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98 By Robert Parker
98 By Robert Parker
95 By Wine Spectator
95 By Wine Spectator
18 By Rene Gabriel
The 2001 Ausone has put on even more weight than I anticipated. The ?wine of the vintage,? this inky/purple-colored 2001 boasts a provocative, floral perfume of crushed stones, raspberries, blackberries, creme de cassis, licorice, and smoke. What makes it so sensational are the layers of flavor and nuances that unfold as the wine sits in the glass as well as on the palate. This is an extraordinarily intense effort, but remarkably elegant and well-balanced. It ideally needs another decade of cellaring; it should last for 4-5 decades! Alain Vauthier is a perfectionist, which is evidenced by what he has produced over the last half dozen vintages at Ausone. Kudos to readers lucky enough to find a bottle or two ... and live long enough to enjoy them in their prime. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2050+.
Producer
Château Ausone
Château Ausone has produced wine for close to four centuries in commemoration of the Roman poet, Decimius Magnus Ausonius, who once owned over 40-hectares of vines in Saint-Émilion. A great Right Bank producer, Ausone is one of the only four estates, along with Cheval Blanc, Angélus, and Pavie to be classified as a Premier Grand Cru Classé A-grade property in the appellation. Today, following in direct lineage of 17th century owners the Dubois-Challon-Vauthier family, Alain Vauthier and his daughter Pauline own and manage the estate. Located just outside of the Saint-Émilion village, Ausone owns what is rumored to be the best terroir in Bordeaux, a steep 7-hectare plot perched on a hillside. From 1993 to 2013, famed enologist Michel Rolland worked with the family offering invaluable input on the winemaking approach. These important founding years helped even more to propel this already impressive château to the top ranking producers from around the globe. Ausone is known by its inimitable mineralistic style which is culminated by the massive limestone deposits in the soil. The wines are overall rich, complex, and increasingly oaked.