Château Ausone, 1er Grand Cru Classé, St Emilion, 2016
Alain Vauthier's flagship estate arguably possesses the greatest terroir in Bordeaux. The steep limestone slopes that lead up to the Chateau are planted with 50 year old vines that regularly produce quite exceptional, ethereal, complex, even intellectual wines. Produced from equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc, from relatively generous yields of 40 hl/ha. Impressive as the Chapelle is, the Grand Vin has an overdrive... The 2016 Ausone is poised and reserved. There is an extravagant bouquet of exotic hedgerow fruit, Asian spice, cassis, violets, herbs and boysenberry. As one would expect from this great limestone terroir, there is tremendous minerality, a salinity that juxtaposes with the sweet redcurrant core. Layers of fruit and minerals pour over the palate as it gathers nuances on the fruit infused tannins. Whilst this is utterly harmonious and quite hedonistic, it is also deeply engaging and has real bite thanks to its acidity. This is an Ausone with electrifying tension and complexity.
critic reviews
The 2016 Ausone offers a mixture of red and black fruit, wilted violet and iris flower, subtle veins of blue fruit that only emerge with aeration. Fine delineation. The palate is lively and animated on the entry. Great tension, very focused, gentle grip with a bright, white pepper-tinged finish. Not quite the multi-dimensional Cheval Blanc but there is real nuance and class here. N.B. One bottle tasted blind at Farr's was oxidized. Tasted at Bordeaux Index's 10 Year On tasting in London.