Chateau Climens 2007

A fine Barsac that confirms in bottle its exceptional level of sweetness, combining delicate spicy notes and finishing with intense candied fruit notes. An example of richness and balance.

Tasted single blind against its peers. Chateau Climens always tends to go into its shell after bottling, which is probably why I was not dishing out an even higher score to this still, spellbinding Barsac. The 2007 is endowed with a lovely bouquet: very pure with honey, a touch of orange-blossom and a touch of quince. The palate is very well-balanced with great purity and a dash of spice as well as a lovely viscous, botrytis-laden finish that possesses awesome weight and persistency. This is a slice of heaven in a glass, but it definitely needs time to reveal its true potential. Tasted January 2011.

This delivers loads of citrus aromas, along with dried apricot and honey on the nose, as well as toffee. Full-bodied, with a medium sweetness, spicy, fruity flavors and a long, racy, spicy finish. There's toffee and caramel as well. Hard not to drink now. Best after 2014.

A big, rich wine, showing its gorgeous fruit easily. But with a core of dryness, the ripest apricots touched by caramel, it should age well over many years. There is intense power here, still hidden by the youth of the wine, but with final concentration.

The 2007 Climens has a lighter nose than other vintages, very well defined, airy but gaining intensity with time in the glass. Yellow plum, hints of jasmine emerge with time. The palate is very well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, taut and minerally, lively with a tensile, sapid finish that keeps you coming back for more. This is laden with potential and will repay extended cellaring - if you can resist temptation. Tasted at the Climens vertical at the château in April 2022.

Served double blind, I was shocked by how rich, fat and concentrated the wine is today. This has really filled out. The fruit is incredibly sweet, luscious and potent, yet, there is ample acidity and vibrancy to make this work. Fans of sweet wine should be all over this stunner.

Fairly dark yellow with first golden glints, brilliant. Dense Bouquet, aromas of greengage and mirabelle plums, clear honey notes, discreet butter aromas, mingling with fine noble rot. On the Palate full-bodied, creamy, plenty of juice, soft texture, the wine is currently restrained and demonstrates that you should wait at least 10 years before tasting a great Barsac. In conclusion: Do not touch!

Quite dark yellow with first golden shimmer, brilliant. Dense bouquet smelling of greengages and mirabelle plums, light honey notes, subtle butter shimmer that blends with the fine Botrytis. On the palate full-bodied, creamy, plenty of juice, soft texture, seems for now restrained and shows that you should always wait at least 10 years for a great Sauternes, sorry Barsac. So do not touch. (18/20). 17: An Imperial during a large bottle evening at Vila Vita in Portugal. Lots of quinces and apricots. But (still) too thick. It was definitely too early. Particularly in this large bottle. (18/20).

Fresh, complex and delicate bouquet with hints of almonds, apricots, vanilla and chamomile. Silky, mellow and generous palate with powerful and full sweetness, fine acidity, generous structure and rich, intense aromatics. Very long and full finish. 19/20 2018 - 2050

Pale to medium lemon-gold color, the nose of the 2007 Climens leaps with notions of dried pineapple, lemon drops, and key lime pie, plus suggestions of candied ginger, toasted almonds, and crushed rocks. The palate is wonderfully intense with fantastic freshness and loads of bright citrusy sparks, finishing long and minerally. It is tantalizingly delicious right now with beautiful harmony and plenty of depth, but just 5-7 more years in bottle should seriously kick your experience up a few notches. The residual sugar this vintage is 151 grams per liter.

The wine is now in bottle and it exceeds all expectations with a truly outstanding nectar that is at once dense, full and balanced, ranking among the château's greatest vintages.