Wine guide
Château Climens
Considered as one of the foremost investable wines of the Bordeaux region, Château Climens is the leading property in Barsac. Originally rated first growth (premier cru) status in 1855, it is one of the few chateaux producing Sauternes from 100 % semillon. The wine itself is one of the greatest sweet white wines of Bordeaux and has the capacity to age 50 years, making investment opportunities both varied and great.
Why invest in Château Climens?
The producer has released an average of just 25,000 bottles over 20 years. Production varies year-on-year, with some years not being released at all, making Château Climens a rare speciality in the investable wine market. Yields are tightly restricted to some of the lowest in the appellation in order to obtain unique levels of concentration. Every vintage is aged in small oak “barriques” (small barrels) for 22-months, allowing the distinctive Château Climens blend of sweetness and freshness. This singularity allows for superb returns and means that investments in Château Climens that have not fallen since 2012.
Competition to Château d’Yquem
Château Climens, is the only estate that challenges Château d’Yquem’s inviolable position as Bordeaux’s nec plus ultra-sweet wine, making another reason this investable wine is something of a treasure. 1929, 1947 and 1949 are considered exceptional vintages, described by Alexis Lichine “to surpass Château d’Yquem”.
Notable facts and vintages
- 2014 marks Château Climens’ first entirely biodynamic certified vintage.
- 2013 Château Climens named number 4 in Wine Spectator’s “Top 10 Wines of 2016”.
- 2007 Château Climens re-confirmed its status as best Sauternes of the vintage, under blind conditions, twice at UGC tastings.
- Both 1929 and 2001 Château Climens vintages received perfect scores of 100 points from Robert Parker Wine Advocate.
- There are no vintages for 1984, 1987, 1992, 1993 and 2017 as the quality judged to be insufficient for Château Climens.