2020 Chateau Ausone Saint-Emilion Pre-Arrival

CRITICAL ACCLAIM


Decanter - "This is powerful and blows away much of the competition with its depth and layers. This needs you to pull up a chair, take a beat, and let the flavours unroll. There is so much density to the blueberry, bilberry and smoked raspberry fruits that they start out knitted down, then as the oxygen opens them up the body of the wine widens and becomes fleshier and creamier, adding chocolate and mocha notes. The limestone scrape is there in spades through the finish, and this is a cleverly constructed wine. As ever Ausone is just a masterclass in how to take apart and then put back together a terroir. Great stuff. First year of official conversion to organic farming. 100% new oak, some in 30hl oak casks. Could go up after tasting in bottle, a potential 100 points. Drinking Window 2028-48."


Vinous - "The 2020 Ausone has a tighly wound nose at first, needing more encouragement than other recent vintages.  It then, almost reluctantly, reveals intense black cherry, blueberry and violet aromas.  Maybe this is not as hedonistic as other years?  The palate is medium-bodies with succulent, ripe tannins and a fine bead of acidity.  Now the more opulent Ausone comes through, albeit succinctly controlled, with lightly spiced red fruit and a finely proportioned and quite persistence finish.  Sophisticated and classy, this rather brilliant Ausonw will mature with grace and style. Drink: 2030-2065. Rating: 97-99."