The vintage of extreme conditions
Blend
Château Kirwan
55% Cabernet Sauvignon
33 % Merlot
7 % Cabernet-franc
5 % Petit Verdot
Charmes de Kirwan
55% Cabernet Sauvignon
33 % Merlot
7 % Cabernet-franc
5 % Petit Verdot
Description
The 2018 vintage of Château Kirwan was marked by extreme weather conditions. With record rainfall in winter and spring, the carrying out of the different vineyard tasks was slowed, and downy mildew outbreaks proved especially virulent. A record dry summer ensued, lowering the yield forecasts. It’s a well-known fact that water deficit stress has a very favourable impact on the quality of the grapes, and this proved to be the case in 2018. In our finest clay-gravel plots, a slow, perfect ripening of the grapes set in. In plots with lower clay content, the drought conditions were such that the vines experienced difficulties in nourishing the grapes. The berries therefore gained in concentration as they ripened. The final result was that amazingly concentrated berries were harvested, and the juices registered very high levels of sugar. Balanced, elegant and rich, the profile of the 2018 follows that of other solar vintages such as 2009 and structured years like 2010, resulting in a wine that promises excellent ageing potential.
