Chateau Ausone 2021

SKU
AUSN202110 UCAU
  • 97-100 points, Robert Parker
  • 98 points, James Suckling
  • A real contender for top Bordeaux wine of 2021.
  • 1 or more bottles
    $1,500.00
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  • Robert Parker's
    97-100 points
  • Jancis Robinson
    17.5 points
  • Decanter
    97 points
  • James Suckling
    98 points

Editors notes

A beautifully perfumed bouquet that shows great depth and intensity. Aromas of vibrant red cherry and raspberry, wild flowers, blueberry, plum, exotic spices and chocolate. The palate seamless and beautifully structured, with a refined yet intense weight, charming, vibrant acidity and very fine tannins. Flavours of blue, black and red fruits, fresh-baking, and coffee and chocolate. A real contender for top Bordeaux wine of 2021.

Details

Tasting Profile

  • Light (Light)
    Full (Full)
  • Low Tannin (Low Tannin)
    Tannic (Tannic)
  • Sweet (Sweet)
    Dry (Dry)
  • Low Acidity (Low Acidity)
    High Acidity (High Acidity)
  • Aroma
  • Palate

Food Pairings

  • Pork
  • Red Meat

Critic Scores & reviews

  • Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

    97-100
    "A blend of 65% Cabernet Franc and 35% Merlot, the 2021 Ausone is a strong candidate for the title of wine of the vintage. Wafting from the glass with aromas of wild blueberries and raspberries mingled with rose petals, violets, exotic spices, vine smoke and blood orange, it's full-bodied, seamless and sensual, with a satiny attack that segues into a deep, layered mid-palate of breathtaking precision and intensity without weight. Built around bright acids and ultra-refined tannins and concluding with a resonant, perfumed finish, this profound young Ausone represents the essence of this great limestone terroir. I am not in the habit of drinking six-month-old Bordeaux cask samples, but this is one wine that would have sorely tempted me to make an exception to that rule if my appointment at the estate hadn't been one of the first of the day!"
  • Jancis Robinson MW

    17.5
    "Deep crimson hue. Fragrant and floral on both nose and palate. More aromatic than usual at this stage. Density and freshness through the mid palate, the fruit juicy, the tannins plentiful but very fine. Plenty of elegance and charm but there is power as well. (JL)"
  • Decanter

    97
    "Vibrant red berry notes on the nose, fragranced damson, blueberry, plum, some wild flower and dried flower touches. Smooth and so silky on the palate, round and gently mouth filling with graphite edges that appear almost straight away. You get that nuance of wet stone and chalk but so well balanced with charming, juicy cherry and blackcurrant fruit on the palate. So perfectly smooth and balanced, silky tannins give the powdery finish while the well-balanced acidity gives the energy underneath. It’s incredibly captivating because you get these waves of flavour and a gentle lick of stone that reminds you you're in St-Emilion on pure limestone. Such verticality and an aerial quality to this with flavours that continue to lift the entire way through. Sustained but graceful with a shy sense of power. Brilliant winemaking for the vintage."
  • James Suckling

    98
    "Full-bodied, but so elegant and fresh, with a silky, elegant tannin texture. Very deep and expansive. Lots going on already with plenty of perfume. Blueberries, cloves, lavender and some wild-berry notes. Dark cocoa, too. Some espresso character at the end. Wonderful interplay of spices and fruit. Long. It keeps going."

Other vintages

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Locations

France

Wine is being produced throughout France and has been done for over 2,500 years with certain Châteaux dating their history back to Roman times, around 6th Century BC. Ranking second in the world in per-capita consumption and first in total production quantity. More so than the overall quantity of wine is the quantity of truly great wines coming out of France makes the nation the envy of wine-making nations worldwide.

Two concepts pivotal to the higher end French wines, in particular, are the idea of 'terroir' and the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) system. Terroir refers to the way the geography, geology and climate find their way into the glass, telling a story of the origin of the wine. The AOC was set up in 1935 and has the primary goal of protecting the authenticity of the wines and the livelihoods of the producers. Appellation rules strictly define which varieties of grapes and winemaking practices are approved for classification in each of France's several hundred geographically defined appellations, which can cover entire regions, individual villages or in some cases, like in Burgundy even specific vineyards.

