1971 Château Climens Barsac Bordeaux France Wine Tasting Note
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At 51 years of age, this is still going strong. Flowers, apricots, orange rind, butter, caramel, marmalade, and burnt sugar notes are all over the place here. Sweet, honeyed, and also lively, perhaps this has just slipped an inch past its prime. So, if you are sitting on any, drinking it over the next decade makes sense as this is a very good sweet, wine experience. 2,875 Views Tasted Jul 3, 2022Another great performance for this fully mature wine. The nose is a treat with its floral, honeysuckle, caramel, pineapple, creme brulee and sweet tropical fruit personality. Fresh, bright, soft, silky and polished, the lively, subtle finish delivers ample, sweet tropical fruits and citrus. If you're seeking a wine from 1971 for a birthday or anniversary, this could be the one. 3,490 Views Tasted May 12, 2013Honey, butterscotch, pineapple, apricot, marzipan and nectarine aromas grab your attention. Layers of sweet, honey drenched tropical fruit, the right amount of acidity to give it lift and a long, finish are the hallmarks of this wine. At 40, this delicious Sauternes is still young. It has at least another 20-30 more years of positive evolution in its future. Along with the sublime 2001, this is the best Climens I've ever tasted. It's much better than Chateau d'Yquem in 1971. 4,960 Views Tasted May 17, 201171 Climens expresses a beautiful nose of honeysuckle, sweet apricots, pineapple, nectarine, vanilla, caramel and spice all drenched in honey. Balanced and harmonious, this medium to full bodied wine has enough acidity to give it lift and ample sweetness to make it interesting. The wine ends with a long sensation of crème brûlée, lemon meringue and honeyed tropical fruits. 3,727 Views Tasted Oct 26, 2009 |
When to Drink Chateau Climens, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time
Chateau Climens can be enjoyed on the young side with no decanting. In fact, it is delicious and quite a treat young, even on release! However, like all great wines, Chateau Climens is much better with age and does not reach full maturity until it's between 15-40 years of age, or in some years, perhaps even longer in the best vintages!
That is when the wine starts to show all its complexities and secondary nuances. But that is unrealistic for 99% of the world's wine drinkers. So, enjoy it on any special occasion that calls for it.
Of course, the wine is sweet, but there is so much, incredible, racy acidity, the wine always feels fresh, and never cloying, which makes it quite fun to enjoy young. With Chateau Climens and frankly, all Sauternes, the temperature is more important than decanting.
Serving Chateau Climens, with Wine and Food Pairings
Chateau Climens is best served at 14 degrees Celsius, 57 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift. The wine will naturally warm in the glass, while it develops more aromatic complexities and fleshes out.
Chateau Climens can be served with seafood dishes, especially shellfish, lobster, crab, and oysters on the half shell. Foie gras is a perfect pairing with its natural sweet, salty and savory characteristics.
Chateau Climens can also be paired with roasted chicken, veal, and pork dishes that are either spicy or prepared with a touch of sweetness. Spicy Asian cuisine, raw fish, like sushi or sashimi, and cheese, both hard and soft also make great pairings with Chateau Climens.