Chateau Ausone   Ausone

2016 Ausone

By Chateau Ausone

2016 Ausone from Chateau Ausone, Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux

The revered 2016 Ausone from Chateau Ausone stands as a testament to the exceptional terroir of Saint-Émilion. My decades-spanning pilgrimage through Bordeaux's chateaux has afforded me countless tastings, but few have resonated with the poised authority of this remarkable vintage. Unpacking the layers of the 2016's profile is akin to discovering the rich tapestry of history woven into this monumental chateau.

 

Investment Calibre Worthy of Connoisseurship

The astute investor will recognise the value in a vintage such as this 2016 Ausone; it exhibits all the hallmarks of longevity and pedigree. Balanced adroitly between power and elegance, this wine encapsulates the robustness required for long-term maturation—a key factor for fine wine investment—with the finesse that appeals to the connoisseur’s quest for experiential transcendence.

 

A Meritorious Season Shaping a Benchmark Vintage

The 2016 growing season witnessed near-perfect conditions, with a harmonious mix of warm days and cool nights that culminated in an unruffled harvest period. These climatic conditions ensured optimal ripeness, graciously reflected in the wine’s profound structure and depth. The composure of dark fruit character against a backdrop of silky tannins and refined minerality delineates 2016 from preceding vintages, asserting its distinctive persona with aplomb.

Upon delving into the glass, you are greeted with intoxicating scents of blackcurrant, violet, and subtle hints of liquorice—all vividly unspooling on the palate with an orchestration that commands silent reverence. The wine’s delineation is razor-sharp, crafted with precision befitting Chateau Ausone’s legacy.

In summation, the 2016 Ausone from Chateau Ausone is not merely a purchase; it is an acquisition for those versed in the patrician virtues of fine Bordeaux. It holds within its ruby depths an ode to its extraordinary vintage—a siren call to both aficionado and investor alike.

Market price (GBP)

£5,990.00

12x75cl

Highest score

99

POP score

315.26

Scores and tasting notes

99

The 2016 Ausone is a blend of 50% Cabernet Franc and 50% Merlot. Deep garnet-purple colored, it's quite closed at first glance, slowly unfurling to reveal the most incredible perfume of violets, chocolate-covered cherries, warm black plums, Black Forest cake and roasted nuts with suggestions of charcuterie, wood smoke and cedar chest. The medium to full-bodied palate offers a quiet intensity of flavors that grow in the mouth to unveil layer after layer of black and red berries intertwined with beautiful savory notions framed by firm yet velvety tannins, finishing with epic length and amazing energy. It practically tingles on the palate!

Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Advocate, 30 November 2018

97-98

This is one of the most subtle and ethereal Ausones I have encountered in a while. It’s a full-bodied wine, yet one that’s very refined in texture, all the way to the extremely long finish. Shows real dignity and character. A throwback to the great years of the 1950s.

James Suckling - jamessuckling.com, April 4th 2017

18+

Deep crimson. Very ripe nose and then rather chewy end. Drying finish. Not charming for the moment - even a little exaggerated. Though there is a broad panoply of fruit flavours that come rather precipitously to a drying end.

Jancis Robinson - jancisrobinson.com

Vintage performance