Ch. Climens
1st Growth Premier Cru Classe (500ml bottle)
Barsac
2001

The producer

Climens modern history begins in 1971 when it is acquired by Lucien Lurton. From 1992, the estate has been owned and managed by Lucien’s daughter Berenice Lurton. Climens’ 30 hectares of vineyards are located in the south of Barsac close to the small village La Pinesse and planted to 100% Semillon – which is unique for the area. The vineyards – which are located at the highest point of Barsac – were 100% biodynamic from the 2011 vintage (2014 is the first vintage with official certification).

The biodynamic regime seems to have lifted the already ethereal quality of the wines of Climens – fragrant, with intense vinosity the wines retain a wonderfully filigreed elegance and delicacy often not seen in even the best of Sauternes.  Climens is classified ‘Sauternes 1er Cru Classe’ and the wine is barrel fermented followed by around 22 months of maturation in one third new oak barrels.

The wine

Fruit for Climens derives from the estate’s vineyards – average vine age of 38 years – in the south of Barsac. Always 100% Semillon, fermentation takes place in small lots in oak barrels, 30-40% new each year, and is followed by ageing for 20-22 months in oak barrels. The biodynamic regime seems to have lifted the already ethereal quality of the wines of Climens – fragrant, with intense vinosity the wines retain a wonderfully filigreed elegance and delicacy often not seen in even the best of Sauternes. Climens is classified ‘Sauternes 1er Cru Classe’.

We choose our wines based on a range of criteria (see how we choose our wines) of which critic scores is just one. Rather than simply highlight the best score to promote a wine, our average critic score is calculated from the scores provided by several respected wine critics, who we follow for specific regions. They do not represent all critic scores and, wherever possible, we try and give more weight to more recent reviews. Where appropriate we consider market-based scores like Global Wine Score or Wine Searcher Average scores.

As a rule, we look to offer wines that achieve a 92/100 average critic score or better and frankly a lot of very good wines simply don’t make the cut. As a high-end provider we want to reflect that positioning in the quality of wines we offer. Such wines are only a tiny fraction of those generally on offer in the market. We believe that an average score is a more conservative and representative approach, but it is still subjective and only offered as a guide to our customers, who will (and should) do their own research. We will add individual critic scores to our website in the future.