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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 93.9 pts. and median of 94 pts. in 130 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by DanielAVTL on 3/8/2024 & rated 93 points: * Opened 5 hours before serving.
A wonderful Climens, paired beautifully at the end of our meal with both dessert (Tart Tatin) and cheese platter (Truffle Camembert, Stilton).
Color - bright gold core, hay on the rim.
Nose - Pronounced floral notes, honeysuckle and herbs, with an initial backdrop of peach and toasted nuts. Developed beautifully in the glass with every whiff, adding notes of pine, lemon and even nutmeg. Stunning complexity and nonstop intrigue and development.
Mouth - Drinking beautifully with harmonious, balanced layers of peach, apricot and sweet pear, and a full, structured body. Finishes long with rich spices and zest, leaving you wanting more.
93 points on the night. A stunner, with decades left of pleasure to give (but no need to wait). (588 views) | | | Tasted by sapphofaires@gmail.com on 11/23/2023 & rated 93 points: Delicious, mellowed into a nutty flavor with a hint of apricot (1314 views) | | | Tasted by Echinosum on 11/6/2023: Served at a dinner party, and I was a bit squiffy by the time we came to this, so no detailed notes. Utterly delicious. Still with years of life. (1306 views) | | | Tasted by Tim Heaton on 8/24/2023: PnP served non-blind; color and fill vg. This was showing fully mature, with a coppery gold color - still bright, clear. Typical aromas of peach, ripe melon, candied spices, etc. Medium-bodied on the palate that showed avg vigor/tension, finish and complexity. At this stage, it's on the backside of its preferred curve, though clearly it'll last several more years. That said, I can't see any reason to hold it any longer. Elegant, and understated. 14,3% abv. recommended (2229 views) | | | Tasted by sirpat00 on 7/29/2023 & rated 97 points: Candid fruit of apricot, green raisins, fresh blood orange, almonds, white chocolate. Crips acidity with a nicely creamy texture, in perfect balance. A consistently great wine at the peak of its drinking window. (1712 views) | | | Tasted by Cailles on 6/8/2023 & rated 94 points: The third time tasting this beauty. Beautiful saffron notes at the core, lots of fruits, good freshness and cut. Unfortunately, I had enough wine when this was served and couldn‘t really open up anymore to get into it. I‘m sure I would have rated it higher. (2194 views) | | | Tasted by sirpat00 on 6/2/2023 & rated 96 points: Saffron spice, candid apricot, fresh apricot and quince. On the palate distinctly melon fruit with crisp acidity and perfect balance. This continues to perform at a consistently high level and is in the perfect drinking spot right now, balancing sweetness with freshness and aromatic intensity. (1473 views) | | | Tasted by jlgnml on 4/8/2023 & rated 97 points: OMG. Beautiful youthful color. Incredible nose lingering over you for the entire time you enjoyed the glass. Great palate weight. Long finish apricot, butter, cinnamon. BUY. Long life ahead if you can find it. (1418 views) | | | Tasted by Peter Spijker on 2/27/2023 & rated 94 points: Lovely wine, but I'm more and more realising that I prefer a sweet Riesling over Sauternes. This was a bit high in alcohol, with dried peach, nectarine, orange caramel, honey, pineapple, saffron. Sweetness was balanced by a good amount of acidity, it did make for a great pairing with dessert. This will keep, but I reckon its drinking very well right now. (1407 views) | | | Tasted by sirpat00 on 2/4/2023 & rated 96 points: A beautifully aged Sauternes at the peak of its drinking window. Plenty going on on the herbal and spicy front with chamomile, saffron and fresh herbs. Candid fruits of dried apricot. Honey flavor makes up the brunt of the sweet notes. Hints of white flowers. Excellent viscosity, just slightly creamy texture with sufficient acidity. Second bottle from a 12-case this year with consistent result. (1636 