Château Guiraud Sauternes 2022 - 1er Cru Classé BIO

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

The château is owned by four partners: Robert Peugeot, Xavier Planty (who manages the estate), Stephan von Neipperg and Olivier Bernard. Certified organic since 2011, and boasting an absolutely unique conservatory of Aquitaine white grape varieties (175 strains of Sauvignon and Semillon), Guiraud leads the way in respectful agriculture in the Sauternes region. Perfectly botrytized grapes are harvested with precision, to produce two types of sweet wine. The grand vin, with its finesse and rapid evolution in bottle, and the petit-guiraud, less voluntarily rich but capable of shining as an aperitif, as can be seen in the very elegant restaurant-brasserie that the estate has just opened. The dry Bordeaux G is less appealing, clean but too simple for its terroir.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the domain :

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the domain :

This Sauternes premier cru classé is now owned by four co-owners: Robert Peugeot, Olivier Bernard (Domaine de Chevalier), Stephan Von Neipperg (Château Canon-la-Gaffelière) and Xavier Planty. Under Xavier Planty's skilful management, the vineyard has for many vintages offered a perfect example of a modern, roasted Sauternes, very open in its early years, and which has gained enormously in finesse and minerality. Guiraud was the first of the premier crus classés de 1855 to be awarded organic certification, in 2011. The estate takes great care to respect the natural development of noble rot. The winemaking process, meanwhile, refuses the slightest chaptalization, as should be the case for all crus classés - a cause for which Xavier Planty campaigns. On terroirs not classified as Sauternes, the Château also produces a large volume of a dry white wine in the Bordeaux appellation, to be drunk young.

James Suckling

About the wine:

It exudes real fruity purity and concentration, with flavors of dried pineapple, peach and apricot. Very impressive and straightforward, with medium sweetness and a light spicy note on the finish. Hints of licorice and pie crust add to this wonderful fruit. This wine is already ready to drink, but will be much better in 5 or 6 years.

Jeb Dunnuck

About the wine:

Château Guiraud 2022 is magnificent, with the ripe, powerful style of the vintage. Candied orange, white flowers, peach and a hint of menthol blossom here. This beauty seduces the palate with full-bodied richness, an opulent, complex and harmonious palate, and great freshness that gives it a lovely lightness. This is an exceptional Sauternes, to be enjoyed over the next 2 decades or so. The blend is 65% Semillon and 35% Sauvignon, aged in barrels. 2025-2045

Yves Beck

About the wine:

What depth, density and complexity in the bouquet of Guiraud 2022, with orange zest and root nuances complemented by floral and tropical notes (pineapple, fresh mango). On the palate, the wine is creamy and well supported by a compact structure. Unctuous yet salivating, the wine's profile is linear and serene. It needs to blossom, but has a long, imposing finish thanks to the noble bitters that enhance its energy and freshness. A great wine to wait for. 2029-2060

Vert de Vin

About the wine:

The nose is fresh, racy and complex, offering depth and a certain concentration. Notes of kumquat, candied mirabelle plum and, to a lesser extent, orangette are combined with hints of yellow peach in syrup, fine honeyed notes, candied orange peel, verbena, lemon blossom and discreet hints of fresh hazelnut and gingerbread. The palate is beautifully mineral, fresh and well-balanced, with a fresh structure, suppleness, delicacy, a certain rightness, a lovely energy, a nice little mellowness, a little crystalline definition, and a hint of passerillage, all in mastery (adding deliciousness). All finesse, purity and control. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of quenette, mirabelle plum in syrup and, more lightly, candied pear, combined with touches of peach blossom, verbena, fine hints of sage, orangette and yellow berries, as well as hints of pastry, honey and sweet spices. A lovely mellowness on the finish. Almost tannic in structure and aroma on the finish/persistence.

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About the wine:

Sandrine Garaby's 1st vintage blossoms as soon as it opens in the glass, with notes of honeyed pineapple, custard, saffron, ginger cookies, crème brûlée and flowers perfuming the nose. The palate is even more luscious, with an energetic burst of succulent, sweet tropical fruit bathed in honey, and saffron complexity that reveals itself on the finish. Drink between 2026 and 2055.