Château Guiraud 2002

Space limitations preclude including tasting notes. 2002 was an average vintage.

Nice and spicy on the nose, with plenty of apple tart and vanilla character. Medium- to full-bodied, with lots of sweet-and-sour character. Medium finish, medium sweet. Best after 2007. 8,000 cases made.

Deep gold. Very rich and beeswaxy. Hint of tropical flowers too. Not the richest, sweetest Sauternes. With a hint of marmalade. Ready. (JR)

Fully developed, medium-bodied, fresh, vibrant, and focused on its core of dried apricots, marmalade, buttery orange rind spice, and butterscotch. While not deep, the wine remained fresh, vibrant, and aromatic, with a butterscotch and candied orange edge to the finish. Drink from 2022-2032.

Medium light yellow. Roasted, multi-layered bouquet, without mistaking its wonderful sweetness for that of a Meursault. On the palate, very opulent with a pronounced, mellow sweetness, plenty of nectarines and light honey, an extremely long finish. One of the richest and also sweetest wines of the vintage.

03: Medium pale yellow. Roasted, multi-layered bouquet; if you set aside the glorious sweetness, you could even mistake it for a Meursault. On the palate, very opulent with a pronounced, plush sweetness; lots of nectarine and light honey, an extremely long finish. One of the richest and also sweetest wines of this vintage. (19/20). 12: That is what’s beautiful and somehow new. What? That at certain estates you end up with a Sauternes! With Stephan Neipperg, it’s the unifying partnership with this Sauternes estate in which Robert Peugeot (Auto), Bernard Olivier (Domaine de Chevalier) and Xavier Planty (estate manager, Guiraud) are involved. The wine already shows a beautifully golden-yellow color. The nose is at first a bit treacly in its sweetness. Then on the palate, creamy, with mirabelle compote, but also a certain herbal-refreshing glimmer coming from the — for this region — considerable share of Sauvignon Blanc. Perhaps I would have been a little less enthusiastic about the wine if there hadn’t been a “Croquant au Chocolat Caraïbe with caramel au beurre salé” on the plate. I only tasted a tiny corner of it and took a teensy sip of the Guiraud. I otherwise forgo dessert wine and sweets entirely, because of my winning figure. I enjoyed the cheerful conversations and exchanged a few more words with my long-time wine friend Stephan. When I stood up and looked at the table, the dessert plate and the Guiraud glass were empty. Oscar Wilde was somehow right: “The stupidest foolishness of men is always those they did not commit.”

Fresh, powerful, complex bouquet of honey, dried apricots, almond cream, caramel. Creamy, elegant, and fresh palate with medium, fine acidity, powerful, multi-layered aromatics, long, delicate finish with plenty of lingering flavors. Can still improve. 18/20 drink - 2040

Pale to medium gold in color, the 2002 Guiraud explodes with notes of apricot preserves, dried mango, and quince, plus hints of key lime pie, chamomile, and wild mushrooms, plus a touch of beeswax. The candied citrus and stone-fruit preserve perfume pirouettes on the palate with racy acidity and a long, energetic finish.

Pale yellow, great aromatic elegance, freshness, finesse, complexity, a splendid bottle, undoubtedly the most accomplished in formal terms of the last ten years.

The wine is full and rich, with a curious touch of oak. The aromas are very distinctive, very bouillon blanc. It’s still closed, but it will evolve nicely over time. Patience.

Golden-yellow color. Intense nose, fruity, fresh, spicy, and pure. The palate is immediately silky and flavorful. It offers grace in the touch and a subtle, noble length. It’s long and very good.