Chateau Guiraud 2011

ANTONIO GALLONI: "Bright yellow-gold. Deep aromas of lime, peach, quince, minerals, menthol and saffron are complicated by tangy botrytis tones. Ripe, creamy flavors of peach, lime and lemon verbena show noteworthy sweetness and power, with harmonious acidity providing lift. This very rich, textured wine coats the palate with tropical fruit and mineral flavors that linger impressively on the back end, enlivened by a brisk citrus element. This stellar Guiraud, which strikes me as being richer and deeper than the 2010, is still very young and will improve further in a good cold cellar."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "A touch woody on the nose. Really spicy and orange flavoured on the palate. Sweet and creamy but then more spice on the finish. Very sweet."

JAMES SUCKLING: "This wine has exceptional clarity, balance and freshness, with lots of spicy botrytis character. Full body, medium-sweet and a crisp finish. It’s racy and refined. What’s impressive is the intensity of noble rot that makes the wine feel almost dry. This is the greatest wine ever made here. Made from organic grapes. Try in 2017, but already delicious to drink."

THE WINEADVOCATE: "Tasted blind at the Sauternes 2011 horizontal tasting. After Yquem and Doisy-Védrines, the Château Guiraud 2011 seems a little muted on the nose, but that is not fair because it is well defined and very focused, gradually unfurling to reveal scents of honey, orange blossom and quince. The palate is well balanced with a fine line of acidity. This is a more understated Sauternes, harmonious and nonchalant in style, but don’t be fooled because there is great tension, delineation and poise on the finish, the fruit seamlessly bound with the new oak. This appears to have gained elegance and complexity in bottle, ergo my higher score."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Filled with spicy, candied orange, nuts, honey, pineapple, apricot and vanilla, the wine lacks a bit of the intensity found in the top wines of the vintage. Yet, it still delivers a tasty, sweet, tropical, orange, honeyed finish with good freshness."

WEINWISSER: "Mitteldunkles Gelb, recht intensiv, leuchtender Rand. Nobler Nasenansatz. Viel weisser Pfirsich, frisch gemahlene Mandeln, zartes Vanillin, viel reife gelbe Früchte, ein Hauch Safran, wunderschöne Röstnoten im Untergrund, die an ein frisch gebackenes Parisette- Brot erinnern. Royaler Gaumenbeginn, unglaublich viel Finessen in der reichen Textur zeigend. Ein einziger kleiner Schluck von diesem Nektar löst ein Wechselspiel der Gefühle aus. 2011 gehört zu den ganz grossen Guiraud-Jahrgängen, und ich brachte es nicht über die Lippen, diese bewegende Fassprobe auszuspucken. Noch ein zweites Mal bei Stephan Neipperg auf Canon La Gaffelière degustiert: wieder genial und noch dazu am gleichen Tag degustiert wie den Yquem 2011 auf Cheval Blanc. Auf Château Kirwan habe ich ihn erneut verkostet, zusammen mit vielen anderen Sauternes: Er überragt sämtliche Konkurrenten, daher blieb mir nur noch eine Möglichkeit – die Maximalnote zu verleihen!"

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "The first impression is of the dry botrytis that has infused the wine. Then comes the acidity and crisp lemon flavor. Gradually, ripe marmalade and fragrant honey come out along with acidity. It´s a fascinating, complex wine worthy of a wait. Drink from 2019."

WINESPECTATOR: "A large-scale version, with seamlessly layered notes of almond cream, apricot, ginger, mango, piecrust, papaya and toasted hazelnut. The long, spice-infused finish shows ample depth, echoing with an enticing tarte Tatin note. Best from 2016 through 2035. 7,000 cases made. –JM"