2022 Chateau Closiot 'Bonneau' Barsac, France

About This Wine

Bonneau is the signature Barsac of Château Closiot, an eight-hectare estate that ranks among the smallest in the appellation. Jean-Marie and Maine Guffens, the Mâconnais winemakers behind Guffens-Heynen, acquired the property in 2017, drawn by a lifelong passion for the great sweet wines of the Sauternais.

The wine comes from the Clos Bonneau parcel surrounding the château: red clay studded with pebbles over the limestone of the Barsac plateau. These relatively cool soils give the wine a mineral freshness that balances its richness. Vines average around 50 years of age, and Bonneau is bottled only in vintages that meet the estate's standard; none was made in 2021.

Sémillon makes up nearly the entire blend, with a touch of Muscadelle. The team harvests under the first morning sun to concentrate the botrytis, selecting berries over six passes in ten days. The wine spends a year in barrel, half of it new oak, followed by twelve months in vat to preserve its tension.

Tasting Notes

The 2022 shows a bright golden color and an expressive nose of honey, saffron, jasmine and orange blossom, layered with roasted pineapple, dried apricot and ripe peach. The palate is round and glossy, its sweetness carrying notes of marmalade and ginger, lifted by lively acidity that is a real achievement in a warm vintage. The finish is long and finely balanced. Guffens compares it to his 2018, with a little extra freshness.

Serving and Pairing

Serve chilled, around 50 to 54°F. Pour it with foie gras, Roquefort and other blue cheeses, or fruit tarts. Delicious now, the 2022 should continue to develop over the next 15 to 20 years.