Château Guiraud 2023

The 2023 Guiraud conveys energy on the nose, fine tension with pure honeyed fruit, orange blossom and light waxy aromas. The palate is wonderful, armed with great tension and perhaps more mineralité compared to its peers, linear and focused with great tension on the finish. There is a strictness here that I appreciate. Superb.

Floral, sweet, and energetic, with pineapples, lemon curd, honeysuckle, candied mangos, and roasted nuts, with a touch of saffron arriving at the end of the nose. Perfectly poised between its sweet and racy sides, with length, purity, freshness, and sweetness, yet it remains light on its feet. This seems to be a new era for Guiraud, with Sandrine Garbay in charge. Drink from 2027–2050. 95–97 pts.

Medium golden yellow, silver reflections. Fine lanolin, yellow tropical fruit, some honey and candied orange zest. Deep, juicy, white peach, integrated fruit, fine acidity, well-integrated wood spice, honey on the finish, lingers, shows length and certain ageing potential.

So good, full of fresh fruits, greengages, baked apple, liquorice, white pear, cumin, baking spices. Sandrine Garbay, long time winemaker of Yquem, is director at this 128ha estate, that has been farmed organically since 2011. Harvest began on September 27 and continued through to October 13.

Score: 93–95. Raisins, fresh almond, candied bitter orange peel, cinnamon and vanilla: the nose shows lovely complexity while retaining freshness. The palate is unexpectedly broad and creamy. The sugar hasn’t fully integrated yet, showing notes of butter caramel, stewed pear with cinnamon, candied bitter orange peel, all lifted by a hint of saffron. A very fine vintage.

Exceptionally fresh and complex, clear fruit, lots of florality; on the palate, power and freshness, an interesting tension, sweetness, acidity, fruit and bitter components, long-lasting, characterful, impressive.

Sports a wide-ranging mix of white peach, mirabelle plum, yuzu, clementine and green fig fruit flavors, with vigorous energy that runs throughout to lend it all tension and precision. Honeysuckle and orange blossom notes ripple through the finish, which shimmers beautifully. Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc. Drink now through 2055.

Sweet and thick, this is unctuous and filling with the sweetness offset slightly by the acidity but this leans into full noble rot with nuttiness, bitter tropical fruit and citrus tang. This has a great drinkable aspect to it, so moreish and tasty, you just want another sip straight away. Delicious.

Guiraud’s bouquet impresses with its ability to bridge maturity and freshness on the nose. Notes of white flowers and spices mingle with aromas of citrus, nectarines and crème brûlée, followed by a subtle rooty touch. The subtly suave character on the attack paves the way for a poised, thoughtful wine that doesn’t rely solely on sweetness. It achieves a true symbiosis, inviting all its elements to come together into a precious whole that will appeal to both younger and older drinkers alike, across an equally broad audience… a bit like Tintin, but more from 27 to 97 years old!

Golden color. An intense, fine, fruity and pure nose, with hints of acacia honey and spices. Delicate on the attack, subtle as it unfolds, aromatic and precise in texture, this juicy wine melts across the palate. It finishes with complex persistence, offering a beautiful flavor of raisins and well-integrated oak. A refined, fragrant whole.

A blend of 65% Sémillon and 35% Sauvignon Blanc, containing 130 grams per liter of residual sugar, the 2023 Château Guiraud is vibrant and expressive, revealing aromas of apricot, exotic fruits, spices, white flowers and pineapple. Medium- to full-bodied, dense and deep, it is finely balanced, built around a lively core of fruit and defined by a beautifully judged, gastronomic bitterness that brings energy and precision to the finish.