Château Ausone

Château Ausone

Saint Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2014

Delectable Wine
9.5

The 2014 Ausone has retained that purity, pastille-like red berry fruit on the nose, with touches of clove and bay leaf, perhaps almost Burgundian in terms of its allure. The palate is medium-bodied with fleshy, pliant tannins that manifest its velvety texture. This might be the most seductive of any 2014 Bordeaux, fanning out beautifully towards the almost citrus-fresh finish. Gorgeous. Tasted at Bordeaux Index's 10-Year On tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, March 2024)
— 9 days ago

Ekra liked this

Amuse Bouche

Napa Valley Red Blend 2006

Open with herbal notes Like Ausone big faded sadly! — 3 years ago

Château Figeac

St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2018

Pure Magic. If you thought the 2015 and 2016 were something, this is going to blow you away. On the same level as Ausone and Cheval this vintage. 96-98pts — 5 years ago

Keith, Jean-Francois and 5 others liked this

Chapelle d'Ausone

St. Émilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend 2005

David T
9.4

I've been curious about this wine for some time. The original 05 Ausone review from Parker was revised and one would think it was at the request of the Chateau. Parker's 💯 point review started something like this...if you are over the age of 55, you'll want to decide if you want to buy this this wine. Largely, due to his call on it's years of drinkability; which was from 2055-80. Parker's review was mysteriously revised within two months of it's original review. Tonight, I Coravin-ed this tasting of the Chapelle D'Ausone. The 05 Chapelle D'Ausone is still very big & tight but starting it's journey into a decent drinking phase. The tannins are still chewy and dark. The fruits are; ruby blackberries, dark cherries, a mix of blue fruits, strawberries paint the back palate, dark & milk chocolate, caramel, Christmas cake, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, spice-box, black tea, a whiff of green bell peppers, irony minerals, loamy soils, tree bark, a touch of leather, lead pencil shavings, dry stems, dry stones & dark moist soil. The acidity is perfect. The structure, length, balance and tension flirt with glory. The finish runs ripe to dry fruit and the minerals are rich with a dark elegance that lasts and lasts. As good as this wine is tonight, I'll put this bottle back; which is 1 of a 6 pack and wait another 7-10 years to reopen it. Both of Ausone's 05 wines are meant for most collectors end of life or meant to be left for their children. — 7 years ago

Mike, .:;2):’kicndnebxhjd and 20 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

It's somewhat depressing that I am now beginning to have to think in these terms: do I want to buy wines that won't be ready in x number of years. Thanks for reminding me! 😐
David T

David T Influencer Badge

I'm right there with you.

Calicem

Grand Cru Saint-Emilion Merlot

2019 vintage. Calicem might well be Saint-Emilion's best kept secret. Tasted it several times and was always blown away. This time I tasted it alongside the extraordinary Larcis Ducasse 2019, which proves my point that Calicem is definitely of Premier Grand Cru quality ( in case the classification is still a thing after Cheval Blanc, Ausone and a few others left). — 3 months ago

Peter, Andrew and 2 others liked this

Château de Fonbel

Saint-Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2015

2015 vintage. Owned by the Vauthier family (Ausone, Moulin Saint Georges and La Clotte). A blend of 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and interestingly 5% Carnenere and 5% Petit Verdot. Seriously reduced, I wildly double-decanted the wine, and struggled with the nose for over an hour before it finally started to shine. My patience was rewarded as the beast miraculously turned into some kind of a beauty. Ripe red fruit, violets and a mineral touch. — 3 years ago

Dawn, Josh and 2 others liked this

Château Petit-Gravet

Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend 2010

A monster unicorn wine that's hard to find even in France.....it's literally 200 meters down the street from Ausone....wish I bought more — 7 years ago

Bill, Warren and 1 other liked this

Château Canon-la-Gaffelière

Saint-Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2005

Aromas of antique chest of drawers, tobacco and mocha. A lovely balanced fluid silky texture - so balanced that nothing stands out - it has all come together as it should. A wonderful right bank claret from a good year. M+ intensity, M minus acid, fine tannins - a class act. A neighbour of the more famous Chateau Ausone. The percentages may vary according to the vintage but roughly it is 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. — a year ago

Ray, Severn and 22 others liked this
Bob McDonald

Bob McDonald Influencer Badge

Totally agree Severn. Same for 2005 Burgundy.

