Ausone Castle - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2012

Wine Advocate

96 / 100

byNeal Martinthe10/28/2016

Tasted blind at the 2012 Southwold tasting, the 2012 Ausone took more time to settle in the glass than its peers, eventually deciding upon briary, violet and cassis scents—very floral and Margaux-like in style, not powerful but insistent. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, a crisp line of acidity, blackcurrant pastille mixed with cedar and a dash of spice, the wine finally revving up towards an intense and persistent finish that almost stains the mouth with its opulence. It is a gorgeous Saint Emilion from Pauline and Alain Vauthier. Tasted January 2016.

Vinous

95 / 100

the1/31/2016

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. 95+ points

Wine Advocate

96 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/2015

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+. 96+ points

Jamessuckling.com

98 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe2/15/2015

Wild aromas of mint, spearmint, cool chalk and dark fruits. Full-bodied, tight, linear and incredibly long with a evening-stone, blueberry, cherry and mineral undertone. Crisp and extremely persistent. Iodine and oyster shell here to round it all off. Better in 2018.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

92-94 / 100

byIan D'Agatathe6/30/2013

(55% cabernet franc and 45% merlot; 32 h/h; 85% new oak):  Bright, deep ruby.  Profound aromas of strawberry, blueberry, fresh herbs, mocha and vanilla.  Then deep, dense and suave, with noteworthy clarity to the red and dark fruit flavors.  The finish is long and pure, with polished tannins and just a trace of greenness, probably due to all that cabernet franc in the blend.  Still, the measure of this wine's greatness and proprietor Alain Vauthier's talent is that he has come up with such an impressive effort in a year when weather conditions were more than difficult for cabernet franc.  The merlot was harvested between October 9 and 12 and the cabernet franc on October 13, 15, and 17.

Le Point

18 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe5/16/2013

Fruits rouges, fraise écrasée, joli nez de fraîcheur, bouche délicate, fine, peu extraite. Frais, élégant, raffiné, long, tendu, c'est un très joli vin. Il est assez curieux de constater qe les deux styles Ausone et Cheval-Blanc, ont tendance à se rejoindre. Le premier s'est allégé de son côté démonstratif et Cheval Blanc offre des milieux de bouche plus garnis, sans perdre son élégance. O= 2018 G= 15 ans

Asian Palate

97 / 100

byJeannie Cho Lee MWthe5/15/2013

A gorgeous, plush, opulent Ausone with delicacy and finesse. 50 year old vines at Ausone produced a glorious wine in this vintage with intensity, concentration and delicacy at the same time. The flavours are characterized by freshness and lift with cashmere-like texture in its tannins. Long finish with great depth. A blend of 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot with 18,000 bottles made.

Wine Advocate

93-95 / 100

byNeal Martinthe5/6/2013

The Grand Vin is a blend of 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot that is being raised in 85% new oak. A lot of young vines of Cabernet Franc were put into Chapelle instead of the Grand Vin this year, but the older vines were not affected. It was picked on 9th, 11th and 12th October (Merlot) and 13th, 15th, 17th October (Cabernet Franc.) It has a broody bouquet compared to the 2011 last year, with a marine-like influence – seashells and a touch of seaweed. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, crisp acidity (pH3.55) with a compact, tense and structured finish. This is a very composed Ausone, finely tuned, understated and classy. I feel it will give more out of bottle. Tasted April 2013.

timatkin.com

97 / 100

byTim Atkin MWthe4/30/2013

Alan Vauthier describes his impressive 2012 as being like 2011 but with more finesse. It’s certainly less muscular and tannic than the previous year’s Ausone, reflecting the skill of the winemaker as much as the degree of selection. This is a very polished wine, sleek and elegant with an intense bouquet of red fruits and vanilla oak, fine tannins, a touch of reduction and a bright, underlying minerality. Drink: 2020-45

matthewjukes.com

19 / 20

byMatthew Jukesthe4/30/2013

Stunning, smooth, black fruit with exceptionally fit tannins and incredible length. Magical winemaking.

Jean-Marc QUARIN

17,25 / 20

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/29/2013

Couleur sombre, intense et belle. Nez fruité de type mûr, subtil, noble et suave. Entrée en bouche particulièrement parfumée, puis le vin se développe complexe et noble, très fruité, séveux, caressant avec beaucoup de gouts et des tannins très fins en finale. Grande longueur sophistiquée. Vin très élégant.

My Bettane + Desseauve

18-18,5 / 20

the4/27/2013

Composé à 55 % de cabernet franc et à 45 % de merlot, Ausone offre un nez très frais de petits fruits rouges et de poivron fin, avant un volume au superbe tannin raffiné, une allonge soyeuse, un grand raffinement sans pour autant posséder l’infinie longueur voluptueuse des plus grands millésimes d’Ausone.

Jancis Robinson

17,5 / 20

byJulia Harding MWthe4/26/2013

Drink 2022-2035
32 hl/ha. Two-thirds of the crop in the grand vin. 55% Cabernet Franc (picked 13, 15, 17 October), 45% Merlot (9, 11, 12 October) – very late. Fermented in small wooden cuves, (will have) 20 months in barrique, 85% new.
Rich dark purple and inky. Touch of oak but not overworked. A touch reduced so has a smoky edge. Supple on the mid palate. Elegant and still richly fruity and a light Cabernet Franc leafiness in the empty glass. Great length. No excess of extraction or oak. (JH)

Wine Advocate

95-97 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/26/2013

The 2012 Ausone is another prodigious effort that should turn out to be one of the longest-lived wines of the vintage. It boasts a dense purple color along with abundant notes of mulberries, black currants, blueberries and a hint of raspberries interwoven with spring flower and crushed chalk-like characteristics presented in a full-bodied yet ethereal, stylish, racy, noble manner. This is a high class, aristocratic, nearly perfect wine to cellar for a decade and then watch it unfold over the following 40-50 years.
Drink: 2013 - 2063

The Wine Cellar Insider

95-97 / 100

byJeff Levethe4/26/2013

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

Decanter.com

18,25 / 20

the4/22/2013

Less powerful than recent vintages. Emphasis on fruit and finesse. Medium-bodied weight. Round and smooth on the palate. Very fresh. Saline note on the finish. 18.25/20pts ( 94/100pts)
Drink: 2020 - 2038
Taster: James Lawther MW

Jamessuckling.com

94-95 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/4/2013

Wonderful aromas of blackberries and blueberries with flowers. Very Cabernet Franc. Full body, with intense fruit, tannins and fresh acidity. Tangy and lively. Minerals with lemon and orange peel undertones. Super lively. Texture is beautiful. Same blend as always. 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot.