Description
Chateau Kirwan 1998, bottled in 2000, is marked with a label specifically designed to commemorate the 75 years of the Schÿler family’s presence at the Château. Armand Schÿler bought the property in 1925, and that was the beginning of a beautiful adventure.
Climate conditions: The beginning of spring brought dry, hot weather. Yet, the vines nearly froze during the month of May! Happily, the rest of the season proceeded much more smoothly with a beautiful month of August that brought exceptional sunshine. By the beginning of September we could predict a very high-quality vintage, as the grapes were sound, displaying uniform maturity.
Harvest: from September 24 to October 9
Grape selection: both on the vines and in the winery on a vibrating sorting table
Yield: 49 Hectoliters/Hectares
Production: Château Kirwan – 8,000 cases Charmes de Kirwan – 3,600 cases Proportion of great classified growth /
second wine: 56% Kirwan and 25% Charmes
Fermentation: Indigenous yeast
Fermentation temperatures at approximately 31° to 33 ° C (89° to 91° F)
Malolactic fermentation: in new oak barrels in a thermo-regulated wine storehouse for 40% of the harvest and in stainless steel tanks for 60% of the harvest
Ageing: 20 months in barrels; 40% are new barrels
Blend: 40% Cabernet Sauvignon 31% Merlot 19% Cabernet-franc 10% Petit Verdot
Alcohol content: 13% Bottling Date: July 3rd 2000
TASTING: This great wine slowly follows the path to its evolution; it oscillates between periods of closure and openness during which one discovers a large aromatic palette filled with a mix of black fruits, the scents of woody underbrush, and hints of minerals. The tannins are strongly present and promise good ageing potential.
