CHÂTEAU AUSONE
2023 1er Grand Cru Classé Saint Emilion
| Grapes | Cab Franc, Merlot |
| Colour | Red |
| Origin | France, Bordeaux |
| Other | Certified Organic |
| Sub-district | Saint Emilion & Satellites |
| Village | Saint Emilion |
| Classification | 1er Grand Cru Classé |
| ABV | 14% |
The 2023 Ausone was picked September 14 to 30 and matured for a planned 20 months. It has a wonderful bouquet that is very floral in style and perfectly controlled, perhaps more refined than the 2022 (which incidentally had a degree more in alcohol). The palate is medium-bodied with a silky smooth entry, finely tuned with impressive mineralité. It just gently "rolls out" on the languorous finish. This is a more understated Ausone compared to recent vintages, but it exudes sophistication and could easily surpass the Vauthiers' 2022. Drinking range: 2028 - 2060 Rating: 96-98 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Apr 2024)
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I don't think I have tasted an Ausone like this. The purity of fruit and fluidity is so primary, like perfectly picked grapes with their juice. Then there is citrus freshness. It's muscular, with toned tannins that caress the palate and give a seamless finish. This really could push the boundaries for the character of Ausone, in the way of finesse with structure. Watch it. 60% cabernet franc and 40% merlot. Rating: 98-99 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2024)
60 Cabernet Franc, 40 Merlot: 100% new oak for 20 months in underground quarries: The Merlot was harvested on 14 & 19 September and the Cabernet Franc was harvested on 25, 28 & 30 September Ausone has made the flip to Cabernet Franc dominance work perfectly, and the nose sings of this variety with beautiful wild blackberry fruit and superb green highlights. The palate is plush and silky, with more texture than I expected in this vintage. The finish is positively genial with a ripe round, carefree set of tannins, and the acidity merely tightens the belt on the finish, allowing the wine to finish in a state of delightful constriction. This is a somewhat different wine than I expected to taste, as I imagined a more tortured soul would greet me, but no. I am surprised and delighted to see a smiling face on this enchanting Ausone instead of a furrowed brow. This is a fascinating take on the vintage, and it will please every person who falls under its spell. 19+/20 Rating: 19+ Matthew Jukes www.matthewjukes.com (May 2024)
Density and well-cushioned fruit, another stunning vintage of a wine that somehow manages to make an effortless impression, edges of cloves and grilled sandalwood, full of nuance and capturing the aromatics depths and heights of the vintage, gorgeous. 100% new oak. Philippe Baillarguet cellar master, Vauthier family owners, organic certified in the vineyard. Drinking range: 2032 - 2050 Rating: 97 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2024)
Château Ausone
Unquestionably one of the biggest names of the Right Bank, this is also one of the oldest chateaux in the whole of Bordeaux. Situated at the edge of the limestone plateau on the approach to the village of Saint Emilion, at an altitude of 75 metres, Ausone dominates your view as you drive in to the village, with its beautiful stone gateposts, steeply sloping vineyards, and dry stone walls. Underneath the chateau are kilometre upon kilometre of stone quarries, the smallest of which (at 1,800m2) is the wine cellar. This was excavated back in the 16th century (most of the stone in Saint Emilion ended up building either the village itself, or the handsome limestone buildings in central Bordeaux). Further underground are stone vaults dating back 500 years! The humidity in the cellars is at well over 90%, meaning that they rarely have to perfrom ouillage (topping up), and the angel's rarely get their share! Above ground there is also the Magdeleine chapel (hence the name of the second wine of the estate, Chapelle d'Ausone), which again adds to the sense of mystique on visiting Ausone. They are currently renovating the chapel, and also creating a small room for receiving visitors (although don't hold your breath that this will ever be a centre for wine tourism - the Vaultier family are very discreet, and it is tough to get an appointment here). One of the smallest of all the top estates in Bordeaux, at just over seven hectares (smaller than its Saint Emilion rival Cheval Blanc, smaller even than Petrus in neighbouring Pomerol, but twice the size of le Pin), vines have been cultivated here since the time of Roman poet Ausonius. I'm not sure anyone is suggesting that Ausonius actually owned this vineyard, but it is likely to have been named in his honour.
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