Château Guiraud 1999

Similarly rounded, full, and ripe as the 1997, but markedly fresher and therefore more digestible, more fruity, to enjoy now.

Tasted as part of a vertical held at the chateau. There is a sense of conservatism to the Guiraud 1999, but it still retains attractive scents of dried honey, marmalade and a touch of chlorine. The palate is actually better than the nose, with a lovely seam of acidity and effervescent marmalade and quince-tinged fruit that is very precise toward the long finish. The ’99 should be looked back on as a success in an oft-forgotten vintage. Drink now-2020. Tasted April 2013.

Maturing yellow color. Expansive, very fresh bouquet with intense botrytis, plenty of honey and apricot, gorgeous toasted notes, passion fruit. Ripe extract with abundant fruit expression, bright apricots, almost Viognier-like, tremendous concentration, long, harmonious, Burgundian finish.

Xavier Planty: <div style="font-style:italic;color:#990033">Harvest began on September 7. In total, we brought in four tranches up to October 10. Fortunately, there was a lot of wind during the rain, so the grapes and the soil recovered quickly. With the return of the sun, botrytis came back immediately and we were able to bring in healthy, extremely concentrated fruit.</div> 00: Barrel sample (17/20): expansive, very fresh bouquet with intense botrytis; plenty of honey and apricots, wonderful toasty notes, passion fruit. Ripe extract with lots of fruit aromatics; again light apricots, reminiscent of a Viognier, marked by immense concentration, long, harmonious, Burgundian finish. 04: Rather dark yellow. Powerful, opulent bouquet; dried apricots and dried apple slices. On the palate, pectin, honey, vanilla, velvety, melting extract, forceful, concentrated finish. Has improved and will soon rank among the great ’99s. (18/20). 07: served from magnums for 100 people in Bremen. Lots of malt, cereal notes, first components of dried fruit, candied honey. A rich Sauternes with a heavy underlying sweetness.

Rosé-yellow color. Medium-intensity nose. Discreet. Note of faded flower. Touch of orange. Hint of wet wool. Plenty of orange with aeration. Soft attack, developing into a tender, tasty and rather airy body that becomes silky and melting, leading to a good-length finish, lifted by spicy and peppery touches. At this stage, it’s the best. It lacks fruit brightness and structural density due to dilution, but it’s quite immediately pleasing and of pure flavor.