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| | Vintage | 2003 |  Label 1 of 449 
 | | Type | White - Sweet/Dessert | | Producer | Château Guiraud (web) | | Variety | Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend | | Designation | n/a | | Vineyard | n/a | | Country | France | | Region | Bordeaux | | SubRegion | Sauternais | | Appellation | Sauternes | | UPC Code(s) | 000222208864, 086266000541, 088156006619, 3277031706134, 3364420013147, 3447211032005, 3447211112004, 346817925236, 3700266210249, 4000122824474, 732511017627, 872438834119 |
| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 92.3 pts. and median of 93 pts. in 477 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by L Wilson on 2/5/2024 & rated 84 points: Good but while there’s an abundance of apple, blood orange, and licorice fruit on nose and palate. Very good boytritis yeast and greasy baked bread. Hold until 2026 (?) (1519 views) | | | Tasted by abelicious on 12/7/2023: Drink more Sauternes! Carmel. Graham cracker. Perfect with chocolate mousse and bay leaf ice cream. (1783 views) | | | Tasted by Bladeelover333 on 11/23/2023 & rated 88 points: Had this on thanksgiving and I liked it. :D (1530 views) | | | Tasted by Odedis.Wine.reviews on 11/14/2023 & rated 96 points: Dark golden in color with a gorgeous nose.
Medium plus in body with high acidity to balance the sugars.
Showing honey, yellow apples, apricots, tropical fruits, spices, mangoes and honeydew.
Long finish with honey and brown sugar.
What a fabulous tasting sweet wine from Bordeaux. Delicious right out of the bottle.
This 20 year old is showing great complexity at this point. A fantastic sweet wine. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel.
I've had a few different vintages of this wine and this is one of the better vintages I've had.
Gorgeous by itself as a dessert.
13.5% alcohol by volume.
96 points.
$80. (1964 views) | | | Tasted by dcwino on 11/4/2023 & rated 91 points: Grand Jury du Vin - Republic of Georgia; 11/1/2023-11/9/2023 (Republic of Georgia then stopover in Paris and Dijon): Super concentrated sweet yellow fruit, apricot dominates, also mango, peach, honey, crème brulee and sweet spices. Exceptional concentration but a bit heavy and one dimensional. (2620 views) | | | Tasted by mtaczak on 8/20/2023 & rated 91 points: tasty but a bit heavy, could use more acidity. developing nice notes but still not mature (2081 views) | | | Tasted by liber on 8/13/2023 & rated 92 points: 10th of 12, pnp, perfect cork and level, lovely and nuanced, surprisingly fresh given caramel overtones, just fresh enough, plateau, 10+ years. F (17.5). (1636 views) | | | Tasted by wmccone54 on 7/23/2023 & rated 89 points: Not sure if I missed it on the first bottle back in 2021, or this is an outlier…beautiful wine but it seems to be lacking acidity to provide balance. Serving temperature had little effect. (1768 views) | | | Tasted by danielbleier on 6/2/2023 & rated 93 points: at full maturity - honey and toffee mixed with apricot and honeysuckle notes. (1780 views) | | | Tasted by Cailles on 5/7/2023 & rated 92 points: Bordeaux 2003 – 20 Years On – 33 Reds: All wines tasted blind, not decanted (some wines would have needed it). Observations: 1) 2003 is not a good vintage. The wines don’t have the depth and elegance of good years. But I was positively surprised, that while it’s clearly a hot year, there are less overripe, over-extracted and prematurely dying wines than in 09/10. Still, there is no comparison to how Chateauxs handle hot years today. 2) Compared to five other vintage retrospectives, the 2003 came in last place (lower average score than 2011), with just Chateau Margaux reaching a group score above 95pts. 3) Margaux wines showed best, with the typical immediate charm, while St. Estephe and Pauillac have potential but will need more time (and/or would have needed more air). 4) Right bank wines did not show as good with some alcohol showing and a few wines being on a downhill path. I would not chase 2003 right banks.
Four Sauternes at the end of a long tasting. The best, no surprise, was the Yquem (95pts). As usual, Yquem is miles ahead of the other Sauternes in terms of freshness, airiness, perfectly combined with aromatic density and purity. It might not be as airy and sharp as the best vintages but still showed great tonight. The Guiraud (92pts) showed complex and quite fresh just missing a bit of precision and that extra airiness. A rather sweet La Tour Blanche (90pts) and Rieussec (87pts) were both quite dark in color and quite evolved with the Rieussec showing even some signs of oxidation. Overall, all the 2003 showed a bit better than I would have expected.
Decanting: A short decant should do the job.
