Among the great names of Sauternes, the Château Guiraud 2022, 1er Grand Cru Classé from the 1855 classification, embodies the rare marriage of voluptuousness and tension. This vintage, certified AB and the estate's fifth harvest under organic farming, reveals a luminous sweet wine, nourished by the nobility of botrytis and by meticulous work both in the vineyard and in the cellar. Its personality unfolds on a framework of exotic fruits and white flowers, punctuated by noble spices. A broad, silky palate develops with fresh momentum, offering remarkable drinkability for a sweet wine of this stature. Praised by international critics, this 2022 combines the opulence typical of Sauternes with the energy of an uplifted finish, promising immediate pleasure and long ageing potential. For the discerning enthusiast as well as the curious gourmand, it offers a singular sensory experience, designed to elevate a dining moment, enhance a foie gras starter or converse with a dessert of yellow fruits in a carefully measured harmony.

Blend and vinification

The Guiraud style rests on a precise blend: 65% Sémillon for body, texture and mouthfeel, and 35% Sauvignon Blanc for liveliness, aromatic brightness and final snap. The harvest in 2022, carried out from 15 September to 27 October by multiple successive pickings, selected grapes at optimal botrytised ripeness. In the cellar, fermentation is conducted with indigenous yeasts, preserving the identity of the terroir, then the wine is aged for 18 months in barrels, about 80% of them new, to bring subtle oaky tannins, added roundness and gentle spice nuances without ever masking the purity of the fruit. This meticulous care, from vine to bottling, delivers the sap, depth and balance that define the estate's signature, a tasting architecture where sweetness is carried by a clean acidity, guaranteeing length and precision.

Tasting notes

• Appearance: Luminous gold with topaz highlights and crystalline brilliance. Delicate viscosity traces slow tears down the glass, promising generous substance and a caressing texture.
• Nose: Deep bouquet of mango, roasted pineapple and candied apricot, lifted by a touch of acacia. A trail of fine spices unfolds, saffron and cinnamon, followed by hints of citrus peel and light honey, supported by an airy sensation of aromatic freshness.
• Palate: Generous, satiny entry with voluptuous substance structured by a fine, precise acidity that stretches the tasting. Flavours of candied citrus, vine-ripe peach and wildflower honey intertwine with touches of gentle sweet spices. The finish, long and clean, marries indulgence and momentum, leaving a lasting impression of purity and balance.

Serving temperature and advice

Serve between 9 et 11°C in generously shaped white wine glasses to allow the bouquet to open and the texture to reveal its full breadth. Opening the bottle a few minutes in advance is usually sufficient to unveil its nuances; decanting is not necessary, except to coax additional notes after several years in the cellar. Store lying down, away from light, at around 12°C with stable humidity. This 2022 has a remarkable cellaring potential, from 2030 to 2045 depending on storage conditions and the style desired, evolving from youthful fruity expressiveness to a more honeyed and spiced complexity with age.

Food pairings

• Aperitifs: bites of foie gras on warm country bread, dates stuffed with toasted almonds, mini blue cheese and walnut tartlets that exalt the wine's sweetness while revealing its finishing liveliness.
• Starters: scallop carpaccio with citrus, roasted langoustines in lemon butter, poultry terrine with morels, offering a subtle dialogue between silky texture and aromatic definition.
• Main courses: free-range poultry with mild spices, orange-glazed duck, lamb tagine with apricots and almonds, pairings where savory meat meets the exquisite dimension of botrytis.
• Cheeses: Roquefort and other blue cheeses, aged Salers and matured tommes, whose salt, power and creamy texture find a harmonious counterpoint in the wine’s taut sweetness.
• Desserts: thin apricot tart, saffron-poached peaches, vanilla crème brûlée, citrus confit desserts, favouring restrained sweetness to preserve balance.

Moments to enjoy

Château Guiraud 2022 accompanies moments where taste becomes memory and the table a stage for sharing. It is equally at ease in an intimate conversation as it is in the radiance of a celebration, with the serene presence typical of great Sauternes sweet wines.

• To celebrate a special occasion with a touch of grace and light.
• At a gourmet dinner dedicated to subtle sweet-and-savoury pairings.
• As an exceptional gift for a lover of rare experiences.

Specifications

• Name : Château Guiraud 2022, 1er Grand Cru Classé Sauternes
• Appellation : Sauternes AOC
• Type : Sweet white wine
• Vintage : 2022
• Grape variety : Sémillon 65%, Sauvignon Blanc 35%
• Alcohol : 13 à 13,65% vol.
• Ageing : 18 months in barrels, 80% new
• Volume : 75 cl
• Cellaring : 2030 to 2045
• Serving temperature : 9–11°C