2012 Ch Climens 1er Cru 750ml, Barsac

Pale lemon-gold colored, the 2012 Climens has a slightly evolved nose sporting honeyed nut and toast notes with a core of lemon pie, fresh hay and allspice. Big, rich and powerful in the mouth, with maturing citrus and stone fruit notions, it has a provocatively spicy finish.

91 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown robertparker.com

Seven different barrel samples were tasted from early-picked (15 Oct) to late-picked grapes (31 Oct). Early harvested samples are very pure, with lovely honeysuckle, fresh yellow fruits and fairly high concentration of sugar (130-140gm/l residual sugar). Later-picked parcels have a more unctuous texture, thicker palate and chalky finish. Micro blends that combine late- and early-picked parcels show beautiful, delicate flavours that have focus, freshness and purity. This is by far the best, most successful wine of the vintage.

Drinking Window 2020 - 2028

18/20 points Jeanie Cho Lee decanter.com