Château Climens

Identity

Château Climens is a winegrowing estate located in the commune of Barsac. It was ranked Premier Cru Classé in 1855.

Since 2022, the Moitry family, via their property investment company Patrimonia Développement, have owned Château Climens. Jérôme Moitry manages the estate. Frédéric Nivelle is the technical director, and Paul Marchais is in charge of commercial development.

History and philosophy

The estate's origins are recorded as early as 1547. Château Climens developed from the 16th century under the Roborel family. In 1802, the estate was acquired by Bordeaux wine merchant Jean Binaud, and subsequently by the Gounouilhou family in 1885.

In 1971, Lucien Lurton acquired the estate. Bérénice Lurton took over the management of Château Climens in 1992. The Lurton family remained owners until 2022, when a majority stake was sold to the Moitry family.

The estate committed to sustainable viticulture and began its transition towards biodynamics in 2010, achieving certification in 2014 for the vineyard and in 2016 for the wines.

The appellations

Château Climens wines are produced under the Barsac and Sauternes appellations. The estate also produces wines under the Bordeaux blanc sec appellation.

Practical information

Address: 33720 BARSAC

Telephone: 05 56 27 15 33

Email: contact@chateau-climens.com

The estate offers visits by appointment. The “Le savoir-faire de Climens” tour lasts 1 hour 30 minutes and includes an introduction to biodynamic viticultural practices, a presentation of the herbal preparation room, and a tasting of three wines: Asphodèle, Lilium, and Château Climens. The rate is €70 per person. Visits are available from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. Dining options are available. Cellar-door sales and mail orders are possible.

Find out more

Official estate website

The vineyard (terroir)

The Château Climens vineyard spans 32 continuous hectares on a plateau roughly 20 metres above sea level. The soils consist of clayey and iron-rich sands, known as the “red sands of Barsac”, resting on a fissured limestone bedrock dating from the lower Oligocene. The topsoil layer is generally less than 50 cm deep.

The Sauternais microclimate, characterised by the alternation of morning mists fostered by the confluence of the Ciron and Garonne rivers and sunny afternoons, is ideal for the development of Botrytis Cinerea, or noble rot.

The grape varieties planted are exclusively Sémillon (100%). The average vine age is 46 years, with certain old parcels reaching 70 years. Planting density is 6,500 vines per hectare.

Viticultural practices follow biodynamic methods, and the estate uses wind turbines and wood-pellet heating systems to protect the vineyard from frost. Harvesting is carried out by hand.

Flagship cuvées

Château Climens is the estate's Premier Cru Classé, a sweet wine crafted from botrytised Sémillon. It is renowned for its aromatic complexity and richness.

The estate also produces dry white wines. Asphodèle, introduced with the 2018 vintage, is a 100% Sémillon dry white wine crafted according to biodynamic principles. Lilium is another fine dry white wine. An additional dry white cuvée is Petite Lily.

The estate's second sweet wine is Cyprès de Climens.

Certain vintages of the grand vin were not produced, notably in 1984, 1987, 1992, and 1993.

Vinification and ageing

Fermentation of the grand vin is carried out using indigenous yeasts in oak barrels. Ageing lasts approximately eighteen months, with the use of 30% new oak. For the 2023 vintage, ageing lasted 20 months on fine lees, followed by 9 months in bottle.

For the dry white wine Asphodèle, ageing takes place in concrete vats on fine lees, with stirring, for a period of four to six months.