Château Ausone - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2000

Wine Advocate

98 / 100

par Robert Parker le 30/06/2010

Two bottles were badly corked, which is certainly a scary situation for a wine where only 1,000 or so cases were produced. However, a third bottle was magical and just short of perfection. Its saturated purple color was followed by a surprisingly more evolved and open wine than I had written in my tasting note in 2003, where I predicted maturity between 2020 and 2075. This wine displays wonderful, sweet tannin and a big, sweet kiss of truffle, crushed rock, blueberry, blackberry, and licorice. Extremely rich, full-bodied, with astonishing power, precision, and delicacy, this is a sumptuous wine that should age well for 50-60 years, but in the case of the one bottle out of three that was not corked, it seemed far more evolved and forward than I suggested in my write-up in 2003.... 98+ Points

La Revue du Vin de France

19.50 / 20

le 01/12/2009

Splendide expression sur des notes fumées au nez que l'on retrouve en bouche. Harmonie et puissance avec beaucoup de complexité sur des notes de fruits mûrs. La bouche longue et génèreuse associe puissance et richesse.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

97 / 100

par Stephen Tanzer le 30/06/2003

Bright ruby-red. Profound nose melds raspberry, black cherry, mocha and minerals. Wonderfully silky and spherical, with monumental solidity and yet incredible inner-mouth perfume. This builds and builds toward the back, finishing with big but suave tannins and extraordinary minerally length. One of the two or three greatest wines I tasted on my spring trip to the Bordeaux region.

Wine Advocate

100 / 100

par Robert Parker le 30/04/2003

Alain Vauthier a réussi le tour de force de traduire dans son somptueux 2000 l'essence du terroir d'Ausone. Il propose un vin d'un pourpre noir soutenu, dont les sensationnelles senteurs d'encre, de cerise, de mûre et de myrtille sont rehaussées des légendaires parfums de minéral et de pierre mouillée caractéristique du cru. L'ensemble, qui manifeste en bouche une présence phénoménale, marie merveilleusement richesse et pureté, et révèle encore, malgré sa puissance et son extraction, une délicatesse aérienne. Ce 2000 incarne, je le répète, outre la plus merveilleuse expression qui soit du fabuleux terroir d'Ausone, un véritable tour de force en matière de vinification. Véritable légende en perspective, il ne pourra, je le crains, être apprécié à son apogée par les amateurs qui ont aujourd'hui plus de cinquante ans. A boire entre 2020 et 2075.

Wine Spectator

97 / 100

par James Suckling le 31/03/2003

This is like a perfectly cut piece of silk fabric. Every angle is just right, every texture great. Fabulous aromas of tobacco, mineral and cool berry fruit. Full-bodied, with loads of silky tannins and a length that goes on and on. Very racy. Very sexy. Best wine I have ever had from this estate. Best after 2010.

Wine Advocate

96-100 / 100

par Robert Parker le 28/02/2002

The 2000 is the greatest Ausone I have ever tasted aside from 100+- year old examples I had in Munich with the famous collector, Hardy Rodenstock. A saturated black/purple color is followed by sensational aromas of ink, cherries, blackberries, blueberries, and that wet stones/liquid mineral characteristic. The wine has phenomenal presence on the palate as well as astonishing richness and purity. Despite its extract, power, and richness, it is remarkably light with a surreal delicacy and purity. It is a tour de force in winemaking and a great expression of this magical terroir. It should prove to be legendary, but sadly, anyone over the age of 50 will probably not live to see it come close to maturity. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2075.

P.S. Even if you have to drink it young, everyone owes it to themselves to taste this prodigious effort.

Wine Advocate

96-98 / 100

par Robert Parker le 30/04/2001

Tasted on three separate occasions, this spell-binding 2000 is nearly perfect. Proprietor Alain Vauthier feels it is the finest Ausone produced in fifty years. Its deep ruby/purple color is followed by an ethereal nose of earth, mineral, blueberry, raspberry, and other assorted black fruit aromas. There is no evidence of wood, even though 100% new oak is utilized, and malolactic occurred in barrel.

Approachable for an infant Ausone, this perfectly balanced effort represents the quintessential model of power, elegance, and harmony. The finish lasts for nearly a minute. This wine is nearly transparent with layers of concentrated black fruits that are authoritatively intense. There is plenty of tannin lurking on the back of the palate. This prodigious Ausone is both large-scaled and delicate. Most Ausones require 15-20 years of cellaring (some fans say 40-50), but I, optimistically, feel it will be accessible by 2010. It is a candidate for 50-60 years of aging.