1969 Climens
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Tasting notes
Opened at the property, the 1969 Climens is the dark horse of the era (perhaps alongside the underrated 1970). Deep amber in colour. It has more vigour than expected with Satsuma and apricot, a touch of brown sugar. The palate is citrus-fresh with dried peaches and apricot, quite tangy on the finish, this is a Climens that you could contentedly drink for a few more years. Tasted April 2009 at Château Climens.
Critic scores
Average Score
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
The Gounouilhou family bottled to order and the wines from 1970 back belong very much to their era. Orange barley-sugar colour – very bright. Light and refreshing and sweet and a bit sticky. Bit of decay and lots of chew and alcohol. No length. Chewy end. (JR)
TA (5.7 g/l sulphuric), RS 98 g/l. Pale burnt caramel colour, darker than the 1967, and a lightly burnt caramel note of a young madeira. Even a little nutty. Like the 1970, amazing freshness on the palate, so zesty and full of life, maybe a little more brash than the Lurton vintages but terrific concentraton and length, probably thanks to very high acidity which makes the finish mouthwatering but perhaps just a little harsh. (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.