de Kirwan
66 % Merlot
27 % Cabernet Sauvignon
7 % Cabernet Franc
Description
After several small harvests, 2023 finally rewarded our efforts, especially those carried out in the vineyard, where everything is decided for both the present and the future.
Despite a dry spring, the heat and humidity led to high pressure from downy mildew starting in May. The storms on June 22, just after flowering, increased the risk. At Château Kirwan, the permanent mobilization of staff, control of vine vigour, protective measures, made it possible to contain the disease.
The summer was dry, warm, sometimes very hot (16 days above 86°F), which accelerated ripening. The harvest, from September 7 to 28, yielded fully ripe grapes displaying black skins and containing tannins with very little astringency. Similar to the great vintages of 2022, 2020 and 2018, the quality of the tannins was clearly in evidence. They had that fine, velvety grain without the astringency of the more standard vintages.
