Château Climens

The name Climens first appears in a contract dated 1547, recording that Guirault Roborel, the King's advocate in Barsac, inherited the land from his father; the Roborel de Climens family subsequently built up the estate and, in the 17th century, built an elegant one-storey chartreuse. After the French Revolution left the property in difficulty, it was sold in 1802 to Jean Binaud, a Bordeaux wine merchant. Under owner Eloi Lacoste, Climens was awarded Premier Cru status in the 1855 Sauternes-Barsac Classification at the Paris Universal Exhibition, held under the patronage of Napoléon III. From 1885, for almost a century, Climens belonged to the Gounouilhou family, Bordeaux printers, journalists, politicians and aviation pioneers, aided by the Janin family as stewards. Lucien Lurton, who already owned a number of Médoc crus classés, acquired Climens in 1971; his daughter Bérénice Lurton took over running the estate in 1992. On July 4, 2022, Lurton sold a majority stake to Jean-Hubert Moitry and his family via their company Patrimonia Développement, the Moitry family's first investment in the wine business; Lurton has retained an advisory role. The estate's own site states that only five families have owned Climens since 1802: the Binauds, the Lacostes, the Gounouilhous, the Lurtons and the Moitrys.

• Premier Cru Classé in the 1855 Sauternes-Barsac Classification, awarded under owner Eloi Lacoste at the Paris Universal Exhibition
• Lucien Lurton acquired the estate in 1971; his daughter Bérénice Lurton took over its management in 1992
• On July 4, 2022, Bérénice Lurton sold a majority stake to Jean-Hubert Moitry and his family via Patrimonia Développement; she retains an advisory role and Frédéric Nivelle continues as technical director
• Only five families have owned Climens since 1802: the Binauds, the Lacostes, the Gounouilhous, the Lurtons and the Moitrys

The vineyard sits on a plateau roughly 20 meters above sea level and is laid out as a single 31-hectare block enclosed by dry-stone boundary walls, planted entirely to Sémillon, one of the few Premier Crus Classés of the 1855 classification to be a mono-varietal vineyard. The surface soil is a thin layer, less than 50 centimeters deep, of reddish, clayey ferruginous sand, known as the red sands of Barsac; beneath it lies a fissured slab of starfish limestone, also called asteriated limestone, that formed roughly 30 million years ago in the early Oligocene period. Geological fault lines have developed into karstic cavities that provide drainage and store rainwater for the vines. Barsac is one of five villages within the Sauternes appellation entitled to claim its own separate appellation; the application decree for the Barsac appellation was published on September 11, 1936, and for Sauternes on September 30, 1936, and Climens can claim either appellation. The convergence of the cold waters of the Ciron and the warmer waters of the Garonne produces the region's characteristic morning mists, followed by afternoon sun, conditions that favor the development of Botrytis cinerea, or noble rot. The estate began its transition to biodynamic viticulture in 2010; the grand vin's vineyard has held Biodyvin certification since 2014, and the estate's dry white wines are Demeter certified. Grand vin yield averages 12 hectoliters per hectare over 20 years, excluding years without production; vines average 38 years old for the grand vin and 15 years for the dry white cuvées, at a planting density of 6,600 vines per hectare.

• 31-hectare vineyard, a single contiguous block, 100% Sémillon, on the Barsac plateau at approximately 20m above sea level
• Soils: thin ferruginous red-sand topsoil (under 50cm) over fissured starfish (asteriated) limestone from the early Oligocene, roughly 30 million years old
• Barsac is one of five Sauternes villages with its own separate appellation; decree published September 11, 1936 (Barsac) and September 30, 1936 (Sauternes)
• Biodynamic conversion began 2010; grand vin Biodyvin-certified since 2014; dry white wines Demeter-certified; grand vin yield averages 12 hl/ha over 20 years

Château Climens' portfolio centers on its sweet grand vin, Château Climens 1er Cru Classé, 100% Sémillon, fermented and aged in French oak barrels renewed by 30 to 40%, for 20 to 22 months. Reviewers quoted on the estate's own site include La Revue du Vin de France (2005), which wrote, “We know of no sweet wine in France with a bouquet as pure and elegant as that of Climens,” and Michael Broadbent, who called the 1929 vintage “unquestionably one of the greatest vintages of one of the most consistently well-made Sauternes -- perfection.” Since 2018 the estate has also produced a dry white wine, Asphodèle, developed with the help of Sancerre winemaker Pascal Jolivet, aged 9 months in concrete vats. Two further dry whites, Lilium and Petite Lily, are both 100% Sémillon from vines averaging 15 years old; Lilium is matured in glass Wineglobe containers, while Petite Lily is vinified and aged in stainless steel. A fifth wine, Fenouil et Camomille, is a low-sulphite 'Natural Method' wine aged in Wineglobe, named for the estate's two donkeys, Fenouil and Camomille, who serve as its emblem.

