1966 | Ch√¢teau Guiraud | Sauternes

Detailed Description

This wine has very pleasant and lovely aromas. On the palate it is very elegant, rich and full-bodied.

Producer Information

Ch√¢teau Guiraud is a wine estate in Sauternes, Bordeaux. It was classified as Premier Cru in the 1855 Classification and is one of the region’s most famous wine estates. Guiraud’s vineyards are planted with Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc, with the former making up the majority of the lusciously sweet botrytized wine. The ch√¢teau has around 85 hectares (210 acres) under vine, on sandy gravel and clay soils, which provide a good growing environment and through their moisture-retaining qualities, are conducive to the spread of Botrytis cinerea. Only grapes that have been affected by noble rot are picked by hand, and are fermented plot by plot in new oak barrels. After Ch√¢teau Guiraud reaches the desired level of sweetness, it is aged in barrel for at least 24 months before it is released. The ch√¢teau also makes a second wine, Petit Guiraud, from younger vines. There is also a dry Bordeaux Blanc called Le G de Ch√¢teau Guiraud, although unlike the rest of the portfolio, it is Sauvignon Blanc-dominant. Ch√¢teau Guiraud was originally known as the Noble House of Bayle before it was bought by Pierre Guiraud in 1766. The house and vineyards were passed through the family until it was sold to a group of friends ‚Äì Robert Peugeot (of the eponymous automobile manufacturer), Olivier Bernard (Domaine de Chevalier), Stephan Von Neipperg (Ch√¢teau Canon La Gaffeli√®re) and Xavier Planty, who has been winemaker at Guiraud since the 1980s.