PRODUCER: Château Climens
REGION: Sauternes, Bordeaux, France
OWNER/WINEMAKER: Jean-Hubert Moitry, Jérôme Moitry
WINERY HISTORY
With a history dating back to 1547, Château Climens is one of the finest producers in the world of sweet wine. Dubbed ‘The Lord of Barsac,’ for its prominence and influence in the region, the hill-top winery has been stewarded over by just six families in its illustrious, centuries-long history. Most recently, the estate passed from the careful hands of Berenice Lurton to the capable Moitry family. Now owned by Jean-Hubert, with winemaking responsibilities being spearheaded by brother Jérôme, there is no indication the quality of Climens will be dropping anytime soon.
VITICULTURE & WINEMAKING
Spreading 32ha and planted exclusively to Semillon, the terroir of Climens is composed of a thin layer of clayey ferruginous sands atop limestone subsoils. Perfect for the cultivation of Semillon – as it adds a mineral freshness which other producers rely on blending Sauvignon for - the terroir of the Château is one of a select few to be named 1er Cru status in Barsac. The property’s distinct terroir, marked by its hilltop position and the presence of limestone subsoil, led the Lurton family to remove what little Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle remained and plant the vineyard to 100% Semillon. An audacious transition to biodynamic practices occurred in 2010, which has only enhanced the bright, vivid nature of their Barsac.
Hand-harvested and oak-aged in precisely the same manner as Château Climens (20-24 months in 35-45% new oak barrels), Cyprès is not merely a pre-determined second wine from a blend of lesser plots. Rather, Cyprès is made from a second round of picking in the vineyard and select barrels that didn’t quite fit the profile of that year’s Grand Vin. Considering yields for the first wine are regularly as low as 7hl/ha, it is no surprise that Cyprès also has great richness and power that reflects the quest for perfection undertaken by the Climens team.
GRAPE VARIETIES
Sémillon
