Halloween in the Vice Versa Cave: Tiiiiiiight and dryyyyyyy, with crunchy blackberry, black gravelly soil, dark spice, stemmy black cherry, black limestone (like the kind that is underneath a cave waterfall and has that black fungus stuff weaving through its minerally veins), and crushed pencil lead cleaving through the palate with a Stegosaurus spine that instantly clenches and holds, reluctant to release the juicy goods in current favor of power and fortitude. If a young Pavie bred with a chunk of Route 66 near Needles and had an asphalt baby, it would be the Ausone. It is nearly impenetrable. Solid…black…‘80s spikey-wristband metal. Cue Judas Priest “Breaking the Law.” Devil horns baby!
Worry not my Francophile brohams, the Ausone is going to be a staggering wine. Its pride is just wound up all in power and high-octane super charger performance right now. The drive is unreal, as is its focus. If there ever was wine with serious intention and motivation to become a wine of the vintage, it’s the Ausone (though it’ll likely always be in the shadow of the 2018 Lafleur served next to it – stiff competition to be sure). If you’re prone to routine high-risk behavior and think base jumping is a good idea, maybe don’t invest in the Ausone, because it’s going to be quite some time before it decides to retire from cage fighting. Hold for 20 years… and then hold some more. 97-98+ points.
I was incredibly lucky to be able to compare some great Saint-Emilion 2019 (samples) and 2018 (bottles). I don't have time to comment on everything below but the general opinion of the tasters is that it seems that, unlike Pomerol and Left Bank, the year 2019 may well be the better of the two. . Of course, it is too early for this advice to be final. Well, not surprisingly and "at that time" Figeac 2019 dominated all the others for the majority of people present. Here are the best notes. I will add others, soon, directly to the wines concerned, especially if my first "en primeur" notes have moved in one direction or the other.
And for information, we had fun giving a "gold palm" at the best value for money of the evening and it is the Larcis Ducasse 2019 which is on the podium (96-98 / 100)
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With a depth of flavor that feels like they managed to pack a magnum into a single bottle, this wine is all about its intensity and incredible sense of minerality and purity. Rich, fabulously concentrated and deep, the seamless finish which surpasses 60 seconds is loaded velvet drenched black, blue and red fruit, spice, smoke, earth, licorice, crushed rocks, stones and oyster shells. The cashmere tannins, and vibrancy is awe inspiring. The wine blends 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot, 14.5% ABV. If you have the money, there are few wines at this level of quality produced from any vineyard in the world.
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The color of purple ink, this wine displays an incredible level of density. It is hard to understand how they place so much fruit in a glass of wine and yet it is light on its feet! There is a purity here that resembles eating fruit off the vine seconds before it was picked. The finish is packed with minerals, red, black and blue fruit, flowers, spice, earth, rocks and stones and it has a 60 second impact. The cashmere tannins, freshness on the palate, density, length and purity are remarkable. The wine is made from a blend of 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot, reaching 14.5% alcohol with pH 3.65 and is aging in 100% new, French oak for 20 months. The Merlot was harvested on two days, September 25 and September 27 and the Cabernet Franc was picked October 3, 8 and 9. The wine was made from low yields of 32 hectoliters per hectare. If you have the money there are few wines at this level of quality produced from any vineyard in the world. 98-100 Pts
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Geproefd op Château Ausone op donderdag 04.04.2019. Gesloten, wat braam fruit. Stevige en brede aanzet, mond vullend, zwart fruit. Massief, stevige afdronk, lengte, breed geschouderd. Jammer genoeg iets drogend in de finish! 93-95
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3/25/2024 - steinersing wrote: 96 Points
Irrespective of its fine tannins, this is just a little too early to drink now. But lots of material and potential.
