Seduced by several old vintages of Yquem during his first visit to Bordeaux in 1976, Jean-Marie Guffens became a life-long fanatic of Sauternes. Over 40 years later—and after having established two iconic properties in Burgundy—he was given the opportunity to purchase the historic Château Closiot from Bernard Sirot (a well-known Belgian wine journalist). From what we hear, Guffens could not pack his suitcase fast enough.
Château Closiot covers eight hectares on the formidable Clos Bonneau, an exceptional terroir where red earth dotted with pebbles rests on the limestone base typical of the Barsac plateau. Surrounded by Climens, Doisy-Védrines and Coutet, the clos is planted almost exclusively to Semillon, and includes a generous four-hectare parcel of 100-year-old vines.
With just two vintages under his belt, Guffens has hit the ground running, producing “sweet wines of great beauty” as well as the “greatest dry white of the Barsac region” (La Revue du Vin de France). Rather than using the morning mists, Guffens prefers harvesting under the first rays of the sun to obtain concentrated botrytis, and his team harvest a meticulous selection of berries in six successive pickings spread over 10 days. In the cellar, the juice is aged in 50% new oak for one year before the wine goes back into vats for 12 months to preserve the freshness and tension typical of the great terroirs of the region.
A Barsac of extraordinary aromatic intensity, concentration and underlying energy. The nose opens with notes of jasmine, honey and yellow flowers alongside roasted apricot and peach. On the palate, expect a beautiful array of sweet citrus, quince paste and candied ginger, all slowly tapering to a long caressing finish that remains wonderfully refreshing.