Classic wine regions in France include Champagne (home of Champagne), Burgundy (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay), Bordeaux (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot), Alsace (Aromatic varietals), Loire Valley (Chenin Blanc, Crémant) and the Rhône Valley (Syrah, Grenache Mourvedre)

The Bordeaux classification of 1855 is still in use, as is the Sauternes and Barsac Classification of the same year. Wines from certain regions can be bought En Primeur, which is when the wine is sold prior to it being bottled.

Bordeaux

Bordeaux has a rich history of winemaking, dating back to the Roman times. Today, it is known as one of the most significant wine regions in the world, with a reputation for producing complex, full-bodied red wines. The region is home to a diverse range of terroirs, each with its own unique microclimate, soil composition, and grape varieties.

The left bank of Bordeaux is dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, which thrives in the region's gravelly soils. These wines tend to be bold, tannic, and complex, with notes of blackcurrant, cedar, and tobacco. On the right bank, Merlot is king, producing wines that are softer and fruitier, with notes of plum, cherry, and chocolate.

Aside from the red blends, Bordeaux is also renowned for its sweet wines, particularly from the Sauternes and Barsac appellations. These wines are made using a unique process that involves botrytis, or "noble rot," which concentrates the sugars in the grapes, resulting in a lusciously sweet and complex wine.

Bordeaux's classification system has evolved over time, with some estates moving up or down the ranks depending on the quality of their wines. Today, the system includes five growths, with Premier Cru being the highest and Deuxièmes Crus being the second-highest. There is also a separate classification for the sweet wines of Sauternes and Barsac, with Chateau d’Yquem holding the highest rank.

Overall, Bordeaux is a region that continues to captivate wine enthusiasts around the world with its rich history, diverse terroirs, and exceptional wines.

Saint-Emilion

Saint-Émilion, a prestigious and historic appellation located on the right bank of the Gironde river in Bordeaux, France, is a red-wine-only region that has earned a well-deserved spot on the World Heritage List. Although Saint-Émilion is situated inland from the Atlantic Ocean, it still benefits from the moderating influence of the river and the cool, humid climate of the region, which is ideal for cultivating early-ripening grape varieties.

Merlot, the primary grape variety in Saint-Émilion, is renowned for its plump, juicy fruit flavors and velvety tannins, and it is typically blended with Cabernet Franc, which adds structure, tannin, and complexity. Some châteaux also grow small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon, which contributes additional depth and richness to the final blend.

Wine styles in Saint-Émilion can range from simple, easy-drinking wines that are perfect for enjoying in their youth to premium Grand Cru Classé wines that are among the most coveted and sought-after in the world. The quality of the wine is influenced by many factors, including location, vine age, and winemaking techniques.

The best wines from Saint-Émilion are characterized by their intense, concentrated aromas and flavors of red and black plums, often accompanied by notes of vanilla and clove from aging in new oak barrels. These wines are typically full-bodied, with high alcohol content and robust tannins, which provide structure and aging potential. Over time, bottle aging will soften the tannins, allowing the wine's rich fruit flavors to fully express themselves.

It's worth noting that Saint-Émilion has its own classification system for Premier Grand Cru Classé and Grand Cru Classé wines, which is updated every decade to reflect the changing quality of the region's wines. This system serves as a benchmark for quality and helps consumers to identify the best wines from this renowned appellation.

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Pairs Well With

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Frequently Bought With

About the brand Chateau Ausone

Chateau Ausone is named after the Roman poet Ausonius who owned over 100 acres of vineyard around Saint Emilion. It is perched on the hillside in the southern outskirts of the village of Saint Emilion.

Ausone has only 7.3 hectares of vines and its vineyards (Merlot 50%, Cabernet Franc 50%) flourish on a steep, south-east facing slope, protecting them from cold north winds and westerly rain. Those vines at the top of the slope thrive on limestone (the `St.Emilion plateau') whilst those further down benefit from a clay/loam topsoil (the 'Côtes').

Ausone struggled during the 1950s and 1960s, but with the hiring of new régisseur Pascal Delbeck in 1976, the estate returned to producing wines worthy of its outstanding historic reputation. Recently Ausone has been at the very peak of its form and with the ubiquitous Michel Rolland now acting as consultant, it is now producing ultra-rich, lush, exotically fruity wines that require a minimum 10 years of bottle ageing.

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