1967 Climens
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Tasting notes
This bottle of 1967 Climens was served blind by Bérénice Lurton at the château. It is unquestionably the best bottle that I have encountered. Brilliant delineation on the nose with irresistible scents of orange pith, Japanese yuzu and those Portuguese Pastéis de Nata that I remarked on last time. Fresh and vibrant on the palate with blood orange and passion fruit, those hints of Chinese white tea on the finish. Startling and flirting with perfection. Tasted at the Château Climens vertical in London.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
The 1967 Climens, which apparently contains 84g/L residual sugar, is a crystalline beauty. Glistening in the glass, it is like a golden beacon that lights up the table. The bouquet is fabulous with razor-sharp delineation and palpable energy, scents of tangerine, acacia honey, Portuguese Pastéis de Nata and barley sugar. The palate is intense, extraordinarily pure and brims with tension, riding on its razor-sharp acidity that counterbalances the honeyed fruit laced with blood orange, passion fruit and subtle white tea notes. I cannot recall a fresher 1967 Sauternes. Every mouthful elicits pure joy and the only downside was there was not a drop left once I had finished my glass.
Orange barley-sugar colour – very bright. Very lively and fresh AND sweet. Really pretty good despite dire warnings beforehand. Neat and concentrated. Together and not past it. A little bit dry on the end. Very clean and fresh. So sweet! And clean. Interesting hint of burnt caramel. Long. Luscious. Very citrus refreshing. (JR)
TA 4.9 g/l (sulphuric), RS 84g/l. Deep amber gold. A hint of furniture polish. Fruit less pure than the Lurton vintages. Quite bitter on the finish though impressively intense flavours probably thanks to the high acidity rather than to particular fruit purity. Not perfectly balanced. (JH)
About the producer
Château Climens is one of Sauternes-Barsac’s leading producers of sweet wine. Classified as a Premier Cru or First Growth in 1855 it sits alongside just 10 other Premier Cru estates in Sauternes, only bettered by Ch. d’Yquem, which was granted its own elite classification of Premier Cru Supérieur.