France

Ch. Guiraud

Chateau Guiraud Grand Vin Blanc Sec

Bordeaux

An unusually high percentage of Sémillon in the blend for Guiraud, a reflection of the unusual conditions of the vintage. You can see it in the concentrated amber colour, but on the palate this is well handled with bitter marmalade, saffron and truffle, and juicy lemon that gives contrast and grip. Harvest September 15 to October 27th, across three pickings. 134h/g residual sugar, 4ph. Certified organic. First vintage with Sandrine Garbay as estate director, moving over here from Château d'Yquem.

Inside Bordeaux

The 2022 Grand Vin Blanc Sec, 70% Semillon and 30% Sauvignon Blanc, scoots out with expressive notions of lemon drops and fresh pears, plus hints of nutmeg, baking bread, and marzipan. The medium-bodied palate has just enough freshness to support the savory apple-inspired flavors, finishing with a spicy kick.

by Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW

A blend of 60% Semillon and 40% Sauvignon Blanc, the 2023 Grand Vin Blanc Sec from Guiraud opens a little broodily with subtle notes of bruised apples and baked pears, opening out to hints of wet pebbles and fallen leaves. Medium-bodied, the palate has a good amount of orchard fruit flavor, with soft acidity and an earthy finish.

G de Guiraud, the long-time dry white of Château Guiraud, has for years been one of great bargains of the wine world. It still is, but you can understand why, as an 1855 classified estate in Sauternes, Guiraud would want it to be joined by a more serious, structured white that can rival the great whites of the classified Médoc estates. This is its inaugural vintage (and also the 10th anniversary since organic certification at Guiraud), and it's a confident start, with creamy citrus, apricot and white pear, clearly differentiating from the more zippy charms of G de Guiraud. Although this is 0g/l residual sugar, so bone dry, the wine is fermented for three weeks in barrels that were previously used for Guiraud's flagship Sauternes, and that combined with the heat of the 2020 summer combine to give this gourmet, rich and succulent character. Put this together with an edge of bitter almond and oyster shell salinity and you have a white wine with presence. I look forward to seeing how this character is expressed in a vintage with more contrasting acidity. Harvest from August 20 to September 7, 40hl/h yield.

2023	No priceNot available	Very Good
2022	No priceNot available	Excellent
2020	No priceNot available	Outstanding

Category	White wine
Vinmonopolet no.
Producer	Ch. Guiraud
Vintages	2022
Country	France, Bordeaux
Bottle	75 cl

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Sugar	g/l

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