views) | | | Tasted by sirpat00 on 1/7/2023 & rated 96 points: A slight tough of saffron, candid fruit, dried apricot quince and sweeter variations of apricot confiture. Infusion of Alpine herbs, white flowers. On the palate the perfect amounts of sweetness and acidity with nicely creamy texture to keep it signature Sauternes and fresh at the same time. (1582 views) | | | Tasted by Cailles on 1/3/2023 & rated 96 points: No notes taken. This showed great. Lots of expression from start to finish, good aromatic depth with a beautiful profile of spices, saffron to complement the quince/apricot fruit core, more in the dry spectrum, some tertiary notes of toffee and some herbs. This has hit a first nice level of maturity with a beautiful harmony between all components. Climens is not my favorite Sauternes as the missing Sauvignon Blanc usually leads to a slightly more cloying/oily texture. Still, this is a fantastic wine and vintage for Climens and should reach even higher highs in 10, 20, 30 years. (1809 views) | | | Tasted by Cailles on 12/14/2022 & rated 95 points: No notes taken. Tasted double blind. Superb texture and structural frame, very light and fresh with a very good sweetness and freshness balance. All the textbook aromas are there, first and foremost the typical Sauternes saffron botrytis notes. Additional layers of quince, dried apricot, toasty and toffee notes and a herbal component which lends additional freshness. At first not perfectly clean, this just needed time and air. 95+ pts.
Decanting: Not decanted. 1-2 hours in the decanter needed. (1860 views) | | | Tasted by sirpat00 on 12/8/2022 & rated 94 points: Candid, more dark berry type of fruit of plum but also dried apricot. There were some cardboard-like notes initially which was annoying, but that did dissipate over time. Otherwise nice intensity with saffron, honey, caramel and espresso notes, fresh herbs, hay and dried leaves. A surprisingly fresh, ideally soft palate with a light texture. Fresh green herbal notes are diagonally built into aroma profile which is expanding, adding details and accents. If it wasn’t for the cardboard-like notes initially, this would have been outstanding. I didn’t decant, but will go for a 1h+ decant with the next bottle. (1309 views) | | | Tasted by liber on 4/16/2022 & rated 97 points: 16th half of 24, pnp, perfect cork and level, superb if marginally less electric than last half in June 21, little upside, no rush. VF+ (19). (1824 views) | | | Tasted by Grinner on 2/4/2022 & rated 95 points: "Old Bordeaux" = '86! (Old Home of Woodward): Another wedding year wine for us! Just great from 375 with orange rind, stone fruit, honey / botrytis, hints of nuts and tart pineapple. WOW! Now-2039. (2112 views) | | | Tasted by Iskama on 12/28/2021 & rated 98 points: Next to a 1989 Yquem that tasted flat and a little dull in comparison (perhaps due to poor storage?), this was stunning. It had such amazing freshness and acidity that blind I never would’ve called an 89. So youthful. Flavors of orange marmalade and crème brûlée. A perfect Sauternes for my palate that easily has 20+ years to go in 375ml format. Need more of this. (2035 views) | | | Tasted by liber on 6/28/2021 & rated 98 points: 15th of 24 halves, bright, young, unctuous, fresh, layered, unbelievable persistence and concentration.......sensational and yardstick wine! VFI (19.5). (2579 views) | | | Tasted by sharonandroland on 5/20/2021 & rated 98 points: Close to perfection. Perfect balance of intensity, mouthfeel, concentration, complexity and evolution. Sweet caramel, masala, spice, mazing freshness, sensual, subtle, long.
Joint second in the 1924-2010 Climes tasting. (2652 views) | | | Tasted by Echinosum on 11/30/2020 & rated 93 points: No hurry to drink this yet. Still thick and oily. Amber coloure. So neither over-dark nor thinning out, my usual drink-it-up signs.
Powerful apricot notes, acid nicely in balance, fresh - some are calling marmalade or apple or candied fruit, I think it is the same thing.
