2012 Château Ausone, St Emilion, Bordeaux

Red • Dry • Full Bodied • Merlot,Cabernet Franc

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Code: 20120600750008008785

Description

With 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot, this is a rigorous wine, precise, compelling and striking. As with Chapelle d’Ausone, the quality and ripeness of the Cabernet Franc was complete, but the late summer rains compromised the concentration expected of a great year. It is the politesse, however, which marks this wine out. A remarkable seam of freshness invigorates the wine, more so than in 2011 and one is left with a sensation of an almost Thatcher-esque dressing-down; perhaps uncomfortable in parts, but also poised, composed and certainly thorough and, depending on your expectations, almost certainly good for you in the long run. There is no immediate gratification here, but a class act for the medium to long term.
Mark Pardoe MW, Wine Buying Director

Colour

Red
Sweetness

Dry
Vintage

2012
Alcohol

13.5%
Grape

Merlot,Cabernet Franc
Body

Full Bodied
Producer

Château Ausone

Critics reviews

James Molesworth

92-95/100

Delivers a muscular core of plum and raspberry fruit, along with dark currant, black licorice and roasted apple wood flavors, which give a depth and power that belies the vintage's general character. A persistent, muscular edge on the finish is offset nicely by well-buried acidity. This is clearly a step ahead of the 2011. Tasted non-blind.

James Molesworth, WineSpectator.com (April 2013)

Julia Harding MW

17.5/20

Rich dark purple and inky. Touch of oak but not overworked. A touch reduced so has a smoky edge. Supple on the mid palate. Elegant and still richly fruity and a light Cabernet Franc leafiness in the empty glass. Great length. No excess of extraction or oak.

Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com (April 2013)

Neal Martin

96/100

Tasted blind at the 2012 Southwold tasting, the 2012 Ausone took more time to settle in the glass than its peers, eventually deciding upon briary, violet and cassis scents very floral and Margaux-like in style, not powerful but insistent. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, a crisp line of acidity, blackcurrant pastille mixed with cedar and a dash of spice, the wine finally revving up towards an intense and persistent finish that almost stains the mouth with its opulence. It is a gorgeous Saint Emilion from Pauline and Alain Vauthier.

Neal Martin, Vinous.com (October 2016)