New Arrivals
Advanced Search
wine regions
quick links

Climens 1989

Sauternes/Barsac, First Growth Sauternes

Excel download

View All Vintages of this Wine

Units Size Case size GBP Price: Quantities Buy
Tasting Notes

A little lighter in colour than the ’90, this ’89 Climens retains its glorious barley sugar, honeysuckle and peach-tinged nose with touches of ginger evolving with aeration. The palate is harmonious, supple and very pure with acacia honey, quince, apricot and noticeably less residual sugar on the finish than the aforementioned ’90. Superb, but the chateau bottle in April was better.

Score: 94

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 31 March 2010

Tasted at Chateau Climens. This has a slightly deeper hue than the 1990. The nose is even more defined than the 1990 with quince, barley sugar, dried apricot and a touch of Clementine. The palate is medium-bodied, a great sense of tension and vibrancy, taut, focused with a compelling citrus/white peach, viscous finish that leaves the tongue revivified and ready for another drop. This is unequivocally a superlative Climens that on this occasions just pips the stunning 1990. Classic – immortal! Drink now-2040+ Tasted April 2009.

Score: 97

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2009-2040+ 31 July 2009

Green-tinged straw color. Initially less expressive nose opened to show floral, herbal and vanillin notes as well as a pungent minerally quality. Very sweet but very suave, with fresh but perfectly integrated acidity serving to frame and intensify the superb, mineral-and-citric fruit. Can't match the '90 for pure size and power but the harmoniousness of this wine is truly striking. Very, very long and subtle on the aftertaste. A great Climens. I underrated this wine in its early days, as it was overshadowed by the more powerful, more phenolic '90.

Score: 96

Stephen Tanzer, Vinous.com 01 July 1998

High-wired, super-focused, seductively creamy and beautifully balanced. The beam of lemon, honey, spice, pear and melon flavor shines through to a fresh, long finish. Tempting now. Best after 1997.

Score: 93

James Suckling, Wine Spectator 15 April 1995

For whatever reason, the 1989 is merely outstanding rather than dazzling. Although it lacks the complexity of the 1988, it is a plump, muscular, rich, intense, full-bodied, and sweeter-than-usual Climens. For a 1989, it possesses good acidity. If more complexity and grip develop, my rating may look stingy.

Score: 90

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 1995-2010 01 April 1995