Château Guiraud 1er Grand Cru Classé 2011

The Château Guiraud is the Sauternais' largest estate. Its soil is comprised of sandy and clay gravel that requires regular draining. The vineyard is carefully maintained throughout the year in compliance with tradition and respect for the environment. In order to harvest perfectly ripe and botyrised grapes, harvests at the Château Guiraud are rigorously carried out, leading to a meticulous selection process. Yields here are generally below the 25 hl/ha norm, sometimes even dropping as low as 12 hl/ha in order to produce wine of great quality. The Château Guiraud also sells a second wine, the Dauphin de Château Guiraud, (Sauternes appellation) as well as a dry white called the G de Château Guiraud (Bordeaux appellation). 2006 saw the arrival of four new owners (Robert Peugeot and three wine-makers, Olivier Bernard, Stephan Von Neipperg and Xavier Planty), marking the beginning of a new era for this Sauternes premier cru classé, which now places eco-friendly practices at the heart of its approach.

Guiraud is a flamboyant Sauternes: rich in liqueur, very aromatic but perfectly balanced. When young, it develops tropical and citrus fruit aromas. After a few years, it expresses saffron and bitter orange marmalade notes. It is a superb wine that ages gracefully.