Château Guiraud 2020

Complex, especially promising, very youthful aromatics; dense, silky-fruited build, supporting structure and great length: in a class of its own again this year.

Bright, juicy and with good freshness, this pushes a mix of yellow apple, pineapple and white peach to the fore, backed by a long elderflower honey note that holds the finish prettily. Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc. Drink now through 2035. 1,250 cases made.

This is hugely appealing. Fleshy and exotic, with saffron and cinnamon, luscious and rich in a way that is a little atypical for the signature of Guiraud — you feel the concentration of the vintage, although the necessary lift on the finish comes in through white pepper spice, fennel, white pear and passion fruit. 2020 is the 10th vintage to be certified as organic. A yield of 8.3hl/ha, fermented and aged in 90% new oak.

Apricots, honeysuckle, lemons, mango crumble, Earl Grey and vanilla beans on the nose. Pretty spice notes that keep going, married with fresh zesty undertones. Elegant, even somewhat understated, with a long and vibrant finish. Drink now or hold.

The 2020 Guiraud is very delicate and beautiful. Hints of jasmine, lemon confit, green pear, mint and chamomile lend vibrancy to this mid-weight, wonderfully nuanced Sauternes. The mid-weight style of 2020 is hugely appealing.

With a lean to the orange side of the style range, you find a wealth of candied mangos, roasted tangerine, orange rind, and apricots, with nuances of roasted nuts, flowers, spice, and honey. The racy, vibrant finish provides a balance between its decadently sweet, orange-tinged tropical fruits, pineapples, and white peaches topped with honey, spice, and racy freshness. Drink from 2023–2050.

Medium yellow gold, silver reflections. Underlaid with fine wood savouriness, fully ripe apricot fruit, fresh tangerine zest, inviting bouquet. Juicy, elegant, fine fruit expression, delicate banana and yellow peach, discreet acidity, mineral underpinnings, silky style, all of a piece, already accessible, with certain ageing potential.

Radiant golden yellow. Seductive bouquet of freshly cooked Williams pear pulp, mandarin oil and saffron, followed by mirabelle tart and linden blossom honey. On the slightly oily palate, creamy texture with peppery extract, supportive verve and a dense body – all in balance. A catapult-like finish with ripe mango, passion fruit and starfruit. Top performance!

Kunz barrel sample 2021: silky, dense, creamy, fresh, mineral bouquet, apricots, honey, molasses, caramel, chalk. Dense, silky, powerful palate with generous sweetness, well-integrated acidity, varied, intense aromatics, opulent structure, very long, dense, plush finish.

Silky, dense, creamy, fresh, mineral bouquet with apricots, honey, molasses, caramel, chalk. A dense, satiny, powerful palate with generous sweetness, well-integrated acidity, varied and intense aromatics, opulent structure, and a very long, dense, plush finish. 19/20 2026 - 2060

Classical and consistent in its delivery, this is a beautifully balanced Guiraud with white flowers, peach, apricot pits, stone fruits, lime zest. Lifted yet luscious. Sandrine Garbay, long-time cellar master at Yquem, joined Guiraud in early 2022 but this vintage was made under Luc Planty. The finish comes in with white pepper spice, fennel, white pear and passion fruit. 2020 is the 10th vintage to be certified as organic. A yield of 8.3hl/ha, fermented and aged in 90% new oak.

92-93

A subtle nose that opens on a green top note before revealing aromas of flowers and yellow fruit. Lovely freshness on the palate, with harmony and a sweet finish.

A lovely aromatic palette, both on the nose and on the palate. On the nose, cherry blossom and acacia, along with iodized nuances. The palate is full, leaning more toward sweetness than freshness, with notes of candied apricot, a saline edge, and kumquat on the finish. A classic Sauternes.

A dense and seriously ripe wine, this has concentration without intense botrytis. It is a rich wine with great yellow fruits and lovely acidity to balance at the end. Drink this weighty wine from 2028.