Climens 2023 (750ML)

96 JA / 93-96 VM / 93-95 WI / 94 DE / 17++ JR

How it is possible to sculpt such an opulent but precise and delicious wine out of such a tiny yield of 2.7hl/h is beyond me, but somehow Climens has achieved it. Stunning depths of juicy peach, nectarine, white tea, white truffle, pinceapple, saffron, mint, concentrated but aerian with a slice of steel. Just 4,000 bottles produced instead of the normal 10,00010h, 130g/l residual sugar. A tought vintage for Climens owner Jean-Hubert Moitry, but the results are impressive. - Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

The 2023 Climens is a dense, racy Barsac. Today is embryonic, but the potential is there. A wine of textural resonance, Climens offers up an exotic mélange of dried apricot, pear, spice, dried flowers, orange peel and passion fruit. I am very much looking forward to tasting this in bottle. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

The 2023 Climens is 100% Semillon and has 130 g/l of residual sugar and a pH of 3.8. It has a medium lemon-straw color and offers notes of lime cordial, lemonade, and fresh grapefruit, leading to an undercurrent of acacia honey, candle wax, and fresh ginger. The palate delivers vibrant citrus flavors with spicy sparks and great tension, finishing long and fragrant.-Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Independent

A question mark for this venerable Barsac Premier Cru: Despite their best efforts, respecting biodynamic practices, the château team lost about 75% of the harvest to mildew, including top, old-vine Sémillon grapes (a miniscule yield of 2.7hl/ha) and the cloudy sample that I tried, exuding fine and fresh pineapple and orange notes, lacked expected energy. While very good, it seems to underperform in 2023, at least based on the sample that I had. It has 130 grams per litre of residual sugar and 4 grams of total acidity and a pH of 3.8. Ageing in 100% new oak.-Panos Kakavianos, Decanter

Pale gold hue. Pure and lifted, the botrytis character evident. Marmalade and tropical-fruit notes. Bitter-botrytised attack. Gently sweet with a defining acidity and freshness (more so than 2022). Clean, fresh and long on the finish. Very Barsac.-James Lawther MW, JancisRobinson