Château Guiraud 2023

Critic scores

• Wine Spectator97
• Wine Advocate96
• Jeb Dunnuck94-96
• Decanter96
• James Suckling94
• Vinous93
• Wine Enthusiast91

The 2023 vintage in Sauternes

Vintage benchmark: 91/100 (appellation benchmark, not a score for this wine)

Vintage character: A mild, humid autumn allowed for long picking passes: balanced wines, carried by freshness.

Overall reading of the year’s season across Sauternes. An estate can depart from it sharply, in frost or hail years, where two neighbours did not make the same vintage. What this particular wine actually gave is on its technical sheet and in the scores above.

Tasting

A golden yellow color, bright and shiny. The first nose is marked by a very bright fruitiness of pink grapefruit, clementine, pineapple and passion fruit. After stirring, the aromatics develop with notes of thyme and Provence herbs, to which is added an elegant smokiness. On the palate, the acidity wonderfully balances the richness and density of the vintage. The length is underlined by a spicy and zesty character which will accompany this very beautiful wine over time.

Blend of the 2023 vintage

Sémillon (65%), Sauvignon-blanc (35%)

Shares for this vintage, as recorded on the 2023 technical sheet. The vineyard itself is planted with sémillon, sauvignon blanc, sauvignon gris, muscadelle.

Figures from the 2023 sheet

• 13.8 % vol.Alcohol
• 10 hl/haYield
• 35,000 bottlesProduction

Winemaking

Fermentation: native yeasts, 90% in new French oak barrels, 10% in wine barrels.

Ageing

Approximately 18 months in barrels.

Terroir

80% sandy gravels, 20% clay gravels. Subsoils: deep translucent sands and pure gravels shot through with veins of red and white clay, limestone marls and bands of oyster limestone.