• Château Climens 1er Cru Classé: the sweet grand vin, 100% Sémillon, aged 20 to 22 months in French oak barrels (30 to 40% new)
• Asphodèle: dry white, launched with the 2018 vintage with input from Sancerre winemaker Pascal Jolivet; aged 9 months in concrete vats
• Lilium and Petite Lily: dry white Sémillon cuvées from 15-year-old vines; Lilium matured in glass Wineglobe containers, Petite Lily in stainless steel
• Fenouil et Camomille: a low-sulphite 'Natural Method Wine' (under 30 mg/L sulphites), named for the estate's two donkeys

In a press release dated July 4, 2022, Château Climens announced that Bérénice Lurton, who had managed the property for 30 years, had sold a majority stake to Jean-Hubert Moitry and his family via their company, Patrimonia Développement -- the Moitry family's first investment in the wine sector. Decanter and The Drinks Business both reported that the amount paid was not disclosed. In the press release, Lurton said she had “always considered myself more as the temporary guardian of Climens than as its owner,” and stated she would retain an advisory role in the years ahead to help pass on the estate's know-how. Jean-Hubert Moitry said the purchase fulfilled a long-standing family dream shared with his wife Catherine, who comes from a family of wine merchants from Meymac in Corrèze; his brother Jérôme Moitry would also participate in managing the estate, with the couple's four daughters expected to become involved over time. Frédéric Nivelle, technical director since 1998, continues to lead the winemaking team; Alexandra Lemahieu remains a key member of the team, and Paul Marchais has led commercial development since the beginning of 2023.

• July 4, 2022: Bérénice Lurton sold a majority stake to Jean-Hubert Moitry and family via Patrimonia Développement, the family's first wine-sector investment; the amount was not disclosed
• Bérénice Lurton retains an advisory role; Frédéric Nivelle, technical director since 1998, continues to lead winemaking
• Jérôme Moitry, Jean-Hubert's brother, participates in managing the estate; the couple's four daughters are expected to become involved over time
• Paul Marchais has led commercial development since the beginning of 2023; Alexandra Lemahieu remains a key member of the estate team

Château Climens offers several guided experiences by reservation. 'Discovering Château Climens' (about 1 hour, 45 euros per person, with a special rate of 25 euros on select off-season Saturdays) tours the biodynamic vineyard and cellars with a tasting of Asphodèle and Château Climens. 'Climens' Know-How' (about 1 hour 30 minutes, 60 euros per person) adds an in-depth look at biodynamic practices and the estate's herbal tea room, again with a tasting of Asphodèle and Château Climens. 'The Vertical Tasting of Climens' (about 1 hour 30 minutes, 110 euros per person) includes Asphodèle and a vertical tasting of four vintages of the grand vin. The Climens Gastronomic Experience, by reservation at least three weeks in advance for groups of 6 to 16, pairs an estate tour with a private gourmet lunch, from 210 euros per person with wines included.

• Discovering Château Climens: about 1 hour, 45 euros per person (25 euros on select off-season Saturdays); tastes Asphodèle and Château Climens
• Climens' Know-How: about 1h30, 60 euros per person; adds biodynamic practices and the tisanerie herbal tea room
• The Vertical Tasting of Climens: about 1h30, 110 euros per person; includes a vertical tasting of four grand vin vintages
• Climens Gastronomic Experience: from 210 euros per person, wines included; reservation 3+ weeks ahead, groups of 6 to 16

Primary sources (producer's own site): https://chateau-climens.com/en/, https://chateau-climens.com/en/a-story-of-families-and-vignerons/, https://chateau-climens.com/en/an-exceptional-terroir/, https://chateau-climens.com/en/unique-wines/, https://chateau-climens.com/en/unique-wines/chateau-climens/, https://chateau-climens.com/en/unique-wines/asphodele/, https://chateau-climens.com/en/unique-wines/lilium/, https://chateau-climens.com/en/unique-wines/petite-lily/, https://chateau-climens.com/en/unique-wines/fenouil-et-camomille/, https://chateau-climens.com/en/wine-tourism/discovering-chateau-climens/, https://chateau-climens.com/en/wine-tourism/climens-know-how/, https://chateau-climens.com/en/wine-tourism/climens-gastronomic-experience/, https://chateau-climens.com/en/wine-tourism/the-vertical-tasting-of-climens/, https://chateau-climens.com/en/chateau-climens-2023-millesime-barsac/, https://chateau-climens.com/le-renouveau-de-climens-communique-de-presse/. Secondary sources: Decanter (July 5, 2022), The Drinks Business (July 4, 2022), Wine Spectator. Last verified 2026-09-14. Where the producer's site and a secondary source disagree, the producer's site governs.