It was a ripe year and the style leans a little more towards sauternes in this year, or at least now that it is very mature.
Not blow-you-away quality. But extremely competent and benchmark wine. (2932 views) | | | Tasted by wineappellation on 8/6/2020 & rated 94 points: energetic and vibrant. Beautiful amber, immense orange marmarlade, passion fruit jam, honey syrup, cream brulee, caramel, sweet vanilla, cedar wood.
Salivating acidity, more dusty, mushroomy notes and almond macaron emerged on palate, quite massive but the finish is lifting. Every bite delicious. (2881 views) | | | Tasted by Paul S on 7/17/2020 & rated 94 points: 1989 / 1990 Bordeaux Dinner (Jade Palace, Forum Galleria, Singapore): Absolutely lovely. The nose was classic Climens, with little wafts of honey, almonds, and then dried apricots and candied apples, all these edged with a touch of ferrous mineral. The palate was lovely. Warm, honeyed and delicious, with reams of dried apricot and sweet red apples seasoned with a gentle infusion of spice. This was beautifully balanced and integrated, with a lovely roundness and deliciousness to it, yet it was still always lithe and focused. Great stuff. The warm botrytis influenced 1989 vintage really spoke through this, as did the freshness of the Barsac terroir - a delicious wine, drinking so well now. (3071 views) | | | Tasted by cfk49 on 3/7/2020 & rated 92 points: Lovely, mature Barsac, still holding fruit. Cellared since original release. (2216 views) | | | Tasted by RWG on 12/31/2019 & rated 94 points: super lovely vintage Sauternes, full 750ml. 2nd bottle I've had out of a case. crisp, sweet, perfection. Great with soft cheeses. (2782 views) | | | Tasted by acyso on 12/16/2019 & rated 95 points: Sauternes study (Chicago, IL): Intense, thick, and unctuous, this is the sort of oily Sauternes that you really want when you pop the cork. The botrytis here is significant, and there are a lot of brown sugar flavours as well. The sweetness is very high, especially for a Barsac, and there is a nice mix of assorted dried stone fruits as well. I liked this much more than the 1986. (3766 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Neal Martin
Vinous, A Century of Bordeaux: The Nines (Sep 2019) (9/1/2019)
(Climens Climens Sweet) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (10/16/2017)
(Ch Climens, Gran Reserva Barsac White) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (3/1/2012)
(Ch Climens Barsac White) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (10/28/2010)
(Ch Climens Barsac White) Subscribe to see review text. | By John Gilman
View From the Cellar, Sep/Oct 2009, Issue #23, Sauternes’ Summers of Love- Great Vintages in 2007, 2005 and 2001 Amongst an Embarrassment of Riches in the Last Few Decades
(Château Climens (Barsac)) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Julia Harding, MW
JancisRobinson.com (5/13/2009)
(Ch Climens Barsac White) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (7/11/2004)
(Ch Climens Barsac White) Subscribe to see review text. | By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, July/August 1998, IWC Issue #79
(Chateau Climens Barsac) Subscribe to see review text. | By Neal Martin
Vinous, Magic and Madness: Climens 1912-2020 (Aug 2022)
(Climens Climens Sweet White) Subscribe to see review text. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous and JancisRobinson.com and View From the Cellar. (manage subscription channels) |
| Château Climens Producer website - Read more about Chateau Climens
ABOUT THE PRODUCER
Ch. Climens is one of Sauternes-Barsac’s leading producers of sweet wine. Classified as a Premier Cru or First Growth in 1855 it sits alongside just 10 other Premier Cru estates in Sauternes, only bettered by Ch. d’Yquem, which was granted its own elite classification of Premier Cru Supérieur.
Climens is the only First Growth in Bordeaux to be certified biodynamic (in 2014) and has some of the lowest yields in Sauternes.
