Location and surface area of the Château Guiraud vineyard
A benchmark among fine Sauternes wines, Château Guiraud reigns over an 85-hectare vineyard, used for production, comprised within the estate's total 128-hectare surface area. The vines, which are 35 years old on average, are planted in a haven of biodiversity and have been managed using organic farming practices since 1996. Château Guiraud has been certified in organic farming since 2011.
What is the history of Château Guiraud?
Origins that hark back to the 18th century
Anti-conformist, pioneer, independent... these are the terms that best define Château Guiraud since its creation in 1766. At the time, Pierre Guiraud, a Bordeaux merchant, acquired the "Maison Noble du Bayle", then owned by the de Mons de Saint Poly family, which he renamed Château Guiraud.
Following the death of his father, Louis Guiraud took over the running of the estate, which, thanks to his visionary spirit, elevated the estate’s wines to the pinnacle of the appellation.
Auctioned off in 1846, the estate was promoted to 1er Grand Cru Classé de Sauternes in 1855 and has been owned by several owners.
An expansion from the end of the 19th to the beginning of the 20th century
Between 1861 and 1932, Château Guiraud became the property of the Bernard family and then, through marriage, of the Maxwell family. This period was marked by the modernisation of the cellars and the construction of the current château. Due to poor quality production over several consecutive vintages, the estate was once again sold at auction and then acquired by Paul César Rival.
Many innovations from 1981 onwards
The Narby family, who ran Dolphin International Vineyard Limited, acquired the estate in 1981. This acquisition marked the beginning of major work on the vineyard and the winemaking facilities, in order to develop the quality of the wines and their reputation beyond French borders. Xavier Planty was hired in 1988 to manage the estate.
A new chapter in 2006
Château Guiraud was sold in 2006 to the Peugeot family investment company (FFP), represented by Robert Peugeot (CEO of Peugeot Invest) and three figures from the Bordeaux wine world, namely Xavier Planty (estate manager), Olivier Bernard (Domaine de Chevalier) and Stephan Von Neipperg (Château Canon La Gaffelière).
In 2011, Château Guiraud became the only Sauternes Premier Grand Cru to obtain the Organic Farming label.
Since 2019, a property turned towards the future
In 2019, Xavier Planty handed over the management of the estate to his son, Luc. In April 2022 Matthieu Gufflet, owner of Château de Callac (Graves), became the majority shareholder of the estate, and in May 2022 Sandrine Garbay, the Cellar Master of Château d'Yquem, took over the running of Château Guiraud.
All there is to know about the Château Guiraud vineyard
Location and sun exposure
Situated 40 minutes away from Bordeaux, Château Guiraud watches over a terroir located in the heart of an emblematic appellation, Sauternes.
Geology: a rare tapestry
Château Guiraud's uniqueness lies in its mosaic of soils, 80% of which are composed of sandy gravel and 20% of clay.
The subsoil is made up of deep translucent sands, pure gravel covered by masses of red clay, limestone marl, strips of oyster limestone and red and white clay, depending on the plot.
Climate: an oceanic climate serving a great vineyard
The Sauternes appellation enjoys an oceanic climate. If the springs below the vineyard, notably the Siron spring, ensure ideal drainage of the vineyard, they also provide regular humidity which, during the autumn, favours the appearance of the fungus known as "Botrytis Cinerea". The effect of this fungus leads to the development of noble rot, thus concentrating the sugar levels and providing the wines with flavoursome aromas, a well-known and much-loved feature of the appellation.
Cultivation practices
Driven by a constant quest for excellence and a forerunner in many respects through 100% natural environmental practices, Château Guiraud advocates a philosophy that places biodiversity at the heart of the vineyard's management.
The estate preserves the diversity of the grape varieties that make up its vineyard thanks to an exceptional conservatory created in 2001, containing over 135 strains of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc.
Vinification
Only the grapes that boast an optimal concentration are harvested with the utmost care and exclusively by hand. The wine is aged in barrels for 18 months, mostly new, to create a delicious combination of richness and refinement.
A meaningful label
The graphic codes of the Château Guiraud wine label have been unique since its creation, and its black and gold colour pay tribute to Napoleon I and to revolutionary values.
This avant-garde label has evolved throughout the history of this illustrious reference, poised on the left bank of Bordeaux.
Following the acquisition of the estate by Dolphin International Vineyard Limited in 1981, the historical logo was transformed into Dauphin, however the graphic design of the label became more refined after the purchase by FFP in 2006. Lastly, since the 2011 vintage, a label has been unveiled that harmoniously combines the depth of the black colour with the brilliance and prestige of the golden colour.
The style of the wines by Château Guiraud
Wine profile
The nose of Château Giraud reveals great precision along with a rich and complex aromatic palette. Throughout the tasting experience, the palate is seductive with its smoothness, unctuousness and minerality.
Château Guiraud's "G" comprises an equal blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc, harvested at optimum maturity. Aged for 7 months in second-fill barrels, this Bordeaux dry white wine offers an alluring richness and intense fruity expression.
Ageing potential of the wines
Enjoyable in their youth, the wines by Château Guiraud can be kept in cellars for many years in order to develop their aromatic palette.
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