your favorite vintages of Chateau Climens

Chateau Climens is my second favorite Sauternes/Barsac. Pretty far ahead of anything but Yquem, and, esp. considering the price differences, not that far behind it. Of recent vintages, I must admit that while I have purchased some 2015 and 2016, I have not opened any yet.

My favorite Climens is the 2001. Just a brilliant wine. I also love the 1986. I have had this multiple times including this past week, and it is fabulous. My third favorite maybe a bit more of a long-shot than the first two (which are pretty well known to be great) but I just love the 2014 the couple of times I have had it. I will be interested in how it will age but I am not sure I will find out as I am not sure I can keep my hands off of my remaining bottles.

2001 and 1990 are my favorite vintages for Climens. I have only had the 2014 a few times but I agree with you, Howard. It is excellent. The 2005 is also very good.

Ed

09 is very good

My favorites are '90, '78, and '88. Followed closely by '86, '71, and '07. I’ve only had the '01 twice and never in its youth when I hear it was incredible, but I don’t think it’s as strong as it should be. (One other at the tasting disagreed with me.)

I drank a 375 of 07 last year-far too young but delicious then and only will improve. 88 is excellent now.

1988, 2001, 1986

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Can’t disagree with all the above. I will say that 2003 is remarkably good, in its way. Maybe not a favorite, but deserves mention for the quality in such a difficult vintage.

love the 88 Climens

Loved 75 and 01 personally.

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Agree about 1988.
Exceeded expectations.

I too love the 1988. Five years ago, I served it and the 1989 together and while I loved the opulence of the 1989, the structure and balance of the 1988 stood out. I will drink my last bottle of 1989 in about a month, but see no hurry to open the 1988. When I started out collecting wine in the 70’s, I had a wonderful bottle of 1949 which I remember after all these years, unlike most other wines I tasted 40 years ago.

+1. The one time I had ‘75, it was spectacular. I like ‘07 too.

'62, '88, '07 and '09.

I’ve loved both ‘86 and ‘88, must pick up some of these younger vintages to try.

It’s curious that 1991-2000 are so poorly regarded. A decade of futility? Any ideas what was going wrong at Climens in the 90s? I know the 90s had only a few very good vintages in Bordeaux, but Sauternes tends to dance to its own drummer. Was this a Climens problem or reflect bigger overall regional weakness?

1973

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1971, 1988, 1955, 1990, 1986

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It was a weak decade for Sauternes overall. I don’t think any of those vintages of Climens will ever compare with something like '88, but it’s also priced much cheaper. I had a '95 Climens recently which I bought for $60-70, and it was superb. I would definitely buy '95, '96, '97, and to a lesser extent '98 and '99 if the pricing was right. The same is true for Rieussec, Yquem, etc (but avoid the '99 Yquem…).

I went long on the 2001 and certainly haven’t regretted it so far. That said, I doubt it will quite measure up to the '71, maybe the '75. But tough to compare something in your glass to memories or old tasting notes.

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1988 of vintages I have had, all post 1987.

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71, 01, 88, 86

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