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Tasting Notes
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.
Critic Scores
Average Score
Wine Spectator
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Loads of blackberry, plum and strawberry. Intense fruit. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and layers of everything. Wonderful balance and refinement. Closed up already. Very serious wine. Best after 2012. 1,375 cases made. James Suckling, Wine Spectator 2006
So deep a purple it is almost black - in fact the colour lines the glass as young vintage port does. Very very rich, broad, spicy nose. Some exotic notes of fruit that it almost burnt but there is a remarkable freshness here too. Meaty depth. On the palate it is somehow absolutely not sweet but very intense, youthful and taut - all reined in and the opposite of the regulation right bank flab in this vintage. Dry finish with fine grained tannins. Classic - very serious wine. Not especially low yields apparently for Ausone: 29 hl/ha. 14 deg alcohol. One of the standouts of the vintage - certainly on this side of the Gironde.www.jancisrobinson.com, 07 Apr 2005
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About the producer
Ch. Ausone is one of Bordeaux’s most respected estates. At this small property, perched atop a hill overlooking the town of Saint-Emilion, the Vauthier family produces some of the finest wines in the region.