Château Guiraud 2024

Cloudy yellow; fresh bouquet still slightly marked by the lees, candied fruits, raisins, apricots, bitter oranges; rich palate, top balance of acidity and sweetness, almost two mouthfuls of wine, yet with striking freshness and great length. Shows excellent potential.

A luminous yellow-gold in the glass, the 2024 Guiraud strikes a perfect balance between vibrancy and depth. The nose is elegantly restrained at first, gradually revealing layers of yellow peach, lemon curd, and bitter orange zest, underpinned by subtle aromas of dried apricot and saffron. On the palate, the wine is notably fresh and lifted, showing no hint of cloying sweetness. 124g/l residual sugar.

60% Sémillon, 40% Sauvignon Blanc. Cask sample. Rich, gold hue. Nose restrained but with lovely depth of fruit. Rich and concentrated on the palate. Huge depth with honey and tropical-fruit notes. Plenty of botrytis but good balance as well. A stellar performance this year. (JL)

Apricots, pineapples, flowers, spices, and candied lemon, with a hint of caramel, form the attention-seeking perfume. On the palate, the wine matches the aromatics, offering vibrant, sweet, tropical fruits, candied orange rind, and lemon curd notes in a racy, honeyed style. The wine is made from blending 62% Semillon and 38% Sauvignon Blanc. Drink from 2027-2047. 94-96 pts

Score: 92–94. What complexity in this gentle, bucolic nose! We find beeswax as well as very ripe stone fruits, saffron as well as roasted pineapple, mango as well as candied orange peel, acacia honey as well as flowers (linden, elderflower). Extremely pure, the palate largely reprises the nose’s aromatics, but in XXL form and, above all, highlighted by a line of cheeky freshness that prevents any heaviness, with a caressing, brushed-silk texture. A very accomplished wine.