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Ausone 2000

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > St Emilion
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyMerlot/Cabernet Franc

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Label

Tasting Notes

Two bottles were badly corked, which is certainly a scary situation for a wine where only 1,000 or so cases were produced. However, a third bottle was magical and just short of perfection. Its saturated purple color was followed by a surprisingly more evolved and open wine than I had written in my tasting note in 2003, where I predicted maturity between 2020 and 2075. This wine displays wonderful, sweet tannin and a big, sweet kiss of truffle, crushed rock, blueberry, blackberry, and licorice. Extremely rich, full-bodied, with astonishing power, precision, and delicacy, this is a sumptuous wine that should age well for 50-60 years, but in the case of the one bottle out of three that was not corked, it seemed far more evolved and forward than I suggested in my write-up in 2003.

98+
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (189), June 2010
97
James Suckling, Wine Spectator Weekly (16 Jan 03), January 2003

Bright, shiny crimson. Big, full, sweet, New World ripeness. Very, very sweet and plump. Lively. Lots of tannins and acidity. Very, very young. Dies suddenly at the end. Good nose, but disappointing on the palate. Holds together at the finish. Well made, but not very Bordeaux! Drink 2008-2015. Date tasted 16th Oct 03.

19
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, August 2005
98+
Farr Vintners, April 2001
Read more tasting notes...

The 2000 is the greatest Ausone I have ever tasted, aside from 100+-year-old examples I tasted in Munich with the famous collector, Hardy Rodenstock. A saturated black/purple color is followed by sensational aromas of ink, cherries, blackberries, blueberries, and that wet stones/liquid minerality characteristics. The wine has phenomenal presence on the palate as well as astonishing richness and purity. Despite its extract, power, and richness, it is remarkably light, with a surreal delicacy and purity. It is a tour de force, in winemaking and a great expression of this magical terroir. It should prove to be legendary, but sadly, anyone over the age of 50 will probably not live to see it come close to maturity. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2075. P.S.: Even if you have to drink it young, everyone owes it to themselves to taste this prodigious effort. Last tasted, 1/03.

100
Robert Parker, Bordeaux Book (4), December 2003

Proprietor Alain Vauthier has produced a prodigious wine that captures the essence of Ausone's terroir. A saturated black/purple color is followed by sensational aromas of ink, cherries, blackberries, blueberries, and that wet stones/liquid minerality characteristic. The wine has phenomenal presence on the palate as well as astonishing richness and purity. Despite its extract, power, and richness, it is remarkably light, with a surreal delicacy. It is a tour de force in winemaking and a compelling expression of this magical terroir. It should prove to be legendary, but sadly, anyone over the age of 50 will probably not live to see it come close to maturity. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2075.

100
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (146), April 2003

The 2000 is the greatest Ausone I have ever tasted aside from 100+- year old examples I had in Munich with the famous collector, Hardy Rodenstock. A saturated black/purple color is followed by sensational aromas of ink, cherries, blackberries, blueberries, and that wet stones/liquid mineral characteristic. The wine has phenomenal presence on the palate as well as astonishing richness and purity. Despite its extract, power, and richness, it is remarkably light with a surreal delicacy and purity. It is a tour de force in winemaking and a great expression of this magical terroir. It should prove to be legendary, but sadly, anyone over the age of 50 will probably not live to see it come close to maturity. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2075.P.S. Even if you have to drink it young, everyone owes it to themselves to taste this prodigious effort.

96/100
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (139), February 2002

Tasted on three separate occasions, this spell-binding 2000 is nearly perfect. Proprietor Alain Vauthier feels it is the finest Ausone produced in fifty years. Its deep ruby/purple color is followed by an ethereal nose of earth, mineral, blueberry, raspberry, and other assorted black fruit aromas. There is no evidence of wood, even though 100% new oak is utilized, and malolactic occurred in barrel. Approachable for an infant Ausone, this perfectly balanced effort represents the quintessential model of power, elegance, and harmony. The finish lasts for nearly a minute. This wine is nearly transparent with layers of concentrated black fruits that are authoritatively intense. There is plenty of tannin lurking on the back of the palate. This prodigious Ausone is both large-scaled and delicate. Most Ausones require 15-20 years of cellaring (some fans say 40-50), but I, optimistically, feel it will be accessible by 2010. It is a candidate for 50-60 years of aging.

96/98
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (134), April 2001
92/94
James Suckling, WineSpectator.com, January 2003
97
Farr Vintners, April 2001
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.