1981 Climens
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Tasting notes
The 1981 Climens is pale in colour. This has a superior nose to the 1982, aromas of candle wax, wet wool, petrol and quince jelly. The palate is medium-bodied and nicely balanced, a little shallow with very little evidence of botrytis on the finish. The redeeming feature of this Climens is its commendable acidity. Fine. Tasted April 2009. Tasted at Château Climens.
Critic scores
Average Score
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Half bottle. Neutral nose. Lots of creamy sweetness. A good bottle! Barsac freshness. Some astringency on the finish. Just drying out a teensy bit on the finish. But good length. A good vintage for Sauternes. (JR)
TA 3.8 g/l (sulphuric), RS 79 g/l. Spice and linseed and sweet orange on the nose and quite broad on the palate. Dense and flavourful but not as fine and pure as classic Climens. Very Sémillon, perhaps. Fatter and softer in the middle so finishes a little shorter than the best vintages. Flavourful but not especially elegant or precise. Surprisingly, the high alcohol does not makes itself felt. (JH)
About the producer
Château Climens is one of Sauternes-Barsac’s leading producers of sweet wine. Classified as a Premier Cru or First Growth in 1855 it sits alongside just 10 other Premier Cru estates in Sauternes, only bettered by Ch. d’Yquem, which was granted its own elite classification of Premier Cru Supérieur.