Asphodele, Grand Vin Blanc Sec AOC 2020

The Asphodèle is the first dry white wine in the history of Château Climens, a pure Sémillon from Barsac. It shows floral and already developed, with subtle but persistent acidity and 12.0 % Vol. Silvery in the glass.

Climens has been a Premier Cru Classé since 1855 and is known for its noble sweet wines. The 30 hectares form a single block on a limestone plateau with natural drainage; the Asphodèle grows on red, clay-rich sand and limestone. The estate has worked biodynamically since 2010 and holds Demeter certification since 2014: sheep graze between the vines, and chamomile and juniper are grown on the estate itself, dried in the loft above the cellar.

100% Sémillon from vines around 15 years old, planted at a density of 6,000 vines per hectare. Yields were about 45 hl/ha. Ageing lasted nine months in concrete tanks, with no oak.

On the nose, chamomile and buckwheat, ripe peonies, fresh and mellow apples, followed by beeswax and lanolin. On the palate, this dry white Bordeaux remains floral, with verbena, apple purée, chamomile once again, and stone and pome fruit. The acidity carries the wine with restraint, but lingers long.

Prawns with fennel beurre blanc, fennel and goat's cheese salad, and spring rolls.

In 2018, Bérénice Lurton began producing dry wines from pure Sémillon out of the sweet-wine estate's terroir. The Asphodèle marked the start of this series: early harvest, no added yeast, no oak.