Dried berry and plum character on the nose and palate. Full body, with chewy tannins and a juicy finish. Lots of beautiful and ripe fruit here. Better after 2017.
-www.jamessuckling.com, 'Tasting Report: 2010's Greatness Across The Board in Bordeaux', 17 Feb 2013

As always, this estate has produced a blockbuster style of Margaux in 2010, with the more masculine side of the appellation providing density, power, big body, loads of fruit, extract and richness. This wine is powerful and concentrated, but by no means excessively extracted. Dense purple, muscular, deep and impressive, it is a wine that allows for no compromise among wine lovers. Forget it for 6-10 years and drink it over the following 20-40 years.

Keep in mind that in the 19th century, Kirwan was making some of the longest-lived wines of Margaux, so it is nothing new to see this property produce big, blockbuster reds that require considerable patience from their prospective purchasers.
-Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #205 Feb 2013

(90-93 pts)
2010: Readers looking for a masculine, powerful, concentrated, broodingly backward style of Margaux need look no further than the 2010 Kirwan. A dense opaque purple color is accompanied by notes of graphite, licorice, blackberry and cassis. Intense and concentrated with good acidity as well as a boatload of tannin, it should be forgotten for 7-10 years and drunk over the following three decades.

Ripe and very juicy, but with lovely seamless texture to the plum, cassis and violet notes. The long, racy finish is really persistent. —J.M.

Tasted at the UGC tasting in London. The Kirwan has a generous bouquet with blackberry, boysenberry, a touch of undergrowth and cedar. It is nicely defined although it needs just a little more tension. The palate is medium-bodied with a firm grip on the entry. There is plenty of black tarry fruit here with a dash of spice towards the finish, but again, it needs to develop a little more tension and vibrancy in the glass. Tasted November 2012.

(91-93 pts)
A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot, including 13% vin de presse and being raised in 45% new oak (13.9% alcohol) the Kirwan ’10 has a very ripe bouquet with blackcurrant, blueberry, plum and cedar. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe tannins, quite robust on the entry, very good weight but mellowing nicely towards the creamy textured finish. This is a very fine, modern style Margaux, one that is very well crafted. Tasted April 2011.

Deep garnet colored, the 2010 Kirwan gives up notions of fried herbs, crème de cassis and blackberry pie with hints of mossy tree bark, lavender and oolong tea. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is a tad tart with chewy tannins, while lacking just slightly in the middle and on the finish.

Tasted blind. Deep garnet with opaque core. Mature black fruits, undergrowth and a bright cedary note. Slightly charry. Dense and spicy on the palate, rich and dense yet harmonious. (JH)