Château Kirwan

Château Kirwan was founded in 1710 by Sir John Collingwood. The estate takes its name from Mark Kirwan, an Irish businessman who married Collingwood's daughter and expanded the vineyard significantly in the late 18th century. Thomas Jefferson praised the property during his 1787 visit to Bordeaux. After 1855, the estate passed to Camille Godard, who served as Mayor of Bordeaux, before the Schÿler family acquired it in 1926 through their négociant firm Schröder & Schÿler. The family undertook a major replanting initiative in the 1960s and 1970s under Jean-Henri Schÿler, reshaping the vineyard's long-term character. Today, Yann, Sophie, and Nathalie Schÿler manage the property, continuing a nearly century-long family stewardship.

• Founded 1710 by Sir John Collingwood; named for Irish merchant Mark Kirwan
• Praised by Thomas Jefferson during his 1787 Bordeaux travels
• Schÿler family ownership began 1926 through Schröder & Schÿler négociant firm
• Major vineyard replanting undertaken in the 1960s-1970s

Kirwan's 37-38 hectares sit on the Cantenac plateau at a peak elevation of 19 meters, one of the highest points in this sector of the Médoc. The vineyard's defining characteristic is its extraordinary soil diversity: 29 different soil types have been mapped across the property, combining Pyrenean gravel, clay, sand, and limestone. This complexity gives the winemaking team considerable flexibility in crafting the final blend. The climate is temperate oceanic, moderated by both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gironde estuary, reducing frost risk and extending the growing season.

• Cantenac plateau at 19 meters elevation, among the highest in the sector
• 29 distinct soil types mapped across the estate
• Primary soils: Pyrenean gravel, clay, sand, and limestone
• Temperate oceanic climate with Atlantic and Gironde estuary influence

The estate's red blend is anchored by Cabernet Sauvignon at 47%, supported by Merlot (35%), Cabernet Franc (9-10%), Petit Verdot (7-8%), and a rare 1% of Carménère, a variety with deep historical ties to the Médoc but nearly extinct in modern plantings. Philippe Delfaut, Managing Director and winemaker since 2007, oversaw a comprehensive renovation of the winemaking facility between 2014 and 2016, installing 37 concrete tulip-shaped vats. These vessels allow for precise parcel-by-parcel vinification, matching each vat to the specific soil type from which the fruit originates. A second wine, Les Charmes de Kirwan, has been produced since 1993. In 2023, the estate launched a 100% Chardonnay white wine, a notable departure for a red-focused Médoc classified growth.

• Cabernet Sauvignon (47%), Merlot (35%), Cabernet Franc (9-10%), Petit Verdot (7-8%), Carménère (1%)
• 37 concrete tulip-shaped vats installed during 2014-2016 cellar renovation
• Second wine Les Charmes de Kirwan produced since 1993
• 100% Chardonnay white wine launched in 2023

Kirwan was classified as a Third Growth (Troisième Cru Classé) in the historic 1855 Classification of the Médoc, a ranking that remains unchanged today. Like all 1855 classified estates, the classification reflects the commercial reputation and wine quality as assessed in that year. The estate experienced a period of underperformance during the latter half of the 20th century, attributed in part to the extensive replanting of young vines in the 1960s and 1970s. The investment program launched under Philippe Delfaut in 2007, culminating in the 2014-2016 cellar renovation, is widely credited with restoring Kirwan to a level of quality consistent with its Third Growth status.

• Classified Third Growth (Troisième Cru Classé) in the 1855 Médoc Classification
• One of 14 Third Growths in the original classification
• Comprehensive quality investment program launched 2007 under Philippe Delfaut
• Estate located in Cantenac, a commune within the Margaux appellation