Climens

Barsac 1996

International Bordeaux-Style wines

Sold for

ZAR 4 690
Lot 135
  • Climens; Barsac; 1996; 5 (1 x 5); 375ml


Lot Estimate Change Currency
ZAR 4 500 - 7 000
Selling Price
Incl. Buyer's Premium & VAT
ZAR 4 690
Location
Wine Storage

About this Item

Barsac 1996
5 (1 x 5) 375ml
The 1996 Sauternes and Barsac harvest produced wines of exceptional purity and restraint, defined by racy acidity and extraordinary keeping potential, yielding a style more classical and refined than the opulent richness of warmer years. Château Climens’s 1996, offered here in half bottle, earned 18.5/20 from Julia Harding MW, who found it pure, silky and lively in a refined and delicate mode with beautiful apricot and pineapple fruit still primary at over a decade of age. Neal Martin tasted it at the estate and found it superior to the 1997, noting its barley sugar, mandarin and orange blossom complexity and vibrant, long finish. Climens is universally regarded as the lord of Barsac, its 31 hectares planted entirely to Sémillon on clay, ferruginous sands and limestone, under the biodynamic stewardship of Bérénice Lurton since 1992. The wine is produced entirely from Sémillon harvested in multiple selective passes.

Provenance

The late David Brice was a respected wine connoisseur, collector and co-founder of Brice and Burnett – The Fine Wine Specialists (formerly Wine Cellar). His lifelong passion for wine from all corners of the world wine, and generosity, helped develop a culture of fine wine in South Africa and beyond. Always with value and authenticity in mind, the collection spans a wide range of styles from leading producers and diverse regions. The wines were professionally imported under refrigeration and carefully stored at Brice and Burnett (formerly Wine Cellar) thereafter. Many of the producers are not available in South Africa and provide an excellent buying opportunity.

David studied and tasted Bordeaux more than any other region and he purchased en-primeur, or pre-release, for more than 3 decades. He bought the great vintages, loved magnums, and enjoyed the sweet wines of Sauternes. The cellar contains the famous names, but also highly regarded but lesser-known Chateaux and appellations.

For more detailed information on the lots, please feel free to contact Roland Peens (roland@winecellar.co.za). Roland spent many years sharing and enjoying these wines with David Brice and is happy to provide further insight into the collection.

Critics Ratings

“Fragrant and very pure and almost delicate on the nose. Still so pure and primary in its apricot and pineapple fruit. Silky, fresh and lively in a refined and delicate mode.” - Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com, 18.5/20 (Aug 2009)

“Barley sugar, mandarin, beeswax and a little orange blossom. The palate is medium-bodied with very good structure, clean entry with citrus fruits, orange blossom and a touch of tangerine. Vibrant on the entry with very good length. Showing better than the 1997.” - Neal Martin, Wine Advocate (Jul 2009)

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