Location and History
Château Climens is located in Barsac in Bordeaux, France. The name Climens first appears in a document dating from 1547. Lucien Lurton acquired the Château in 1971; his daughter Bérénice Lurton took over the running in 1992. In 2022, the Moitry family took over the Château from the Lurton family.
Terroir and Vineyard
The vineyard lies on a plateau around 20 metres above sea level and comprises 32 hectares in a single contiguous block around the Château. A layer of iron-bearing, clayey sand, less than 50 centimetres thick, sits on rugged, aspected limestone. Geological faults create karst cavities, which ensure drainage and store rainwater for the vines. The Sauternes microclimate area is characterised by morning fogs associated with the confluence of the Ciron and the Garonne, as well as warm afternoons; these conditions favour botrytis cinerea. The entire estate has been farmed biodynamically since 2010 and is planted exclusively with Sémillon.
Grand Vin
The Grand Vin is a sweet white wine under the Barsac Sauternes appellation and consists of 100 per cent Sémillon. It is classified as a Premier Cru Classé of Sauternes-Barsac in the 1855 classification. The average yield is 12 hectolitres per hectare, calculated over 20 years, excluding vintages with no production. Vinification is carried out in small batches in French oak barrels; each year, 30 to 40 per cent of the casks are renewed. The wine matures for 20 to 22 months.
Asphodèle
Asphodèle is a dry white wine from Château Climens, made from 100 per cent Sémillon and referred to as Bordeaux Blanc Sec. Vinification is carried out in concrete tanks, after which the wine matures for nine months.
