Description
Slogan:
Elite St-Émilion producer
Tasting Note:
"The 2001 Ausone has put on even more weight than I anticipated. The 'wine of the vintage,' this inky/purple-colored 2001 boasts a provocative, floral perfume of crushed stones, raspberries, blackberries, creme de cassis, licorice, and smoke. What makes it so sensational are the layers of flavor and nuances that unfold as the wine sits in the glass as well as on the palate. This is an extraordinarily intense effort, but remarkably elegant and well-balanced. It ideally needs another decade of cellaring; it should last for 4-5 decades! Alain Vauthier is a perfectionist, which is evidenced by what he has produced over the last half dozen vintages at Ausone. Kudos to readers lucky enough to find a bottle or two ... and live long enough to enjoy them in their prime. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2050+"
- Robert Parker 95 points
Dominant Flavor:
Raspberries, Blackberries, Creme de Cassis, Licorice
Food Matching:
Veal, Pork, Beef, Lamb, Duck, Game
Overview:
The origins of Château Ausone can be traced back as far as 1592, the year in which proofs and documents can be found about the existence of the estate. Today the winery is owned by the Vauthier family, and is managed with care and attention by Alain and his sister Catherine, who, since 2005, have also collaborated with oenologist Pauline, Alain's daughter.
The company's vineyards enjoy an exceptional terroir to say the least, and are located on a plateau overlooking the medieval village of Saint-Émilion, characterized by soils composed mainly of limestone and clay, and, above all, sheltered on two sides, to the north and to the West. The 7 hectares worth of vineyards, which wind through elegant and orderly rows, include the typical Bordeaux grape varieties, namely cabernet franc and merlot, with vines aged on average 50 years. Their low yield only partially explains the concentration of the wine and its enormous aging potential, but certainly this isn’t enough to justify the great quality of Château Ausone. The refinement of its velvety texture in early youth, the elegance in the bouquet and the inexhaustible persistence in the mouth, are characteristics obtained also thanks to precise and careful work in the cellar, for which the tannins integrate very well with the splendid maturity of the fruit, in a blend where cabernet sauvignon and merlot embrace in a unique dance of flavors and aromas. In every single bottle signed by Château Ausone, a wonderful balance is to be found, which casually challenges the passage of time, allowing, in particular great vintages, to live at least half a century. A longevity that portends unique evolutions, describing wines that are nothing short of splendid: to be tasted at least once in a lifetime.
