Chateau Ausone 2009

1 x 75cl

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In Bond Price What is In Bond?

£1,042.00

  • Colour

    Red

  • Vintage

    2009

  • Producer

    Chateau Ausone

  • Country

    France

  • Region

    Bordeaux

  • Sub Region

    St Emilion

  • Product code

    23AUS1H2009

  • Grape Variety

    Cabernet Franc / Merlot


Tasting Notes

Robert Parker

Score: 95-97+ Robert Parker

"The 2009 Ausone, was produced at probably twice the yields of the absolutely remarkable 2008, but is another profound effort from Vauthier. Dense purple in color, with an almost liqueur of limestone intermixed with acacia flowers, blueberry, raspberry, and boysenberry fruit, the use of 100% new oak is completely concealed by the wealth of fruit and the lavish richness this wine exhibits. Nevertheless, there is a striking precision, minerality, and purity to Ausone. This wine might be far more drinkable in 7-8 years than the 2005 or 2008 will be with the same amount of aging. Nevertheless, any person lucky enough to latch on to one of the 1200 or so cases of this wine should realize it is going to evolve for 20-50 years."

Jancis Robinson

Score: 17+ Points

"Full and gamey and broad and expressive. Very distinctive wine. Still a bit tough and modern and super-focused. Very drying on the end. Quite demanding for now. Drying on the finish. Really quite painful ? as though it had been concentrated, or certainly as though the grapes suffered quite a bit of drought stress. Lots of minerality on the finish. Very ambitious. Shades of Pavie 2003? I'm sure many palates will really, really appreciate this wine, and I look forward very much to following its progression as I have the utmost respect for Alain and now Pauline Vauthier interviewed here about the effect of the hail damage her family's vineyards suffered in May. I see the fiche technique specifies a yield of 27hl/ha and 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot but no picking date and I seem to have forgotten to ask. Drink 2020-2035"

Wine Spectator

Score: 97-100 Points

Such a dreamy, perfumed aroma to this wine. Full-bodied, but wonderfully polished and integrated. It touches every millimeter of your palate and the texture makes you want to cry. It touches your soul. Goes on for minutes. Another perfect red? JS

Bibendum

Score: 17.5 Points

Quite closed on the nose but revealing a mass of spicy plum fruit on the palate. Dry and ripe with a hint of bitterness and huge, mouth-filling tannins. Intense and backward with slightly suppressed fruit, this has the stuffing to cellar extremely well. Drink from 2019.

Producer Information

Chateau Ausone is one of only two Premier Grand Cru Classe A properties in St Emilion along with Chateau Cheval Blanc. Ausone; like many other Bordeaux estates, bears the name of key a historical figure, helping to bring the history of Bordeaux to life. Ausone is named after Ausonius; an academic who purchased St Emilion vineyards and who was born in Bordeaux somewhere around AD310!

There are only 7 hectares of vines, which importantly, are positioned in a suntrap, an amphitheatre of vines protected from frost. The vines have a good age, nearing half a century on average, and are 50% Cabernet Franc and 50% Merlot. The very best barrels will go into Chateau Ausone, the grand vin, and some will be deselected for the estate's second wine, Chapelle d'Ausone.

Overall the production is a little over 2000 cases, and limited quantities with supreme quality are two obvious features that have pushed Ausone prices into the stratosphere, putting even the left bank First Growths to shame. This is a very special wine indeed, the estate; which is owned by Alain Vauthier, does not exhibit the same grandeur and luxury that can be seen on the Left Bank but the quality is second to none. Wine simply does not get much better than this…

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