2023 Chateau Guiraud Sauternes 750 ml

As the neighbor to Château d’Yquem, Château Guiraud Premier Cru epitomizes Sauternes greatness at a very modest price. Very few other First Growths from Sauternes and Barsac come close to offering this much value.

Boasting 96–97 points from James Suckling, the 2023 is a bona fide superstar. A blend of Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc grown on 25–30 year-old vines planted on deep sand and gravel, barrel-fermented in 90% new oak barrels, then aged for 18 months, it’s a perfectly balanced, deep golden elixir that will age effortlessly for decades in the cellar.

At Guiraud, history and tradition are seamlessly integrated with modern approaches to viticulture and winemaking. In the 1990s, co-owner and manager Xavier Planty began applying organic and biodynamic practices in the vineyard. Later, the estate would become the first classified growth in Bordeaux to be certified organic. In a pristine vineyard that contains an amazing 635 species of insects and animals, biodiversity and improved vine health translate to an incredible level of purity in the glass.