Château Climens is a case study in meticulous tradition (only five families have owned the estate since its origins). Owned by the Roborel family from the 15th century through the late 20th century, this Barsac château (known as the "Lord of Barsac") produces some of the best sweet wines in the world. Ironically, its name translates to "unfertile" or "poor land" - quite the paradox for this Premier Cru vineyard! Changes in winemaking at Climens occurred only when new methods proved themselves effective in improving the quality of the wine. The estate was taken over by the Lurton family (who own almost a dozen châteaux in Bordeaux) in 1971, with the cellar master, Christian Broustat, remaining the same. Another example of Climens's seamless tradition is Broustat's background as a third generation winemaker. Climens's 100% Semillon vineyard is known for producing wines with a fruity bouquet (pear and apricot), fine levels of acidity, finesse, and balance. After the grapes are hand-harvested and fermented, the wines are aged in oak for 18 to 24 months. Climens is typically one of the first wineries to harvest as botrytis strikes here early in the season. With proper care and storage, these wines can age for 50 to 100 years. The estate's second wine is known as Cyprès de Climens.

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See other similar producers: Chateau Cantemerle, Chateau Lynch Bages, Chateau Montrose