Château Climens Sauternes-Barsac 2016 - 1er Cru Classé

By unanimous agreement, Climens is the finest of the Barsac wines: the nature of its soil, resting on a limestone base, gives it an extra touch of acidity that perfectly balances its rich body—often quite substantial in recent vintages, which have benefited from a transition to biodynamic viticulture. Yet there remains something mysterious—even when taking into account the skill of the men and women who have overseen it (currently, Bérénice Lurton)—in the extraordinary, even transcendent finesse of its aromas.

My favorite Sauternes! Already magnificent, it will age for decades. A deep golden color, with notes of botrytis on the nose, along with hints of leaves, spices, and lemongrass, and a palate that strikes the perfect balance between richness and freshness. Extremely subtle oak. A wonderful Barsac to enjoy from 2022 through 2060.

Climens is undoubtedly the most refined and sweetest of the Barsac wines. With an exceptional terroir consisting of a single, nearly contiguous plot, Sémillon is the estate’s sole grape variety.

With a pale lemon-gold color, the 2016 Château Climens reveals notes of ripe peach, mango, and melon, with hints of cedar, orange blossom, ginger, and baked bread. Brilliant on the palate with vibrant, energetic fruit and tropical notes, it is framed by fantastic freshness, and the finish is long and creamy. 2021–2049

 

A lively nose with a subtle hint of iron powder. Its sleek, savory palate reveals all the energy of Barsac through fruit of exemplary purity, with a masterfully balanced body.

Château Climens has been owned by Lucien Lurton’s family since 1971. Today, the estate is brilliantly managed by his daughter, Bérénice. Few French sweet wines stand out for a bouquet as pure and elegant as that of this Barsac Premier Cru Classé. It owes its transcendent quality to its exceptional terroir, which produces harvests as rich in sugar as those in Sauternes, but with a palette of aromas that is often more complex and diverse. The team’s expertise also plays a key role in this success: depending on the various lots harvested with varying degrees of botrytis, Bérénice Lurton, together with her director Frédéric Nivelle, creates masterful blends that are true works of art. Aware of the agricultural and cultural changes of recent years, Bérénice Lurton has committed her vineyard to a transition to biodynamic farming.

Golden yellow with green highlights. The bouquet of the 2016 Climens is complex, generous, and very expressive. I detect smoky notes that evoke hints of pistachio and salted caramel. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, creamy, and perfectly balanced. What class and charm! A hint of saltiness on the finish. A promising wine to watch as it ages. 2026–2061

The perfect blend of ripe pineapple, white peaches, nectarines, and a hint of mango, all topped with honey, vanilla, and floral notes. The wine is quite sweet. However, its refined acidity lifts the entire palate, making it fresh and lively. It could become even more impressive as it ages. Aging potential of at least three decades.

A beautifully complex and precise nose, with elegant, fresh aromas of pear, peach, mango, linden blossom, menthol, and a hint of exotic fruits. Delicate on the palate with a lovely body—a Château Climens that is more restrained than usual, yet by no means lacking in power. A very lovely, lingering bitterness on the finish. A light and fresh finish. What aromatic brilliance! A wine that will age beautifully.