Not as strict as its big brother, this would be best with food. Good verve, but the tannins are soft on the back end, without losing too much energy. No angularity, but a bit simple; small injections of minerality without being biting.
Had this wine last summer and thought it was good... Maybe the ambiance or the company of that evening? Nope! This bottle confirmed to me, again, that the Ausone establishment knows how to make wine. Nothing more to say. It's really fine at this time, but likely better in a decade?
And, I can't wait, in a few years, to see if the main wine will truly make it to the 2070, as mentioned in WA etc.
But, I won't be around then... And can't leave it all to the kids!!! 🤣
PS- Drink The Rainbow!
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Intensity pronounced with a deep purply garnet after a decade off the farm.
Red and dark berry aromas, though not as florally poignant as I've read.
Balanced impeccably. With a gentle silky minerally backbone, it's medium bodied, rich and nothing "forward", it's simply just an elegant wine!
Tannins are already engrained in the wine, though after 90 - 120 minutes of air in a large bowl decanter, this developed another level of complexity, even if it was a medium 30 second finish at best -(I suspect this is how Ausone wants it... An earlier maturing wine to be used as a cellar defender of sorts, for the main event in another decade?)
Buy it with the knowledge your pockets will be significantly lighter for a second wine, and I also think 2030 as it's best before date.
It was a fabulous sample! And all this at 13.5% abv! Fabulously Bordeaux. Constantly consistent!
Robert Parker wrote the following quote, in his assessment of this wine.... "As I have written many times in the past, the Vauthiers are making a “second wine” that is greater than many of the outstanding wines produced at this estate in the 20th century."
PS- Drink the Rainbow!
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No decant. Deep ruby red in the glass. A few swirls and the nose opens up with earthy aromas- stone, leather, forest floor. The fruit follows, dominated by ripe cherry, cotton candy, and caramel. The palate is supple. Tannins just right. Beautiful mixture red fruit, charcoal, black pepper, and a butterscotch finish. Ready to drink. As it has been said. There are no ordinary wines in Ausone.
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How to make a London Revival in Madrid (Lavinia - Madrid): Always extraordinary on the nose. Aristocratic and refined. Not only is that meaty note assembled in quality fruit, it is because of that vegetal touch, rhat white pepper hue that allows a harmonious, almost unique set. In this state of things the wood is in the form of Danish butter cookies. Extraordinary. In the mouth, although being extremely young, this wine presents / displays ample, velvety texture with amdepth and length, both. A little gem. There're no ordinary wines in ... Ausone.
Siempre extraordinario en nariz. Aristocrático y refinado. No sólo es esa nota cárnica ensamblada en fruta de calidad, es por ese toque vegetal, a pimienta blanca que permite un conjunto armónico, casi único. En este estado de cosas la madera deprede ta en forma de galletas danesas de mantequilla. Extraordinario. En boca, aún siendo extremadamente joven, este vino se presenta amplio, aterciopelado, con profundidad y longitud. Una joyita. No hay vinos corrientes en ... Ausone.
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Caramel, cherries, eucalyptus, and mints in the sweet and fruity nose; balanced, complex, concentrated, and creamy on the rather approachable palate, with lots of dark fruits and chocolate plus some dry tannins, however, rather one-dimensional; the finish, acidic, fruity, and long with more tannins; overall, 91-92 points at this stage; needed 3-5 more years to evolve further.
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Blending 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine opens with crushed stone, smoke, floral and cherries. Supple and sweet, the wine feels like polished black cherry. This is definitely the best second wine in Bordeaux today. 90-92 Pts
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11/18/2023 - csimm wrote: 90 Points
At Vignobles et Chateaux, St. Emilion.
Not as strict as its big brother, this would be best with food. Good verve, but the tannins are soft on the back end, without losing too much energy. No angularity, but a bit simple; small injections of minerality without being biting.
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9/5/2023 - Sagan99 Likes this wine: 90 Points
TBD
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7/16/2023 - Templeuve Likes this wine: 92 Points
Killer St. Emilion. 1-2 hr decant.
