2009 Climens

17/06/10

And now, whilst we wait to finalise allocations on today's hottest red releases, our favourite sweet wine of the vintage. Climens, only the second of our money-no-object must-buys to have been released, is the first wine to have emerged cheaper than we thought. The 2009 is superior to their excellent 2005, and on a par with their stupendous 2007 and 2001 - which sell at £1,200 and almost £3,000 per case respectively.

'Picked in just two tries, 90% picked in one trie, tasting through 13 separate lots, the core components of a great Climens appear to be in place. Paying particular attention to the lots that constitute a large percentage of the blend (usually around 15%) the common themes are ones of great purity, persistency and precision. The aromatics display pure honey, minerals, occasionally a faint scent of spearmint and white peach, most with spellbinding precision. On the palate, Berenice Lurton has some stupendous lots at her disposal, with ample botrytis, ethereal definition, one or two more powerful, quite spicy lots and others that are shorter and will undoubtedly lend the blend an acidic cut. It will be a joy to taste this after bottling. 96-98 points.' - Neal Martin, erobertparker.com

View all 2009 Bordeaux en primeur