Château Ausone 2012
Review of the Estate
Chateau Ausone is a Bordeaux wine from Saint-Émilion appellation, one of only four wines, to be ranked Premier Grand Cru Classè (A) in the Classification of Saint-Émilion wine. Chateau Ausone is located on the Right Bank of France's Bordeaux wine region in the Gironde department, close to the town of Saint-Émilion.
Chateau Ausone also produce a second wine named Chapelle d'Ausone.
Placed on the western edge of 11th century village Saint-Émilion, with elevated vineyards facing south on steep terraces in ideal situation, Chateau Ausone takes its name from Decimius Magnus Ausonius (310-395 AD), a statesman and poet from Bordeaux who owned about 100 acres (0.40 km2) of vineyard. It is believed by some that Chateau Ausone is on the foundations of his villa.
The modern estate can be dated to the 18th century, when it was owned by Jean Cantenat. Later, under the ownership of the Lafargue family,Chateau Ausone was inherited by Edouard Dubois who steered the chateau through the difficulties of the late 19th century, and in 1916 added the adjacent Chateau Belair to their estate. The chateaux were run separately, although both age their wine in the Ausone cellars, caves in the limestone cliffs beneath the town of Saint-Émilion. After Dubois died in 1921, his widow Heylette Dubois-Challon and Dubois' children of a previous marriage who married into the Vauthier family took control over Chateau Ausone.
Despite being one of the great names of Bordeaux, Chateau Ausone fell into decline until Pascal Delbeck was appointed winemaker in 1976.
For several years Chateau Ausone was jointly owned by the Dubois-Challon and Vauthier families. Alain Vauthier became managing director of Chateau Ausone, while Heylette Dubois-Challon won the right to live on the chateau until her death in 2003.
Michel Rolland was appointed consultant oenologist in 1995.
Vineyard
Surface area: 17.3 acres
Grape Varieties: 50% Merlot, 50% Cabernet Franc
Average age of vines: 50 - 55 years
Density of plantation: 6,000 - 7,8000 vines per hectare
Average yields: 35 hectoliters per hectare
Average cases produced: 1,800 per year
Plateau of maturity: 5 - 100 years
Château Ausone 2012 Reviews / Tasting Notes
Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate
Point Score: 96+
One can't say enough about the amazing job that Alain Vauthier and his daughter have done at this historic property on the decomposed limestone slopes of St.-Emilion. Not surprisingly, the 2012 Ausone is one of the candidates for the wine of the vintage. Inky purple in color, with notes of crushed rocks, spring flowers and blueberry and black raspberry, the wine grows on the palate, offering up amazing concentration. There is no heaviness or cloying characteristics. Pure, rich, full-bodied and, although accessible, it is capable of lasting 30 or more years. This will be one of the profound 2012s, following what Haut Brion and Mission Haut Brion did in Pessac-Léognan. Drink it 2022-2050+.
Jeff Leve
Point Score: 95-97
The Merlot was harvested on October 9, 11 and 12, while the Cabernet Franc was picked October 13, 15 and 17, with yields of 32 hectoliters per hectare. The assemblage is 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot and will be aged in 85% new French oak for 18 months. Floral, stone, licorice and black cherries create the aromatics. Supple, rich, mineral-driven and polished black cherry and raspberries end with the one of the richest, most opulent finishes of the vintage. 95-97 Pts
Antonio Galloni - Vinous
Point Score: 95+
One of the wines of the vintage, the 2012 Ausone boasts gorgeous depth, aromatic intensity and overall balance. Dark red stone fruits, menthol, licorice, smoke and savory herbs flesh out as this layered, seductive Saint-Emilion shows off its pure pedigree and class. Further time in bottle should allow the 2012 to flesh out even more, but it is pretty special today. I remember tasting the 2012 straight from barrel with Alain Vauthier in the spring of 2013. The bottled, finished wine is every bit as special. The blend is 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot.