Wine Advisor
Climens 1986
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
A totally compelling Climens and to my mind, every bit as good as the 1988, the 1986 is probably the best Climens made since their spectacular 1971. It is still light gold in color, with an expansive bouquet of new oak, oranges, pineapples, and other tropical fruits. In the mouth, the great richness seems all the more impressive because of the wine's remarkable clarity and definition. There is as much botrytis in the 1986 as in the 1988. Despite the intensity and extract levels, this sweet wine comes across as crisp and relatively light. The 1986 is a stunning example of Climens at its very best. Anticipated maturity: 1994-2010. Last tasted, 6/93.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
First tasted in June 2004. After the triumphant 1988, 89 and 90 this was a bit of a disappointment. A relatively light colour for a 1986. The nose is a little mean, with note of lemon and passion fruit. Does not have as much vitality as expected. The palate is balanced, minerally with a respectable level of botrytis. Notes of orange-zest and apricot mixed with coconut on the finish. Moderate length, slightly bitter on the finish. Good but not great. Perversely a better bottle that had been opened for two days. This is much better than the bottle sampled a couple of years ago. A languid kind of nose that creeps up on you: honey, lemongrass, white peach and a touch of coconut. Hazelnut develops after about ten minutes. Very cohesive on the full-bodied palate. Very good weight and lots of botrytis. Finishes with notes of grapefruit, pear and clear honey. Very fine indeed. I need a representative bottle of this.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
A totally compelling Climens and every bit as good as the 1988. It is probably the best Climens made since their spectacular 1971. Still light gold in color, it has an expansive bouquet of new oak, oranges, pineapples, and other tropical fruits. In the mouth, there is great richness that seems all the more impressive because of the wine's remarkable clarity and definition. There is as much botrytis in the 1986 as in the 1988. Despite the intensity and extract levels, this sweet wine comes across as crisp and relatively light. The 1986 is a stunning example of Climens at its very best. Anticipated maturity: Now-2010. Last tasted, 1/91.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at Chateau Climens. A lucid golden colour. This has a more “broody” nose that demands some coaxing from the glass. Seville orange, marmalade, a touch of quince and lanolin. The palate is stunning: immense power, stunning focus and balance, superb tautness and length, really fanning out into a spectrum of flavours towards the finish with notes of Clementine, apricot and a hint of ginger. Wonderful length and poise – one of the greatest Climens of the decade. Drink now-2040+. Tasted April 2009.
About the Producer
Château Climens is a wine producer located in the Sauternes village of Barsac on the left bank of the Gironde river, south of Bordeaux. It was classified as a first growth in the 1885 Classification of Sauternes and Barsac alongside other châteaux such as Guiraud and Suduiraut. Climens is one of only a handful of châteaux in Bordeaux that produces its wines from only one grape: Semillon. The wine is characterized by fresh citrus notes, white flowers and spice, which becomes more honeyed and concentrated with age. Semillon thrives on the limestone-rich soils in the vineyards. Botrytis develops on the grapes because of the misty mornings, humidity and warmer afternoons that are typical during the months before harvest. If the grapes are not of the highest quality, or if botrytis has not properly formed, owner Bérénice Lurton and her team will not produce their top wine, the grand vin Château Climens. They have been bold enough in the past to declassify an entire harvest of fruit – either selling the grapes off to other producers rather than bottling as their own or releasing wines under secondary labels. The grapes are harvested and brought into the winery, plot by plot, where they are gently pressed before fermentation in oak barrels. Maturation takes place in French oak barrels on lees for about 20 months. Wines from the best vintages can last decades – a recent tasting of the 1921 vintage revealed a rich, balanced and zesty wine. Château Climens has been owned by the Lurton family since the 1970s (when it was acquired by Lucien Lurton), and in 1992 the estate came under the control of Bérénice Lurton (his daughter). In 2010, Climens began to practice biodynamic winemaking and viticulture, and the 2014 vintage was the first to be entirely certified as biodynamic. Chemical sprays were replaced with natural preparations and plant infusions, from flowers such as chamomile and juniper which are grown on the estate and dried in the attics above the chais.
