Château GUIRAUD 1990
Château Guiraud is located in Sauternes , in the Bordeaux wine region. It was classified Premier Grand Cru Classé in the Sauternes and Barsac classification of 1855. Château Guiraud was originally known as Maison Noble de Bayle before being purchased by Pierre Guiraud in 1766. The estate was bought by Robert Peugeot (from the eponymous car manufacturer), Olivier Bernard (Domaine de Chevalier), Stephan Von Neipperg (Château Canon La Gaffelière) and Xavier Planty , winegrower in Guiraud since the 1980s. The property has around 85 hectares of vines, on sandy, gravelly and clay soils, which provide a good growing medium and, by virtue of their moisture retention qualities, are conducive to the propagation of noble rot.
Château Guiraud is a blend of Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc , made from botrytised grapes . Fermentation is carried out in oak barrels (90% new and 10% from one wine). The wine is then aged in barrels for 18 to 24 months depending on the vintage. The 1990 vintage in Sauternes was sublime . The year saw a very hot and dry summer with high temperatures concentrating the sugars in the grapes. The rains of August allowed the essential botrytis to develop. The harvest was important for both Sauternes and Barsac, the grapes were still very concentrated.
Grapes: Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc