Château Guiraud, Bordeaux Blanc (Bordeaux, France) 2019

Château Guiraud is located in the Sauternes appellation of Bordeaux.  You may recall that the Sauternes region is famous for its pricy, late harvest, botrytis-affected white wines made from Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc.  What you may not recall is that many of the estates in Sauternes also make a dry wine.  According to Luc Planty, the estate’s technical director (think general manager plus head winemaker), “This is not a typical Bordeaux Blanc Sec.  It comes from the Sauternes terroir, one of the best terroirs in Bordeaux for white wine, sweet and dry.”  He was speaking at the webinar “Earth Day Heroes” to discuss sustainable practices in Bordeaux.  Although they have farmed the vines organically since 1996, Château Guiraud was the first grand cru classé estate in Sauternes to obtain organic certification in 2011.  This is an ethereal wine with a pale yellow color, enticing aromas of baked apple, citrus, melon and a touch of lime zest, are followed by light, bright, delicate flavors of citrus, apple, peach perfectly balanced with citrusy acidity.  It is a half and half blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon with 80 percent of the wine fermented in first growth Sauternes white wine barrels.  Planty said, “I love it, of course, because I made it, but it is very difficult to have a tasting with you to tell you what to smell, what you can taste.  I think it is just a good wine for an appetizer, for dinner with friends or a beautiful woman, with a good fireplace, and just enjoy it.”