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Château Guiraud is a Premier Cru Classé of 1855 and the organic pioneer of Sauternes – the first classified estate of the appellation with organic certification. Set between the church and the vines of d’Yquem, it produces one of the freshest sweet wines of the region as well as a sought-after dry white, the G de Guiraud. Secure the Grand Vin or the second wine Petit Guiraud – great Sauternes at a fair price.
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Château Guiraud is a Premier Cru Classé of the 1855 Classification in the Sauternes appellation on the left bank of the Gironde, situated between the church of Sauternes and the vines of d’Yquem. It ranks among the freshest and most balanced sweet wines of the appellation – and at the same time produces one of the region’s finest dry white wines, the G de Guiraud. Across 128 hectares, the estate makes a wine with an unusually high proportion of Sauvignon. Since late 2021, majority owner has been Matthieu Gufflet; director since 2022 is Sandrine Garbay. The Grand Vin is complemented by the second wine Petit Guiraud.
The estate was originally called “Maison noble de Bayle”; in 1766 it was acquired by the Bordeaux wine merchant Pierre Guiraud, whose family gave it its name – only after 1855. The distinctive black-and-gold label has been in use for over three centuries. After the Narby family (from 1981), a consortium acquired the estate in 2006: Robert Peugeot and three noted winemaking figures – Olivier Bernard, Stephan von Neipperg and Xavier Planty. At the end of 2021, Matthieu Gufflet (owner of Château de Callac and the hotel group “Terres de Natures”) became majority owner; Planty departed, while Peugeot, Bernard and von Neipperg remained as minority partners. In 2022, Sandrine Garbay took over management – after 27 years at d’Yquem.
Guiraud is a Premier Cru Classé of 1855 (listed in the original classification as “Château Bayle”). In many respects it is regarded as a leading Sauternes estate – not least as a pioneer of organic viticulture.
The soils consist of roughly 80 per cent sand-gravel, with the remainder gravel and heavy clay over limestone; the highest point lies at 72 metres. The estate’s own vine conservatory (established 2001) preserves over 135 genetic lines of Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc – each year 40,000 vines are replanted by mass selection to safeguard genetic diversity.
The varietal mix comprises 65% Sémillon and 35% Sauvignon Blanc – an unusually high proportion of Sauvignon for Sauternes, including some of Bordeaux’s oldest Sauvignon Blanc vines. Planting density is around 6,500 vines per hectare.
Guiraud has been farmed organically since 1996 and was the first Premier Cru Classé in Sauternes to gain organic certification, in 2011. The vitality of the resulting ecosystem is illustrated by a 2009 survey: 675 different insect species were found in the vineyards – compared with typically around 200 in a non-organically farmed vineyard. Fermentation takes place in barrels that are 90 per cent new oak, over three to six weeks, with ageing lasting around 18 months.
The Grand Vin Château Guiraud accounts for only around 25 per cent of production; around 19 per cent goes to the second wine Petit Guiraud (renamed in 2011 from Le Dauphin de Guiraud) and around 56 per cent to the dry white wine G de Guiraud. By picking over half the grapes early for the dry wine, Guiraud is on a sounder economic footing than many of its neighbours. The restaurant La Chapelle de Guiraud (since 2018) and the gardens round out the estate.
Guiraud ranks among the freshest and most balanced Sauternes: candied citrus fruit, apricot, honey, white blossom and – thanks to the high proportion of Sauvignon – a particularly lively acidity and tension. The dry G de Guiraud is aromatic, mineral-driven and ranks among the region’s finest dry white wines.
Outstanding recent vintages include 2015, 2016 and 2019. Among the more mature vintages, 2001, 2005, 2009 and 2010 are especially worthwhile; the difficult years 2017 and 2018 (frost and hail) yielded only small quantities of Grand Vin, or none at all.
In great vintages, the Grand Vin ages for twenty to thirty years and beyond, while also being approachable when young. The dry G de Guiraud is at its peak after three to six years.
European Wine-Searcher prices for current vintages (retail prices incl. VAT, approximate guide values):
Guiraud offers a remarkable balance of quality and price – a great, organically produced Sauternes at a fair rate.
The dry G de Guiraud and the second wine Petit Guiraud offer an accessible entry point. For the cellar, the Grand Vin in top vintages is the strategically most interesting position – a fresh, balanced Sauternes with a pioneering organic history.
Who owns Château Guiraud? Since late 2021, majority owner has been Matthieu Gufflet; Robert Peugeot, Olivier Bernard and Stephan von Neipperg are minority owners. Director since 2022 is Sandrine Garbay.
What classification level does Guiraud hold? Guiraud is a Premier Cru Classé of the 1855 Classification (Sauternes) – listed in the original classification as “Château Bayle”.
What is the Grand Vin’s blend? The varietal mix comprises 65% Sémillon and 35% Sauvignon Blanc – an unusually high proportion of Sauvignon for Sauternes.
What are the second wine and dry white wine called? The second wine is Petit Guiraud (renamed in 2011 from Le Dauphin de Guiraud), and the dry white wine is G de Guiraud.
Is Guiraud organic? Yes. Guiraud has been farmed organically since 1996 and was the first Premier Cru Classé in Sauternes to gain organic certification, in 2011.
What does a bottle of Guiraud cost? Current vintages of the Grand Vin sit at around 35 to 60 euros (0.75 l) on the European market, with sought-after vintages higher. G de Guiraud and Petit Guiraud start at around 20 euros.
Guiraud combines a Premier Cru Classé of 1855 with the role of Sauternes’ organic pioneer. With its high proportion of Sauvignon, fresh style, sought-after dry white wine and new ownership and management structure, the estate ranks among the appellation’s most reliable and rewarding addresses.
