Castle Guiraud - Sauternes 2001

Wine Spectator

96 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe9/15/2004

Golden yellow. Butterscotch and vanilla, with hints of ripe apples. Full-bodied, with lots of sweetness and a spicy apricot and honey aftertaste. Excellent concentration and balance. Loads of botrytis character on the finish. Intense. Hard not to drink now because it's so luscious and rich. Best after 2008. 11,665 cases made. (JS)

Decanter Magazine

4 / 20

byMichael Schusterthe8/6/2004

Toasty oak nose with a dense, honeyed fruit ; concentrated with a fine flavour, a little dried by its oak at the moment, but the high proportion of Sauvignon blancs gives a particularly zesty, appetising quality.

Wine Advocate

94 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe6/30/2004

A medium gold color is accompanied by notes of caramelized oranges, citrus, honeysuckle, creme brulee, and smoke. Full-bodied and opulent, with tremendous intensity, good acidity, and a persistent finish that lasts nearly a minute, this large-scaled, thick, heady Guiraud is one of the finest examples from this estate that I have ever tasted. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2025.

Wine Advocate

91-94 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/2003

gorgeous example of Guiraud, the 2001 boasts complex aromas of honeysuckle, butterscotch, toasty new oak, tropical fruit, and sauteed butter. Powerful, dense, full-bodied, and beautifully delineated, with loads of botrytis, this is an impressive, backward, yet tremendously promising wine. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2025.

La Revue du Vin de France

4 / 5

the6/30/2002

La robe est brillante et d'un bel or. Le nez associe avec un grand charme les notes d'agrumes confits (citron, mandarine) et la bouche se développe avec beaucoup d'onctuosité et de volume, avec, comme souvent chez Guiraud, une certaine retenue, qui demandera plusieurs années de vieillissement pour s'évanouir et développer toute la grâce du cru.

GaultMillau

96-100 / 100

the6/30/2002

Si un premier échantillon s'est révélé defectueux, le dégustation des diverses barriques au château a montré un vin très élégant, superbement botrytisé, beaucoup plus fin que d'habitude, tout en gardant sa légendaire puissance. Ce sera une grande réussite.

Decanter Magazine

4 / 5

the6/30/2002

Elegantly aromatic. Rich, creamy and complex, with real weight and power. This wine promises a long evolution. Ready from 2009.

Le Point

17.50 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe5/30/2002

Bel or frais, un bouquet net, fruits mûrs et roti superbe, bouche dense, habillé par le boisé; un style racé, raffiné, tout en élégance, bien construit, long en finale sur des notes capiteuses. Ouverture: 2010. Garde: 50 ans

Vinum

17-20 / 20

the4/30/2002

D'une grande opulence et race, le bois disparaît complètement derrière le corps incroyablement savoureux, massif et charnu. Il doit vieillir longtemps. (2012 à 2025)

Wine Advocate

90-92 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/2002

Wine Spectator

95-100 / 100

the3/28/2002

You can spread this on toast. Lots of lemon rind, pineapple and honey on the nose. Full-bodied, very oily and spicy, yet backward and not giving much now. Nonetheless, superb potential.