France · Bordeaux

Chateau Kirwan

Château Kirwan is a 3ème Cru Classé estate in Margaux, covering 35 hectares of gravel-over-clay soils managed by the Schyler family since 1925. The estate was long considered underperforming for its classification—a pattern common among mid-tier Margaux estates—until significant investment in the late 1990s and early 2000s, including the hiring of consultant Michel Rolland, marked a quality turning point. At auction, the grand vin Kirwan averages $83 across 233 lots (2010 peak), while the Charmes de Kirwan second label averages $120 across 96 lots (2003 peak)—the unusual case where the second wine averages higher than the grand vin, likely reflecting a specific older vintage premium for Charmes. The 2010 vintage is the most-traded for the grand vin. Prices reach $861. Total activity: 329 lots at $94 average. Michel Rolland's involvement improved ripeness and polished the tannin structure; the wines since 2000 show markedly better critical reception than pre-renovation releases.