Ausone - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2006

Wine Advocate

93 / 100

byNeal Martinthe5/31/2016

Tasted at Bordeaux Index's annual 10-Year On tasting in London.The 2006 Château Ausone has a fragrant bouquet compared to the 2006 Pavie, fomenting more secondary aromas such as smoke, cigar box, potpourri and a smear of Seville orange marmalade. The palate is very refined on the entry, rounded and supple in the mouth. It clearly does not have the density and weight of the Pavie, but it exerts an insistent grip in the mouth and the tannins have symmetry on the finish. It is a very fine Ausone, although Alain Vauthier has overseen better vintages in recent years. Tasted January 2016.

Jancis Robinson

17 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe1/27/2010

Exceptionally deep purple - no sign of age! Yet on the nose it seems rather developed. Odd! A bit of kirsch, a bit of sweat. You could think of approaching this in the next few years at least compared with some in this flight. But it's awfully hard work at the moment. Pronounced greenness on the finish. Drink 2014-2025

Wine Spectator

93 / 100

the3/31/2009

Cedar, new wood and crushed blackberry and raspberry aromas follow through to a palate of vanilla, berry and blackberry character. Balanced and modern, with lots of fruit. Lively, with bright acidity. Best after 2014. –JS

Wine Advocate

98 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe2/1/2009

One of the handful of candidates for wine of the vintage is the 2006 Ausone. In fact, while tasting it, I was thinking, is there any estate in Bordeaux that, since 1998, has made as many legendary wines as proprietor Alain Vauthier has at his beloved Ausone? Boasting an inky/blue/purple color as well as an extraordinary, precise bouquet of minerals, flowers, blueberry liqueur, and black currants, this wine possesses fabulous fruit and great intensity, but what makes it so special is its precision, focus, and almost ethereal lightness despite substantial flavor intensity and depth. It is a ballerina with density and power. The abundant noticeable tannin is sweet and, not surprisingly, very finely grained. It should be cellared for a decade, and consumed over the following half century.

Decanter Magazine

18.50 / 20

the6/30/2007

The outstanding wine from St Emilion in 2006. Intense floral, violet aroma. xceptional quality of tannin wrapped in exquisite fruit. Long, lively and fresh. Power and finesse combined. 2016-35

Cahier Gaultmillau

19 / 20

the6/30/2007

Ce vin a une robe d'une très grande concentration alllant du noir au pourpre. Au nez, c'est immédiatement la finese et le côté racé qui nous accueillen. La trame aromatique est veloutée, soyeuse et minérale. A l'aération, des notes poivrées et mentholées apportent une distinction supplémentaire. En bouche, le vin est à la fois souple, suave et acidulé. Les tannins sont soyeux, laissant une impression d'élégance à l'ensemble. Vu la réserve, notamment sur le fruité que nous avons, nous sommes persuadés que cet Ausone-là sera un vin de garde. Autre point important, son équilibre impressionnant. A boire avant 2030/35

La Revue du Vin de France

18,5-19,5 / 20

the6/27/2007

alain Vauthier, une fois encore, se distingue et Ausone domine l'appellation avec un vin magistral. Composé à 55% de cabernet franc et à 45% de merlot, Ausone 2006 se distingue par une sève magique et une constitution monumentale. Riche et intensément fruité, compact et tannique, il est suffisamment doté pour équilibrer l'ensemble et offrir à ceux qui sauront être patients un vin d'un éclat unique.

Le Point

19 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe5/24/2007

Cerise écrasée, mûre, touche de violette, Zan, bouche tendre, tannins veloutés, des notes épicées, une structure droite, précise, des tanins fournis et sans dureté. Un vin fin et concentré, harmonieux, très long.

Falstaff

90-92 / 100

the5/23/2007

Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, fast opaker Kern, violette Reflexe. In der Nase verhalten, zart nach Zwetschken und dunklem Beerenkonfit, dezente Gewürzanklänge. Am Gaumen elegante Textur, sehr frisch strukturiert, Cassis-Heidelberfrucht, im hinteren Teil zitronig, wirkt nicht so druckvoll wie gewohnt in dieser Phase, es fehlt an Fleisch und Länge, die weitere Entwicklung bleibt abzuwarten. Wird dem Anspruch eines Premier Cru so nicht ganz gerecht.

WeinWisser

18 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe5/7/2007

2017-2045

Wine Advocate

95-97 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe5/3/2007

The inky/blue-colored 2006 Ausone possesses a striking perfume of minerals, flowers, blackberries, and blueberries. Even though 100% new oak is utilized in the wine’s upbringing, there is no hint of wood in the aromas or flavors. Despite its fabulous texture, medium to full body, size, richness, and profound depth of flavor and nuance, it is surreal in its lightness and delicacy. Prospective purchasers should be aware that the 2006, a legend in the making, will require 10-12 years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2050. Obsessive perfectionist proprietor Alain Vauthier’s extraordinary attention to detail in both the vineyard and cellar has resulted in virtually perfect wines in vintage after vintage. Ausone is a 50-year wine, and generations to come will regard them with almost mythical acclaim.

Wine Advocate

94-96 / 100

byNeal Martinthe5/1/2007

Tasted at Ausone. This is a gorgeous Ausone, although not quite up to the 2000 or 2005. A deep limpid purple hue. The nose is intense and floral with blackberry, cassis and violets, with less pronounced Cabernet Franc than other vintages. A rounded sensuous full-bodied palate with grippy tannins, a minerally core but just losing a little focus and precision towards the finish. This will be a medium-term Ausone, more sumptuous in style and more approachable.

TAST

18 / 20

the4/30/2007

Arôme noble de truffe, saveur ample et complexe, corps très équilibré, tout à fait dans la ligne de ce qu’on attend, mais sans la sensation de domination absolue de l’appellation que le cru donne parfois. La texture noble et le tannin ferme laissent espérer un développement continu tout au long de l’élevage sous bois. La Chapelle d’Ausone (17/20) enchante par son raffinement aromatique et l’expression presque aussi racée du terroir !

Vinum

18 / 20

the4/30/2007

Unbequemer, unnahbarer, in seiner erratischen, säurebtonten Art ungewöhnlicher Ausone, endet pfeffrig und ellenlan. Muss eine Ewigkeit reifen. 2016 bis 2030

Jancis Robinson

17.50 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe4/18/2007

Much darker crimson/purple. Thick and dark, still a little rude – black fruits and berries, thick and very dense and very round and sweet at first. Pretty tough tannins but wonderfully sophisticated delicacy. Hint of greenness, rises up, dances, but not the most astonishing. Dry but very clean finish, Velvety start. Lively but a little bit skinny. More structure than the Chapelle. 17.5++

Wine Enthusiast

95-97 / 100

the4/15/2007

A hugely dense wine, all power and dark tannins. Very concentrated this is dark, a firm, solid structure covering the huge black plum fruit flavors. It’s all about power. —R.V.

Wine Spectator

92-94 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/4/2007

This is a solid Ausone, with plenty of blackberry and licorice character. Full and velvety, with a solid core of fruit and medium chewy tannins. Not the 2005, but well done.