History
The past three centuries have seen three illustrious families successively preside over the destiny of this Cantenac-
Margaux Great Classified Growth (Grand Cru Classé).
The name Kirwan also evokes a wonderfully charming abode built in the late 18th century by Mark Kirwan. The Irishman built the classical mansion on the estate he inherited when he married the daughter of the landowner, Sir John Collingwood, “Sieur de Lasalle,” one of the first négociants in the history of Bordeaux. Proud to consummate Anglo-Irish friendship in Bordeaux, Mark Kirwan expanded the vineyard, uniting two smaller adjoining vineyards in the village of Cantenac, the Ganet estate and his Lassalle property. The entire property took the name of “Kirwan.” Meanwhile he built up the reputation of this wine, which Thomas Jefferson praised enthusiastically during his tour of Bordeaux vineyards. Upon his 1787 visit, the future American President elevated Château “Quirouen” to the second growth level, along with the Ségur and Lynch vineyards, in his famous Jefferson on Wine. In 1855, when the finest samples of Médoc wines were selected for the 1855 World’s Fair organized by Napoleon III, Château Kirwan was ranked at the head of Médoc Third Great Growths.
The Godard family purchased the estate in the second half of the 19th century. Camille Godard, Mayor of Bordeaux, enlarged the estate and designed the current park, with its fishpond and its rose tunnel, adding to the property’s beauty. In 1926, Château Kirwan came into the hands of the Schÿler family, relations of the then-owners, the Guestier brothers. With roots in the Hanseatic League, the Schÿlers had settled in Bordeaux in 1739 as wine merchants. Schröder & Schÿler sold the wine first in Northern and Eastern Europe, and later opened markets in the United States, Canada and Japan after the Second World War. More recently, distribution has expanded throughout Asia, India, the United Arab Emirates and Brazil. In the 1980s the Schÿlers made significant investments and initiated a complete renovation of the vineyard.
In 2008, the family decided to further develop the proficiency of the Schÿler children, naming Philippe Delfaut, an oenologist with experience in Margaux, as General Manager of the estate. He works side by side with Nathalie, Tour and Reception (or Wine tourism) Director, Yann Schÿler, CEO of the Schröder & Schÿler Trading House, and Sophie, Director of Communication and Market Development, with a focus exports in partnership with a select network of Bordeaux wine merchants. Philippe engaged the services of Mr. Boissenot and his son to assist in running the vineyard, and focused on understanding the terroir through an in-depth pedological study. Vinification is gentle, and is conducted differently according to each plot, with several slow macerations at medium temperature. Alcoholic and malolactic fermentation take place simultaneously to preserve the fruit and the wine’s aromatic purity. Final blending is performed in mid-February at the first extraction, after three months in barrels. Aging continues using four different kinds of wooden barrels, with manual extraction followed by fining with egg whites suited to the needs and characteristics of the wine. Bottling takes place 18 to 21 months later. A second Charmes de Kirwan wine complements the Grand Vin, Château Kirwan, accounting for 30% ofproduction.