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11/9/2021 - csimm wrote: 98 Points
Halloween in the Vice Versa Cave: Tiiiiiiight and dryyyyyyy, with crunchy blackberry, black gravelly soil, dark spice, stemmy black cherry, black limestone (like the kind that is underneath a cave waterfall and has that black fungus stuff weaving through its minerally veins), and crushed pencil lead cleaving through the palate with a Stegosaurus spine that instantly clenches and holds, reluctant to release the juicy goods in current favor of power and fortitude. If a young Pavie bred with a chunk of Route 66 near Needles and had an asphalt baby, it would be the Ausone. It is nearly impenetrable. Solid…black…‘80s spikey-wristband metal. Cue Judas Priest “Breaking the Law.” Devil horns baby!
Worry not my Francophile brohams, the Ausone is going to be a staggering wine. Its pride is just wound up all in power and high-octane super charger performance right now. The drive is unreal, as is its focus. If there ever was wine with serious intention and motivation to become a wine of the vintage, it’s the Ausone (though it’ll likely always be in the shadow of the 2018 Lafleur served next to it – stiff competition to be sure). If you’re prone to routine high-risk behavior and think base jumping is a good idea, maybe don’t invest in the Ausone, because it’s going to be quite some time before it decides to retire from cage fighting. Hold for 20 years… and then hold some more. 97-98+ points.
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8/27/2021 - watcheslover Likes this wine: 98 Points
I was incredibly lucky to be able to compare some great Saint-Emilion 2019 (samples) and 2018 (bottles). I don't have time to comment on everything below but the general opinion of the tasters is that it seems that, unlike Pomerol and Left Bank, the year 2019 may well be the better of the two. . Of course, it is too early for this advice to be final.
Well, not surprisingly and "at that time" Figeac 2019 dominated all the others for the majority of people present.
Here are the best notes. I will add others, soon, directly to the wines concerned, especially if my first "en primeur" notes have moved in one direction or the other.
1) Figeac 2019 100/100
2) Cheval Blanc 2018 99/100
3) Ausone 2018 98-99 / 100
4) Figeac 2018 97-98 / 100
And for information, we had fun giving a "gold palm" at the best value for money of the evening and it is the Larcis Ducasse 2019 which is on the podium (96-98 / 100)
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3/9/2021 - Jeff Leve wrote: 100 Points
With a depth of flavor that feels like they managed to pack a magnum into a single bottle, this wine is all about its intensity and incredible sense of minerality and purity. Rich, fabulously concentrated and deep, the seamless finish which surpasses 60 seconds is loaded velvet drenched black, blue and red fruit, spice, smoke, earth, licorice, crushed rocks, stones and oyster shells. The cashmere tannins, and vibrancy is awe inspiring. The wine blends 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot, 14.5% ABV. If you have the money, there are few wines at this level of quality produced from any vineyard in the world.
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9/8/2019 - LECANARDENCH Likes this wine: 99 Points
Fresh and fruity ,with a very long finish and perfect balance
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4/19/2019 - Jeff Leve wrote: 99 Points
The color of purple ink, this wine displays an incredible level of density. It is hard to understand how they place so much fruit in a glass of wine and yet it is light on its feet! There is a purity here that resembles eating fruit off the vine seconds before it was picked. The finish is packed with minerals, red, black and blue fruit, flowers, spice, earth, rocks and stones and it has a 60 second impact. The cashmere tannins, freshness on the palate, density, length and purity are remarkable. The wine is made from a blend of 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot, reaching 14.5% alcohol with pH 3.65 and is aging in 100% new, French oak for 20 months. The Merlot was harvested on two days, September 25 and September 27 and the Cabernet Franc was picked October 3, 8 and 9. The wine was made from low yields of 32 hectoliters per hectare. If you have the money there are few wines at this level of quality produced from any vineyard in the world. 98-100 Pts
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4/4/2019 - dvansteenderen Likes this wine: 94 Points
Geproefd op Château Ausone op donderdag 04.04.2019.
Gesloten, wat braam fruit. Stevige en brede aanzet, mond vullend, zwart fruit. Massief, stevige afdronk, lengte, breed geschouderd. Jammer genoeg iets drogend in de finish! 93-95
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