Petit Guiraud
2016
Producer
Vignobles Comtes von Neipperg
Blend
35% Sauvignon Blanc
65% Semillon
65% Semillon
Country
France
Region
Bordeaux
Appellation
Sauternes
UPC
0 15643 58162 5
Vinification
Fermentation: Partly in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats and partly in barrels. The different batches are fermented until they reach equilibrium (about three weeks), the nature of which depends on their plot selection.
Ageing: In vats and barrels during about 12 months.
Ageing: In vats and barrels during about 12 months.
Vineyard
Château Guiraud got Organic Farming certification in early 2011 and has managed the vineyard using organic methods since 1996.
History
Members of the Franconian aristocracy with a long political and agricultural tradition, the Counts von Neipperg family line can be traced back to the 12th century. Representing some eight centuries of winegrowing and winemaking experience, today Count Stephan von Neipperg manages the 9 family-owned estates, 4 of which are in Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux: Château Canon La Gaffelière, La Mondotte, Clos de l’Oratoire, Château Peyreau.
Tasting notes
Petit Guiraud seduces by a incredibly fresh fruit: grapefruit, passion fruit, pineapple. Thanks to a very rigorous plot selection, Petit Guiraud expressese something different of the Château Guiraud's terroir. The wine is floral and feminine, very tasty and light.
Harvest
Manual picking only, by several sortings on botrytised berries. A minimum potential charge of 20% alcohol is required to start the harvest.
Description
Making luxury accessible is the raison d'être of Petit Guiraud. Following vinification with the property’s Grand Cru, the second wine is a blend of wines from several batches, selected for their style. Aged in oak barrels or in stainless steel vats, the main characteristic of the second wine is its freshness and the fact that it can be enjoyed relatively young. Petit Guiraud thus makes the pleasure of drinking this modern wine available to all.
Terroir
Soils: sandy gravels 80%, 20% clay gravels.
Subsoils: deep translucent sand, pure gravels crossed by red clay and limestone marls, fossilized oyster beds and red and white clay.
Subsoils: deep translucent sand, pure gravels crossed by red clay and limestone marls, fossilized oyster beds and red and white clay.
Estate
Château Guiraud, which dates back to the 15th century, is one of the jewels of the Sauternes appellation. Certified organic, the estate has over 100 hectares of vines (65% Sémillon and 35% Sauvignon Blanc). Stephan von Neipperg has been co-owner of the château since 2006. This is fully in keeping with his background, since his family continues to make sweet wine at their estate in Germany.