Chateau Ausone 2020

Château Ausone, Saint Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classe "A", Bordeaux, France, 2020

Grapes: 50% Cabernet Franc and 50% Merlot, 7ha vineyard on limestone soil, 50-100 year old vines, 20 months' ageing in 100% new French oak, organic & biodynamic production

Critics' Tasting Notes:

"A blend of equal parts Cabernet Franc and Merlot, the 2020 Ausone wafts from the glass with aromas of dark berries and cherries mingled with notions of incense, spices and raw cocoa framed by a creamy patina of new oak. Medium to full-bodied, layered and seamless, it's pure and concentrated, with a sweet core of fruit, generously extracted tannins and a vanillin-inflected finish. Less seamless and sensual than the lovely 2019, it will require some patience to come together, but there is no mistaking the quality of the terroir here."

95+/100 points, William Kelley, WINE ADVOCATE

"The (?) captivates your focus with its showy display of flowers, crushed rocks, black, red and blue fruit, espresso and thyme. It takes a bit of coaxing and patience, but there is an incredible level of depth, purity, refinement, and vibrancy at play here on the palate as the wine gently coats your palate with its layers of salt-infused, black and dark red fruits. The deep seamless finish crosses the 60 second mark and keeps on going as it continues showing off its essence of minerals of fresh berries. This could be the longest lived wine of the vintage."

100/100 points, Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider, March 2023