Wine Advisor
Climens 2007
View analysis
Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted single blind against its peers. Chateau Climens always tends to go into its shell after bottling, which is probably why I was not dishing out an even higher score to this still, spellbinding Barsac. The 2007 is endowed with a lovely bouquet: very pure with honey, a touch of orange-blossom and a touch of quince. The palate is very well-balanced with great purity and a dash of spice as well as a lovely viscous, botrytis-laden finish that possesses awesome weight and persistency. This is a slice of heaven in a glass, but it definitely needs time to reveal its true potential. Tasted January 2011.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted twice at UGC tastings, it was actually under blind conditions that the Climens 2007 re-confirmed its status as the best Sauternes of the vintage. It retains an ethereal bouquet of honey, white peach, apricot and orange-blossom with ethereal purity and joie de vivre. The palate is medium-bodied with exquisite balance and essence of mineralite. It balances on tiptoe with perfect acidity that effortlessly counterpoises those layers of rich honeyed fruit; the finish taut, vibrant and with a sense of place. This is outstanding in every way. Perfect? I would not bet against it deserving that loaded adjective one day in the future. Drink 2015-2050.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Multiple tastings of barrels and two micro-blends with Berenice Lurton at the chateau and each one more breath-taking than the last! An intensely minerally nose with astounding delineation and poise with hints of wild honey, orange-blossom and a little almond. The palate displays brilliant balance, so much so that the 150-160gms/L residual is barely noticeable. A sublime viscous, honeyed, peach-tinged finish that leaves the palate tingling with glee. To quote my own words: "it encapsulates everything you love about Sauternes." Bravo Berenice. Drink 2010-2050+ Tasted April 2008.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The final blend (although not blended in the cellars.) The nose has certainly closed down since last year, tightly coiled. However the palate is superb: brilliant definition and weight of fruit. Incredibly pure with notes of honey, fresh apricots, a touch of citrus lemon and passion fruit, wonderful tension and length on the finish. Perhaps the wine of the vintage? Awesome purity and length. The wine of the vintage although I think it will close down after bottling…you have been warned! Drink 2015-2050. Tasted April 2009.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2007 Climens has a lighter nose than other vintages, very well defined, airy but gaining intensity with time in the glass. Yellow plum, hints of jasmine emerge with time. The palate is very well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, taut and minerally, lively with a tensile, sapid finish that keeps you coming back for more. This is laden with potential and will repay extended cellaring - if you can resist temptation. Tasted at the Climens vertical at the château in April 2022.
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.
