2012 Chateau Climens 375 ml

There was a common theme of spicy, honeyed fruit coming through on both the nose and the palate, one particular lot relatively high in alcohol that should provide the foundation for the more nuances pickings. In many ways, this is a quintessential Climens with subtle orange peel and mandarin notes allied with finely tuned acidity.

As usual, I tasted through several lots and micro-blends with Berenice Lurton and her team, to ascertain how the final blend will perform, paying particular attention to those that will form the heart of the final wine. For sure, this is going to be a Climens worth seeking out. Berenice is unequivocal that their conversion to biodynamics (to be certified in 2015) played a key role in combating bad rot in the vineyard. It was a late harvest for sure, commencing on October 15 but halted on October 19, when the rains returned.
It was the north-easterly wind on Sunday, October 28 that saved their vintage – drying out the grapes and over the next three days, when they were able to conduct a blanket harvest as the crop was so even. There is certainly not a mote of grey rot and final yields were a respectable 10 hectoliters per hectare. Berenice was correct – her teams have made an excellent 2012 and I suspect that it will be the finest of the vintage.
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Neal Martin – The Wine Advocate #206 April 2013