Château Climens Sauternes-Barsac 2016 - 1er Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

By unanimous agreement, Climens is the finest of the Barsac wines: the nature of its soil, built 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 considering the caliber of the men and women who have oversee it (today, Bérénice Lurton), in the extraordinary, even transcendent finesse of its aromas.

Decanter

About the wine:

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.

Guide des Vins Gault & Millau

About the estate:

Climens is undoubtedly the most refined and sweetest of the Barsac wines. Grown on an exceptional, virtually contiguous plot of land, Sémillon is the estate’s sole grape variety.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

With a pale lemon-gold color, Château Climens 2016 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

About the estate:

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

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

About the estate:

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 with 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 is also key to this success: depending on the various lots harvested with varying degrees of botrytis, Bérénice Lurton, alongside her director Frédéric Nivelle, crafts masterful blends that are true works of art. Aware of the viticultural and cultural changes of recent years, Bérénice Lurton has committed her vineyard to a transition to biodynamic farming.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

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 dense, creamy, and perfectly balanced. Such class and charm! A salty touch on the finish. A promising wine to watch over time. 2026–2061

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About the wine:

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 feel fresh and lively. It could become even more impressive as it ages. It has the potential to age for at least three decades.

Anthocyanes - Yohan Castaing

About the wine:

A beautifully complex and precise nose, with elegant, fresh aromas of pear, peach, mango, linden blossom, menthol, and a hint of exotic fruit. Delicate on the palate with a lovely texture; this Château Climens is more restrained than usual, yet still packs plenty of power. A lovely, lingering finish. A light and fresh finish. What aromatic brilliance! A wine with great aging potential.