Group average: 90.3 pts (3091 views) | | | Tasted by chatters on 4/25/2023: En Primeur campaign for the 2022 vintage Day Four (Bordeaux): Wood glue, apricot, sweet spice, cream, fleshy, a little toffee apple, clean, yum despite leading off with that wood glue note. (2021 views) | | | Tasted by GuanYu on 3/21/2023 & rated 91 points: Dark gold color. Dried apricot, butterscotch, toffee and honey. Good acidity and viscous texture. A little too syrupy, and therefore heavy, to drink more than a glass. (1765 views) | | | Tasted by sirpat00 on 3/20/2023 & rated 80 points: Grand Bordeaux 2003 horizontal tasting (Fribourg): Bordeaux 2003 vintage horizontal hosted by a private collector and moderated by Jean-Marc Quarin. Main observations: 1/ Average quality is acceptable, but weighted down by various low-lights, esp. on the right bank. 2/ In general a tannic vintage, lacking balance. 3/ Top 3 wines were Lafite, Mouton and Margaux (all 95). See the tasting story for a complete overview and additional vintage comments.
Tasting note:
Burned sugar and Cognac-like features, but with dominant off-notes. (2250 views) | | | Tasted by NY Wino on 2/1/2023 & rated 93 points: Drank from 750 ml. Deep golden color, very rich, mouthcoating nectar like fruit with a long delicious finish (2046 views) | | | Tasted by Cabernet4me2 on 1/17/2023 & rated 93 points: This has just been such a delightful wine thoughout its life, and continues to shine.
We drank next to a 2001 Rieussec from a 750 and this little split was the WOTN.. just blew it out of the water.
The '03 Guiraud is almost dark caramel in color and has a gorgeous bouquet, on the palate its mostly an intermingling of apricot, pear, with only a hint of sweetness and great viscosity. (2385 views) | | | Tasted by vinero on 1/2/2023 & rated 93 points: Fabulous. With foie gras, unchanged since last TN from 2018. Very dense, sweet and exotic. (1807 views) | | | Tasted by wineappellation on 12/20/2022 & rated 91 points: Rich developing notes mingling with intense dried fruits. Dried apple, apricot, dried mango, dried fig, botrytised notes, sweet spices, honey and toffee, walnut toast, caramel cream brulee. Started lucious and palate-coating, it gets fresher and lifting towards the finish. This mature Guiraud matches just perfectly with hearty savory dishes. (1903 views) | | | Tasted by logos on 11/29/2022 & rated 79 points: 1/2. rich marmelady nez and taste; very aromatic, touch honeyed bitter almond, good botrytis. ripe apricoty savour with good grip is delicious and satisfying. very sweet, almost too much for its acidity, but otherwise well-balanced and long with harmonious, tad bitter finish. should hold for several years; may improve slightly. (2197 views) | | | Tasted by liber on 9/30/2022 & rated 93 points: 8th and 9th of 12, pnp, perfect cork and level, improbably dark, but given colour surprisingly fresh and nuanced in rich way characteristic of vintage, plateau, 10+ years. F+ (18)......2nd bottle on 3/10 marginally fresher and more nuanced. (2110 views) | | | Tasted by hoservin on 9/3/2022 & rated 93 points: Honeysuckle, orange marmalade, apricot, lemon zest, toasted almonds and spice aromas and flavors. Very long finish with good balance. Served with an Italian plum tart. (1709 views) | | | Tasted by James Kim on 8/27/2022: A Night of Rochioli (Mostly West Block) (Classic Dallas): Late addition to the night to accompany a lemon tart. From 375 ml. Botrytis spice on nose with honey and stone fruits. Palate with honey, ripe apricots, peaches, botrytis spice. Decent acids keep the wine from being cloying. More lively than I was expecting given the vintage. Enjoyed this and it worked with lemon tart. (2104 views) | | | Tasted by winesteward on 8/24/2022 & rated 92 points: Pretty much immortal. Rich, persistent, honey, brown sugar, baked apple. Candied orange/marmalade. Has a good deal of freshness about it making it quite easy to drink. Had no trouble at all dealing with a tarte tatin. (2162 views) | | | Tasted by redz on 8/10/2022 & rated 93 points: Still young and delicious. Coravin rocks for Sauternes; enjoying a 20 year old bottle over a few weeks for a couple bucks a glass. (Port is a little trickier, all that sediment. Can corvin about a half bottle, then better pull the cork) (1991 views) | | | Tasted by Rwhfly on 8/9/2022 & rated 92 points: Silky and unctuous! (1824 views) | | | Tasted by tedcholl on 8/2/2022 & rated 94 points: This Sauternes is in a great spot right now and a wonderful match to my palate. 750 ml bottle. Copper in color. Dried apricot, orange marmalade, vanilla. Long finish and a wonderful mouthfeel. Don't generally prefer sweeter wines but Sauternes is in a class by itself. Glad to have another bottle! (1865 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| Château Guiraud Producer websiteChâteau GuiraudChateau Guiraud is one of the largest estates in Sauternes and makes a Premier Grand Cru Classé Sauternes. For much of the 19th and 20th centuries the 300-acre estate, which includes 210 acres of vineyards, was owned by a single family, the Guirauds, who earned the estate a reputation for outstanding wine. In 2006 the estate was purchased by four business partners who have continued to produce prestigious wines. Vineyards are planted with 65% Semillon and 35% Sauvignon Blanc, which is a notably high percentage of Sauvignon Blanc by the standards of the region. On average the vines are 30 years old. Nearly 10,000 bottles of Chateau Guiraud are produced annually. The estate also produces a dry white wine of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon.
