2011 Climens
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Tasting notes
The 2011 Climens has a fresh, lifted, mineral-driven bouquet which has closed down a little. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, taut and fresh. A lively, tensile finish, with hints of stem ginger that linger on the aftertaste. This is drinking beautifully. Tasted at the Climens vertical at the château in April 2022.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeannie Cho Lee MW
Decanter
More reviews and scores
The 2011 Climens has a more floral bouquet with yellow flowers, honeysuckle and light almond scents. Well defined though, it seems to have less botrytis than its peers. The palate is medium-bodied with a tangy, marmalade-tinged entry, viscous and quite concentrated with a dab of ginger on the finish. Excellent. Tasted blind at the annual 10-Year-On tasting.
Tasted blind. Not flashy but with masses of both sweetness and acidity that are not yet married. Quite heavyweight. (JR)
Moving to the Grand Vin, the 2011 Château Climens reveals a still youthful gold color to go with impressive marzipan, brioche, honeycomb, and sauteed peach and apricot-like fruits. With beautiful balance on the palate, it's full-bodied and has a vibrant spine of acidity followed by a clean, lengthy finish. This beautiful, complex Sauternes is going to evolve for 20-30 years or more in cold cellars.
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.