CHÂTEAU CLIMENS

1989 1er Cru Classé Barsac

Grapes Sémillon, Sauv Blanc, Muscadelle
Origin France, Bordeaux
District Sauternes-Barsac
Village Barsac
Classification 1er Cru Classé

The 1989 Climens has an even more complex bouquet than the 1990 and perhaps the best bottle that I have encountered. Yellow plum, saffron, quince and a touch of Manuka honey soars on the nose. The palate is medium-bodied with a tangy, eucalyptus-tinged entry, very harmonious and long. Surfeit with energy, this is a fabulous Climens that deserves a place in your cellar or preferably on your dining table. Tasted at the Climens vertical at the château in April 2022. Drinking range: 2022 - 2050 Rating: 98 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Aug 2022)


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The 1989 Climens retains its glorious bouquet of copious scents of dried honey, saffron, barley sugar and gingerbread - so vibrant and engaging. This feels as if it has more vim and vigor than the 1999 tasted alongside. The harmonious palate is full of life and mellifluous in texture, featuring quince and stewed apricot mixed with lemongrass toward the persistent finish. Superb. Tasted from a bottle in my own collection. Drinking range: 2019 - 2045 Rating: 94 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Sept 2019)

Tasted at Chateau Climens. This has a slightly deeper hue than the 1990. The nose is even more defined than the 1990 with quince, barley sugar, dried apricot and a touch of Clementine. The palate is medium-bodied, a great sense of tension and vibrancy, taut, focused with a compelling citrus/white peach, viscous finish that leaves the tongue revivified and ready for another drop. This is unequivocally a superlative Climens that on this occasions just pips the stunning 1990. Classic – immortal! Drink now-2040+ Drinking range: 2009 - 2040 Rating: 97 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Jul 2009)

Green-tinged straw color. Initially less expressive nose opened to show floral, herbal and vanillin notes as well as a pungent minerally quality. Very sweet but very suave, with fresh but perfectly integrated acidity serving to frame and intensify the superb, mineral-and-citric fruit. Can't match the '90 for pure size and power but the harmoniousness of this wine is truly striking. Very, very long and subtle on the aftertaste. A great Climens. I underrated this wine in its early days, as it was overshadowed by the more powerful, more phenolic '90. Rating: 96 Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar (Jul 1998)

Château Climens

Barsac Premier Cru 1855 The name "Climens" appears to be derived from a local dialect word meaning unfertile land. It is one of the two Premier Cru properties in Barsac (the other being Château Coutet), although the golden age for Climens came later after Henri Gounouilhou bought the estate in 1885, guiding it through phlloxera and oidium, managing to expand the vineyards and, on occasions, rivalling even Château d'Yquem. In 1971, Château Climens was purchased by the great Lucien Lurton and is now run by his daughter Bérénice. The 30ha of vineyard are planted entirely with Semillon. The yield for the Grand Vin is very low, averaging 7hl/ha. The grapes are fermented in small barrels (a third new each year) and aged for 20 to 24 months before release.

This wine isn't currently part of a mixed case, but you can always browse our full selection of mixed cases here.
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