Château Guiraud recently earned organic farming certification, becoming the first of the Premiers Grands Crus Classés in the 1855 Bordeaux classification to do so. Winemaker Xavier Planty says the decision to adopt organic viticultural methods has helped shape the style of the property’s wines, putting greater emphasis on purity, intensity and elegance.France Vins de France (Office National Interprofessionnel des Vins ) | Pages Vins, Directory of French Winegrowers | French Wine (Wikipedia)
Wine Scholar Guild vintage ratings
2018 vintage: "marked by a wet spring, a superb summer and a good harvest"
2019 vintage reports
2021: "From a general standpoint, whether for white, rosé or red wines, 2021 is a year marked by quality in the Rhône Valley Vineyards. Structured, elegant, fresh and fruity will be the main keywords for this new vintage."
2022 harvest: idealwine.info | wine-searcher.comBordeaux Bordeaux Wine Guide
Vins Bordeaux (Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux)
History of Bordeaux
History of 1855 Bordeaux Classification
"2009 is all about ripeness, with wines impressively packed with ripe fruit and high alcohol levels. They are showy, in-your-face, and full of pleasure. The 2010s have the fruit and alcohol levels of the 2009s, but with a compelling freshness on the finish that balances the fruit and provides a perfect sense of structure." - Ben Nelson
"2016 is a landmark vintage in certain spots of Bordeaux and it should be remembered as one of the most inspired campaigns of the last 40-50+ years." -Jon Rimmerman
"The quality of red Bordeaux in 2016 was universally lauded – although the response to the en primeur campaign was muted. Quantity was high too, with the equivalent of 770 million bottles of wine produced. An exceptionally dry summer with cool nights eventually, thanks to mid September rain, resulted in small, thick-skinned, ripe grapes, and the wines are marked by high tannin and acidity, with superb aromatic fragrance." - Jancis Robinson
"2017 was complicated, but there are some excellent wines. Expect plenty of freshness and drinkability from wines that will offer excellent value, and others that will rival 2016 in terms of ripeness and ageability. But they are likely to be the exception not the rule, making careful selection key." - Jane Anson
"In the past, a vintage such as 2022 may have been overripe, raisined and low in acidity but 2022 had a sneaky little reservoir in its back pocket - a near perfect marriage of cool/cold/rain the previous winter and the previous vintage that literally soaked the soils (a key to why 2022 is not 2003...or 1893)." - Jon RimmermanSauternes Le Grand Crus Classés de Sauternes et Barsac 1855 (Crus Classés de Sauternes et Barsac) - Read more about Sauternes, Barsac and its wines
– Read more about the 1855 Sauternes Barsac Classification
Forty kilometres south of Bordeaux, Sauternes is an AOC that includes together 5 communes, including Barsac. For centuries, humans have been patiently learning to master this region's climate, soils and grape varieties. But Mother Nature did a good job laying the foundation. The Sauternes terroir is distinguished by a geological predisposition to gravel and pebbles that cover limestone streaked with veins of clay. In the communes of Fargues and Sauternes, a layer of hardpan (iron-oxide cemented sand) in which vines flourish can be found. The vineyards at the highest elevations and farthest from the river have the best terroirs and produce the majority of the Crus Classés, including the monumental Château Yquem.Sauternes wines are made from Sémillon (80% of vines planted) and Sauvignon (15%) grapes. A bit of Muscadelle occasionally is used to give the wines an untamed touch. Sauternes have an "aged gold" colour that is denser and darker than other dessert wines. When they age, they develop a stunning amber colour. The nose has aromas of flowers and fruit that melt together to create a bouquet of remarkable complexity and balance. The primary aromas include almond, quince, mango, pineapple, stewed peach, dried apricot and passion fruit. There are also floral notes, with touches of linden, acacia, mimosa and honeysuckle. And as is typical with Sémillon, there are also notes of beeswax, almond and hazelnut. In the mouth, Sauternes wines have a powerful style that is viscous but extremely elegant. Its strong sweetness is captivating. Finally, its aromatic finish is something that simply must be experienced.
2013 Vintage Notes:
"the extractive ratios in th[is] year are in the phenomenal range and there's ripeness/botrytis to cover two treks around the globe [...] so appealing is the immediacy of the wines. Many can be enjoyed now for their sheer joy and delicious nature. [Some] should also age" - Jon Rimmerman
2014 Vintage Notes:
"a golden vintage for Sauternes. It may not have the depth or weight of 2010, but it has some of the richness. What has set 2014 apart is the intense lime and lemon flavors that cut into any overblown cloying character and allow both the fruit and the honeyed noble rot to sing." - Wine Enthusiast |
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