1971 Climens
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Tasting notes
This bottle of 1971 Climens was bought at auction from the Tour d'Argent sale. Therefore, its provenance is impeccable. This is a brilliant Barsac at full flight. It has heavenly delineation on the nose, with telltale scents of marmalade, quince and saffron exploding from the glass while maintaining fabulous delineation. The palate has exquisite balance and freshness, mandarin and apricot notes, hints of wild peach and a botrytis-laden finish with real weight and presence. You could drink this every night for the rest of your life. Tasted at the 1940s/1950s dinner at Epure in Hong Kong.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
The 1971 Climens is a fabulous contribution to the roster of brilliant Sauternes wines produced in this year. This bottle is definitely the finest that I have encountered. Stunning definition on the nose, it bursts from the glass with dried apricot, quince and marmalade, hints of saffron, a little more marine-influenced than previous bottles. The palate is beautifully-balanced with a killer line of acidity, energetic and tensile with layers of wild peach, mandarin and barley sugar on the finish.
Light honeyed in hue with green tints, the bouquet on this 1971 Climens has a light chlorine note as noted before: quince and dried apricot, barley sugar, and a subtle adhesive scent emerges with aeration. The palate is wonderful with a fine line of acidity, very mellifluous and harmonious. Honey mingles with apricot preserve, peaches and Seville orange marmalade, barley sugar on the finish that lingers for over 60 seconds. Outstanding. Tasted at a private dinner in Bordeaux. (NM)
Wild and racy sweet wine with honey, vanilla, apple and pear pie, and toffee on the nose and palate. It’s full and very sweet with a long, long finish. Gorgeous.
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.