The estate is known for its consistency, even in more difficult vintages. Being based in Barsac, it benefits from the limestone bedrock that is thought to contribute to the wine’s overriding elegance, brilliance and depth.
The estate’s origins date back to 1547, but it was when Bordeaux wine merchant Jean Binaud purchased the estate in 1802 that the property’s promise was realised. He recognised the potential of the site and it is his work in the vineyard that is thought to have contributed to the château being awarded First Growth status in 1855.
In 1971 the estate was bought by Bordeaux legend Lucien Lurton (owner of Ch. Brane Cantenac among others). In 1992, his daughter Bérénice Lurton took over the estate aged just 22. It has been her commitment to the estate and sustainable viticulture that has seen Climens become one of the very top-performing estates in Bordeaux.
The wines are all 100% Semillon, with around 3,000 cases of the Grand Vin produced in a good vintage. They also produce a second wine called Cypres de Climens and a dry wine called Asphodèle.
The vineyards is a single block of vines. The soil is a red clay sand (rich in iron) sitting on a bedrock of limestone. The limestone provides natural drainage and a heightened florality and salinity to the wine. The iron brings richness, while the sand brings elegance and brightness.
The château is not afraid to bring production levels right down and even declassify entire vintages if the quality of the grapes is not up to their (very high) standards. No Grand Vin was made in 2020, 2019, 2017, 1993, 1992, 1987 or 1984. Yields can be as low as 4hl/ha.
Grapes are picked typically over a long period (six weeks to two months), selecting only botrytised bunches at optimum ripeness. The wine is fermented over two to three weeks and fermentation halted once a sufficient level of alcohol is reached. The wine is then chilled and racked off its lees. The wine is aged in around 50% new French oak barrique, depending on the vintage.France Vins de France (Office National Interprofessionnel des Vins ) | Pages Vins, Directory of French Winegrowers | French Wine (Wikipedia)
Wine Scholar Guild vintage ratings
2018 vintage: "marked by a wet spring, a superb summer and a good harvest"
2019 vintage reports
2021: "From a general standpoint, whether for white, rosé or red wines, 2021 is a year marked by quality in the Rhône Valley Vineyards. Structured, elegant, fresh and fruity will be the main keywords for this new vintage."
2022 harvest: idealwine.info | wine-searcher.comBordeaux Bordeaux Wine Guide
Vins Bordeaux (Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux)
History of Bordeaux
History of 1855 Bordeaux Classification
"2009 is all about ripeness, with wines impressively packed with ripe fruit and high alcohol levels. They are showy, in-your-face, and full of pleasure. The 2010s have the fruit and alcohol levels of the 2009s, but with a compelling freshness on the finish that balances the fruit and provides a perfect sense of structure." - Ben Nelson
"2016 is a landmark vintage in certain spots of Bordeaux and it should be remembered as one of the most inspired campaigns of the last 40-50+ years." -Jon Rimmerman
"The quality of red Bordeaux in 2016 was universally lauded – although the response to the en primeur campaign was muted. Quantity was high too, with the equivalent of 770 million bottles of wine produced. An exceptionally dry summer with cool nights eventually, thanks to mid September rain, resulted in small, thick-skinned, ripe grapes, and the wines are marked by high tannin and acidity, with superb aromatic fragrance." - Jancis Robinson
"2017 was complicated, but there are some excellent wines. Expect plenty of freshness and drinkability from wines that will offer excellent value, and others that will rival 2016 in terms of ripeness and ageability. But they are likely to be the exception not the rule, making careful selection key." - Jane Anson
"In the past, a vintage such as 2022 may have been overripe, raisined and low in acidity but 2022 had a sneaky little reservoir in its back pocket - a near perfect marriage of cool/cold/rain the previous winter and the previous vintage that literally soaked the soils (a key to why 2022 is not 2003...or 1893)." - Jon RimmermanBarsac Appellation Barsac - Read details and information about Barsac |
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