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3/21/2023 - Sagan99 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Had this wine last summer and thought it was good... Maybe the ambiance or the company of that evening?
Nope!
This bottle confirmed to me, again, that the Ausone establishment knows how to make wine.
Nothing more to say.
It's really fine at this time, but likely better in a decade?
And, I can't wait, in a few years, to see if the main wine will truly make it to the 2070, as mentioned in WA etc.
But, I won't be around then... And can't leave it all to the kids!!! 🤣
PS- Drink The Rainbow!
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7/22/2022 - Sagan99 Likes this wine: 91 Points
This 2011 version of Ausone's 2nd wine, was sensational.
Grape/Blend
56% Cabernet Franc, 22% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon
Intensity pronounced with a deep purply garnet after a decade off the farm.
Red and dark berry aromas, though not as florally poignant as I've read.
Balanced impeccably. With a gentle silky minerally backbone, it's medium bodied, rich and nothing "forward", it's simply just an elegant wine!
Tannins are already engrained in the wine, though after 90 - 120 minutes of air in a large bowl decanter, this developed another level of complexity, even if it was a medium 30 second finish at best -(I suspect this is how Ausone wants it... An earlier maturing wine to be used as a cellar defender of sorts, for the main event in another decade?)
Buy it with the knowledge your pockets will be significantly lighter for a second wine, and I also think 2030 as it's best before date.
It was a fabulous sample! And all this at 13.5% abv! Fabulously Bordeaux. Constantly consistent!
Robert Parker wrote the following quote, in his assessment of this wine....
"As I have written many times in the past, the Vauthiers are making a “second wine” that is greater than many of the outstanding wines produced at this estate in the 20th century."
PS- Drink the Rainbow!
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9/2/2021 - Waël Likes this wine: 94 Points
No decant. Deep ruby red in the glass. A few swirls and the nose opens up with earthy aromas- stone, leather, forest floor. The fruit follows, dominated by ripe cherry, cotton candy, and caramel. The palate is supple. Tannins just right. Beautiful mixture red fruit, charcoal, black pepper, and a butterscotch finish. Ready to drink. As it has been said. There are no ordinary wines in Ausone.
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2/18/2017 - Harley1199 Likes this wine:
How to make a London Revival in Madrid (Lavinia - Madrid): Always extraordinary on the nose. Aristocratic and refined. Not only is that meaty note assembled in quality fruit, it is because of that vegetal touch, rhat white pepper hue that allows a harmonious, almost unique set. In this state of things the wood is in the form of Danish butter cookies. Extraordinary.
In the mouth, although being extremely young, this wine presents / displays ample, velvety texture with amdepth and length, both. A little gem. There're no ordinary wines in ... Ausone.
Siempre extraordinario en nariz. Aristocrático y refinado. No sólo es esa nota cárnica ensamblada en fruta de calidad, es por ese toque vegetal, a pimienta blanca que permite un conjunto armónico, casi único. En este estado de cosas la madera deprede ta en forma de galletas danesas de mantequilla. Extraordinario.
En boca, aún siendo extremadamente joven, este vino se presenta amplio, aterciopelado, con profundidad y longitud. Una joyita. No hay vinos corrientes en ... Ausone.
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11/19/2014 - CWang wrote: 91 Points
Caramel, cherries, eucalyptus, and mints in the sweet and fruity nose; balanced, complex, concentrated, and creamy on the rather approachable palate, with lots of dark fruits and chocolate plus some dry tannins, however, rather one-dimensional; the finish, acidic, fruity, and long with more tannins; overall, 91-92 points at this stage; needed 3-5 more years to evolve further.
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4/24/2012 - Jeff Leve wrote: 91 Points
Blending 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine opens with crushed stone, smoke, floral and cherries. Supple and sweet, the wine feels like polished black cherry. This is definitely the best second wine in Bordeaux today. 90-92 Pts
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