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Château Guiraud

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Visit Château Guiraud is located 45 kilometers south of Bordeaux, on the left bank of the Garonne River. The Château Guiraud vineyard covers 128 hectares, and is unique in that it is located entirely within the commune of Sauternes.

For 25 years Château Guiraud strives to apply methods that contribute to the creation of a balanced ecosystem where varietal and living species can coexist together. Only Semillon (65%) and Sauvignon (35%) grapes are grown to produce AOC Sauternes wines. Harvesting is manual, with successive selections (2 to 6 selections) of botrytized grapes. Wine ageing Château Guiraud is aged in barrels for 18 to 24 months, depending on the vintage.

Its character stems from the nobility of its soils, 80% of which are sandy gravel loaded with limestone and heavy clay. It's also due to the presence of springs that provide the water needed to drain the vines. In autumn, every year, everything is ready for the grape-pickers, who delicately pick the dark-colored bunches due to a fungus called "Botrytis Cinerea", which initiates an aromatic process that gives the reasons for the flavors essential to Château Guiraud.

Château Guiraud is the first grand cru classé in 1855. Then a second certification, organic farming in 2011. A great wine is also a question of grape varieties. For Guiraud Blanc, the emphasis is on Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc to give the wine its unique character. As a result, this wine is very different from other great Sauternes. A single tasting, even blind, identifies it from the very first sip.

The verdict in your mouth.

The bouquet offers notes of botrytized fruit with a strong mineral accent, giving off delicate perfumes of white flowers. The palate is fresh and lingers on the palate with a light acidity of citrus fruit, evoking orange and mandarin peel, followed by a subtle hint of ginger. Depending on the year, aromas of spices and white fruits such as peach and very ripe apricot can also be detected.

The contribution of Château Guiraud wines to gastronomy.

Every gourmet knows the value of Sauternes in gastronomy. For aperitifs and starters, we'd mention all compositions based on Roquefort, foie gras and even caviar. As for main courses, there's no mistaking veal chops with roquefort, quail with foie gras, rabbit with gorgonzola. For cheeses, all ranges of blue cheeses, and of course Roquefort. And let's not forget the desserts, with local delicacies such as Cannelés bordelais and prunes with sauternes.

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