Chateau Ausone, Saint Emilion, 1er Grand Cru Classé “A”, Bordeaux, 2016 Tasting notes
Just visiting Chateau Ausone is something very special. Ausone is one of the eight top wines in Bordeaux (Next to the five First Growths, Petrus and Cheval Blanc) and also the smallest of them all. With its 7ha (16acres) it is about 10 times as small as a Medoc First Growth. Ausone, producing between 15.000 and 18.000 bottles yearly, is NOT open for visitors. The latest vintage is tasted next to the coveted vats that hold the precious wines. The family is very much involved. Owner Alain Vauthier and his daughter are omnipresent during the tastings. They were both wearing happy smiles because of the great vintage.
Chapelle d’Ausone (18,5 points)
[6% Cabernet Franc, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot]
Intense deep purple and red color. Beautiful and very expressive elegant nose. I simply loved the creamy texture and the silky tannins. Extraordinary length for “just” a second wine. This second wine delivers both power and elegance. It’s almost ridiculous to call this merely a second wine. Just lovely!
Chateau Ausone (20- points)
[50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Franc]
An even more intense color than the Chapelle. Superb elegant and complex nose that releases waves of different aroma’s dominated by red fruit and vanilla tones. The most beautiful nose of all wines I have tasted in this vintage. This marvelous wine has it all: elegance, finesse, length, power and a subdued, almost smooth tannic structure and a really incredible length. Amazingly complex fruit tones. Exemplary precision of the fruit. One of the few samples I swallowed and wanted to drink more of already. Very good indeed!
