Château Guiraud, a Sauternes Premier Grand Cru Classé in the 1855 classification, has just obtained organic farming certification. It is the first and the only one of the Premiers Grands Crus Classés in the 1855 Bordeaux classification to obtain such certification, which was initiated by director, Xavier Planty, in 1995. Guiraud’s decision to adopt organic viticultural methods is shaping the new style of the property’s wines, putting greater emphasis on purity, intensity and elegance... The annual production for the first growth is about 100.000 bottles. Some really bad years (1991 and 1993) No classified growth has been produced.
The first growth is produced from a 85ha of Sauternes appellation vines.
Only Semillon (65%) and Sauvignon (35%) are planted at Guiraud with a pruning "à cots" or "in fan" for the Semillons and long branches for the Sauvignons.
The density of plantation is 6660 vine per ha (Root stock Riparia 33 09, 101 14,161 49). The average age of the vines is 35-40 years. The average yield is 12hl/ha. The maximum yield allowed by the appellation is 25hl/ha.
Harvest is only done hand picking by successive waves through the vineyard (2 to 7 selections), picking only the botrytised berries. A minimum of potential alcohol (20°) must be reached before starting the harvest.
The fermentation is made in new oak barrels over a period of three weeks to two months. Different batches are fermentated until they reach their own equilibrium which depends upon their selection.
Chaptalisation, cryoextraction and any other techniques used to enrich the wine are absolutely prohibited.
The aging in barrels lasts 24 months.
