At the pinnacle of Barsac sweet wines, the Château Climens 2016 amplifies the spirit of great Sauternes with an interpretation of singular grace. Born on gravel and red sand soils over a limestone base, this Premier Cru Classé unfolds a luminous structure where richness never overwhelms freshness. A craftsman’s work, with precision in every gesture and a relentless search for balance, all contributing to a crystalline expression of the terroir. Subtly, the estate’s vision under Bérénice Lurton reveals itself in a pure, chiselled style with sovereign energy. In the glass, its pale gold with green highlights announces a sumptuous aromatic score, driven by noble rot and a masterful élevage, producing a wine that moves today and will travel the decades with panache.

Blend and winemaking

Made exclusively from Sémillon, Barsac’s flagship grape, the 2016 harvest is hand-picked by successive selections to choose only the optimally botrytised berries. This patient, demanding parcel-by-parcel picking captures the season’s quintessence and the alchemy of botrytis cinerea. Fermentation followed by an 24 months élevage in French oak barrels, with 35 to 45% new oak, takes place on fine lees to build texture and complexity without weighing down the frame. Far from ostentation, the élevage supports the material and refines its satiny texture. The result, both intense and precise, is a sculpted, vibrant sweet wine true to its limestone terroir, which provides comforting tension and a majestic length.

Tasting notes

• Colour: Sparkling golden yellow with green highlights, of exemplary clarity that evokes Barsac’s light and heralds a freshness underlined by the nobility of the liqueur.
• Nose: An expressive bouquet of yellow and exotic fruits—peach, pear, mango—intertwined with the delicate signatures of noble rot. Lemongrass, melon, notes of cedar, orange blossom and a touch of ginger add depth and elegance, like an aromatic weave of remarkable finesse.
• Palate: A luminous attack, caressing liqueur perfectly balanced by vibrant freshness. The mid-palate unfurls accents of exotic fruits and citrus, then glides to an airy, creamy and saline finish with delicate persistence inviting the next sip.

Serving temperature and advice

Serve this Barsac between 8 and 10°C in large tulip glasses to reveal all its nuances. A 1-hour decant is recommended to allow the aromatic palette to open and harmonise. Store in a cool, dark cellar with stable humidity, ideally around 12°C. The 2016 is appealing now for its dialogue between sweetness and tension, and it has a remarkable ageing potential stretching over several decades, offering the enthusiast the promise of a patinated metamorphosis over time.

Food pairings

• Aperitifs: semi-cooked foie gras, tuna tataki with citrus, crispy sesame-and-honey bites.
• Starters: poached lobster, scallop carpaccio with blood orange, white asparagus with mousseline sauce.
• Main courses: roast free-range poultry with mild spices, lightly spiced Asian cuisine, braised veal with apricots.
• Cheeses: aged blues such as Roquefort or Fourme d’Ambert, mature mimolette for a savory-sweet counterpoint.
• Desserts: thin apricot tart, candied citrus, orange blossom entremets, delicately vanilla crème brûlée.

Occasions

Château Climens 2016 is the perfect companion:

• To elevate a moment of celebration with a sweet wine of great purity.
• During a gourmet dinner where precise pairings reveal its depth.
• As an exceptional gift for a collector of great ageworthy wines.

Specifications

• Name : Château Climens 2016, 1er Cru Classé
• Appellation : Barsac, Sauternes AOC
• Ranking : Premier Cru Classé of Barsac
• Vintage : 2016
• Grape : Sémillon (100%)
• Alcohol : 14%
• Élevage : 24 months in French oak barrels, 35 to 45% new, on fine lees
• Terroir : gravel and red sands over a limestone base, average vine age 35 years
• Harvest : successive selections, selection of botrytis cinerea
• Cellaring : 2023 to 2061 and beyond depending on storage conditions