| "The 2000 is the greatest Ausone I have ever tasted aside from 100+- year old examples I had in Munich with the famous collector, Hardy Rodenstock. A saturated black/purple color is followed by sensational aromas of ink, cherries, blackberries, blueberries, and that wet stones/liquid mineral characteristic. The wine has phenomenal presence on the palate as well as astonishing richness and purity. Despite its extract, power, and richness, it is remarkably light with a surreal delicacy and purity. It is a tour de force in winemaking and a great expression of this magical terroir. It should prove to be legendary, but sadly, anyone over the age of 50 will probably not live to see it come close to maturity. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2075. P.S. Even if you have to drink it young, everyone owes it to themselves to taste this prodigious effort." -Rated 100, Robert Parker Perched on the hillside outside the medieval walls of the town of St. Emilion, Chateau Ausone is an estate of great historical significance with a tiny vineyard of very old vines and extensive limestone caves. The estate had suffered a lowering of quality in the '50s and '60s, but with the hiring of new régisseur Pascal Delbeck in 1976, the estate returned to producing wines worthy of its outstanding historic reputation. In the mid-1990's, the Vauthier family (formerly hereditary partners in the estate with the Dubois-Challon family) became sole owners, and Alain Vauthier is now in full control as winemaker, working in consultation with Michel Rolland Fermentation and maceration last 3-4 weeks in temperature-controlled vats. Malolactic fermentation takes place in 100% new oak barrels, and wines are aged 19-23 months before being bottled. They are racked every 3 months. Assemblage is normally done in March following the vintage, and the blend corrected if necessary just before bottling. Wines are generally lightly fined with fresh egg whites, but unfiltered. Production is very limited, reaching only 1,700-2,100 cases per year. St. Emilion. The 18 acre vineyard runs along the steep slopes of the Côtes (limestone hillsides) comprising the bank of the Dordogne River just below the town. |
