Amazing! The limestone soils of Ausone appear to have been the perfect foil for resisting the extreme heat and drought of June, July and August, 2003. This black/purple-colored effort boasts a glorious nose of violets, truffles, lead pencil shavings, blueberry and blackberry liqueur. Full-bodied with staggering concentration, a voluptuous texture, low acidity and well-integrated, melted tannins, this deep, multidimensional, profound Bordeaux is beginning to drink exceptionally well. It should continue to do so for another two decades or more.
Drinking Window: 2014 - 2034
Reviewer Name: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Review Date: 28th August 2014
Very inky color. Intense aromas of black licorice, currants, berries, minerals and citrus. Hints of smoky wood. Full-bodied and superconcentrated, with layers of ripe fruit and supervelvety tannins. Goes on and on. Very complex with amazing concentration. I am glad I was sitting down when I tasted this. Blockbuster. Massive. Score range: 95-100
Drinking Window: 2013 - 2044
Review Date: 30th June 2004
Full blue-tinged ruby color. Vibrant, austere aromas of blackberry, blueberry, bitter cherry, licorice, minerals and mint. Penetrating and powerful, with strong acids contributing to the wine's muscularity. Not yet especially fleshy or sweet, but this has superb energy in the mouth, and the structure to carry it through decades of development in bottle. Notes of dark berries, graphite and licorice. The huge, expanding finish features powerful, medicinal but noble tannins that avoid dryness. A testament to the high quality achievable in 2003 by cabernet franc grown on chalk.
Drinking Window: 2013 - 2044
Review Date: 1st May 2004
- Details
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- Year 2003
- Colour Red
- Country France
- Region Bordeaux
- Sub Region Saint-Emilion Grand Cru
- Designation
- Classification
- Pack Size 12x75cl
- ABV 13.50°
- Drinking Window 2014 - 2044
- Drinking Recommendation Drinking Now, will improve
- LWIN 100620520031200750
- Reviews (3)
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100 Wine Advocate
Amazing! The limestone soils of Ausone appear to have been the perfect foil for resisting the extreme heat and drought of June, July and August, 2003. This black/purple-colored effort boasts a glorious nose of violets, truffles, lead pencil shavings, blueberry and blackberry liqueur. Full-bodied with staggering concentration, a voluptuous texture, low acidity and well-integrated, melted tannins, this deep, multidimensional, profound Bordeaux is beginning to drink exceptionally well. It should continue to do so for another two decades or more.
Drinking Window: 2014 - 2034
Reviewer Name: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Review Date: 28th August 2014
95-100 Wine SpectatorVery inky color. Intense aromas of black licorice, currants, berries, minerals and citrus. Hints of smoky wood. Full-bodied and superconcentrated, with layers of ripe fruit and supervelvety tannins. Goes on and on. Very complex with amazing concentration. I am glad I was sitting down when I tasted this. Blockbuster. Massive. Score range: 95-100
Drinking Window: 2013 - 2044
Review Date: 30th June 2004
93-97 Stephen Tanzer - VinousFull blue-tinged ruby color. Vibrant, austere aromas of blackberry, blueberry, bitter cherry, licorice, minerals and mint. Penetrating and powerful, with strong acids contributing to the wine's muscularity. Not yet especially fleshy or sweet, but this has superb energy in the mouth, and the structure to carry it through decades of development in bottle. Notes of dark berries, graphite and licorice. The huge, expanding finish features powerful, medicinal but noble tannins that avoid dryness. A testament to the high quality achievable in 2003 by cabernet franc grown on chalk.
Drinking Window: 2013 - 2044
Review Date: 1st May 2004
- Producer
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About Château Ausone
Château Ausone vies with Cheval-Blanc to be Saint-Émilion’s most prestigious estate. Named after the Roman poet Ausonius who once resided in this area, Ausone is one of four Premier Grand Cru Classé (A) wines in the classification of Saint-Émilion (along with Angélus, Cheval Blanc and Pavie).
Quite possibly the oldest winemaking estate in the entire region, the vines of Château Ausone occupy the same site as a villa owned by the Roman poet and proconsul Ausonius nearly 2000 years ago. The connection to the current name is clear to see, but the Vauthier family have owned these hallowed vineyards for several centuries into the 12th generation with Pauline.
Viniculture
Ausone stands tall over the town of St-Émilion itself, with a mere seven hectares of entirely classified vines – making it the single smallest First Growth in any appellation, on any Bank. Clinging precariously to steep, ancient slopes comprised of clay and limestone with particularly shallow soil cover, it has been said that Ausone is one of few properties in the region where one can simply tell from the sight of its terroir that the wine is exceptional. There are Cabernet Franc vines that are more than 100 years of age (planted 1906).
Striking chunks of limestone are immediately obvious, and it comes as no surprise to learn that such is the extent of said geological influence that there are deep quarries running beneath the vines. Actively worked between the 13th and 19th centuries, the dormant mines are now used by the Vauthiers to store oak barrels at a temperature of 12 degrees and a steady year-round humidity of 97% – in fact so effective are these limestone cellars that a dehumidifier had to be installed!
Aside from producing some of the greatest, rarest wine on Earth, Ausone’s terroir is exceptional for its consistency. Vintage after vintage, both the Grand Vin and the second wine excel whilst others stumble – the latter representing a minuscule 10% of the total production of an already dramatically small amount.
- Vintage Comparison
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Ausone - Offers on Cru
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