Chateau Ausone 1er Gr.Cr.Cl.A 2013

Katalog über: Chateau Ausone 1er Gr.Cr.Cl.A

-- Katalog: -- Parker: Probably the wine of the vintage, once again. Only 9,000 bottles of the 2013 Ausone were produced, as crop size was 50% of normal. However, proprietor Alain Vauthier and his daughter certainly have proven a truly great wine can be produced in some of the most trying conditions Bordeaux wine producers have had to deal with over the last 20 years. Yields were only 22 hectoliters per hectare and the final blend was 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot. The haunting aromas of wet rocks, spring flowers, blue and black fruits and forest floor are followed by an incredibly dense, attractive wine with sweet tannin, stunning concentration and texture, medium body and a depth that is essentially unreal in a vintage such as this. The wine is a superb example of great winemaking under the most difficult circumstances. Unlike more recent Ausones, this should be reasonably drinkable in 5-6 years and yet be capable of lasting 25-30. 93-95/100 -- NM: The Ausone 2013 is a blend of 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot, picked from 2 to 6 October. Pauline Vauthier told me that the 10 days in July burnt away the pyrazine notes however, there is just half the usual production at 9,000 bottles. Interestingly, the Merlot character comes through more prominently on the nose that feels just a little monochromatic compared to recent vintages. The palate is medium-bodied with a fleshy entry, the acidity (pH 3.55) noticeable. The finish has a citrus freshness, not as complex as recent vintages but showing admirable persistency. This is a commendable effort in the context of the vintage. Tasted April 2014. 91-93/100 -- TA: For Ausone, which can be closed and compact in its youth, this is an appealingly forward wine. But the subtle use of oak, fine tannins and fruit weight, even in a lesser year, are typical of the château. The freshness and grassiness of the 55% Cabernet Franc make a significant contribution to the balance of the wine. 94/100