2023 Bordeaux Wine Magazine: Ausone 2022 tasting notes and ratings on futures and ratings “en primeur” by Ronald Rens, M.Sc., Wine Master, Bordeaux Expert
![Ronald with Alain Vauthier and his son Edouard](https://www.bxwinex.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/IMG_0380-2.jpg)
Ronald with Alain Vauthier and his son Edouard
I taste the Ausone in the chateau with Alain Vauthier and his son Edouard.
Alain explained that a lot has changed since 1971, his first vintage at Ausone. Of course, Vauthier was happy with his wine but worried for the future with global warming. We discussed the carbon footprint of the wine production. The largest emission of CO2 comes from the bottle (so let’s recycle them) and from wine tourism (so let’s be reasonable and join only our tours from now on).
Pessimism or not, the wines here are really in a league of their own.
Chapelle d’Ausone 2022 (19- points/20)
[60% Cabernet Franc, 35% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon]
Intense deep color. On the nose I find superb, beautiful ripe fruit with almost some jammy sweetness. On the palate the journey towards velvet starts. Super tannins like they only seem to exist here at Ausone. The ripe fruit combines perfectly with the ripe tannins and the freshness, so important in this vintage. The first wine today, that I refuse to spit out. Well done, and this is “simply” a second wine.
![Ausone 2022: 20 points is not enough: 20+ points as this wine beats everything](https://www.bxwinex.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/IMG_0372-2.jpg)
20 points is not enough: 20+ points as this wine beats everything
Chateau Ausone 2022 (20+ points/20)
[50% Cabernet Franc and 50% Merlot]
A deep intense color, much like “La Chapelle.” Superb complex nose that seeming continuously shows layer after layer. Just the nose is enough to make my day.
On the palate I can reduce my tasting notes to one word: WOW! This is really special. I have had the pleasure of tasting Ausone on futures for almost 20 years now, but this beats everything I have experienced so far. The velvetiest, smoothest tannins in the world with a precision in red and black fruit like only a great Ausone can produce. A completely linear experience; flawless! In simply incredible balance with acidity, tannins, and an astounding pure fruit expression. I refuse spitting out this great wine. A magnificent Ausone from an exceptional vintage.
My verdict? 20 points is not enough: 20+ points/20, as this wine beats everything.
More Bordeaux 2022 tasting notes and ratings:
| 2022 Chateau Ausone | 2022 Chateau Cheval Blanc | 2022 Chateau Angelus | 2022 Chateau Pavie |
|2022 Chateau Lafite Rothschild | 2022 Chateau Mouton Rothschild | 2022 Chateau Latour | 2022 Chateau Margaux |
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