Château Guiraud 375mL 2009

Château Guiraud is a First Growth of Sauternes, the sweet white appellation south of Bordeaux where autumn mists allow noble rot to form on ripe grapes.

Sauternes exists because of a river: the cold, spring-fed Ciron meets the warmer Garonne here, and the mists that result encourage Botrytis cinerea to settle on the vines. Pickers pass through the rows repeatedly over several weeks, taking only the berries that have shrivelled, so yields are famously small. Guiraud was classified a Premier Cru Classé in 1855 and lies on high ground near the village of Sauternes. It is farmed organically and was among the first classified Bordeaux estates to be certified, and it is unusual in the appellation for the share given to Sauvignon Blanc alongside Sémillon. Hedgerows and woodland are managed as part of the property rather than around it.

Serve chilled at 8 to 10 degrees with blue cheese, foie gras or a fruit tart; and wines of this rank keep for decades.

*Every effort is made to ensure the current vintage is accurate; however, variations can occur. If you are after a specific vintage, please contact us prior to ordering.