Château Kirwan Margaux 1855 3ième Cru 2018

More concentrated and exuberant than the 2017, reflective of a year where they lost 50% of the harvest to mildew – the Cantenac plateau was the epicentre of the issues in the vintage, and here Kirwan was taking its first steps with organic farming. It meant a high percentage of Petit Verdot, and you feel the weight through the mid palate, and the waves of black pepper, sage, rosemary, rose oil, incense, cassis, pomegranate and passion fruit, complex and really rather lovely. Needs more time in bottle. 50% new oak for ageing.