Château Fonplégade

Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend 2014

2014 vintage. This historical estate with great terroir surrounded by famous neighbours like Angélus, Ausone, Pavie etc. is going from strength to strength after it was bought by Denise and Stephen Adams (also owners of Château L'Enclos in Pomerol and ADAMVS in Napa Valley). 2014 vintage. 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Biodynamically farmed (since 2009, certification in 2020). Intriguing attractive nose with an amazing minerality, intertwined with cassis and a hint of truffle. In the mouth it is initially a bit severe, if classy. I would recommend decanting or taste it over several hours. After a few hours the fruit shines through compensating the tight tannic structure and the acidity. Built to age, I feel this will deserve a higher score in 5 or 6 years. It's a very classic restrained wine that definitely has an understated class. Nice value at under 50 euros if you like this style. — 4 years ago

Hermes, James and 7 others liked this

Chateau Montelena

The Montelena Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1990

This is my 1000th wine on Delectable and I wanted to post something that meant something special to me. @Steve Anderson brought this to an incredible tasting we attended last night at a beautiful cellar in the home of @Scott Kahn who graciously hosted many of our local tasting group among wives, neighbors and other friends of his. It was an exemplary night that I had to cut much shorter than I preferred because I had to pick up my teenage daughter from a friend's house. It was a perfect storm of many important elements impacting my life both past and present. First and foremost I am a Father and even though my daughter called me much earlier than I wanted on an evening of wine involving first growths, Napa giants and Burg greats....I left because I was needed. My daughter just recently started living with me and we've been through a lot in the last year. The men I was with are almost all parents who totally get the importance of my daughter in my life....they are exceptional Dad's who have raised special kids. I respect them immensely and that is why I am honored that wine brought me together with a group that I would not likely have become friends with without it. Wine does that. It bridges gaps. It creates memories. It develops community. Delectable has done that for me as well. I have never been much of a social media guy but something about this app drew me in. Yes it was the wine...but it's the people that make this "place" truly special. I've made legit friends here and I'm better for it. I spent an amazing weekend in Chicago this summer with @Roman Sukley and @DAG...those 2 couldn't have been more generous, gracious or cool. I've also developed a synergy with @Ron R @TheSkip @Martin G Rivard @David A Lentine @Kimberly Anderson and many others I've never met but I feel like I know somehow. These people know who they are.....but back to the wine. Montelena has a special place in my heart. When I passed the bar in '93 I brought a '87 Montelena to dinner that night. Just me and my Mom. She grew up on a dirt road in a small rural town in North Carolina. Not wine country. By the time we shared the Montelena she had become a pretty ardent Chardonnay fan but did not seem to take to reds. Wine was fairly new to me but I was always trying to get her engaged with my love of red wine. Unsuccessfully. That night we shared a meal and memories at the La Valencia hotel in La Jolla and enjoyed that bottle. She was proud of me and said so. Without reservation. I was the first person on either side of my family to graduate college and now I was a lawyer. The moment touched her and it has stayed with me always. She said "you're my only child and I'm so proud of the man you've become and now you're a lawyer. I can't believe it. More than that I can't believe how much I loooooove this wine. I'm actually more impressed with that!" My Mom had a sense of humor too 😉 and right there a lifetime memory was created over a bottle that now had meaning beyond the wine. When she passed suddenly in '05 I had dinner with her husband. I brought a '90 Ausone and a '91 Montelena. We toasted my Mom. I have no recollection of the $500 Ausone but the Montelena is still one of my top 10 wines of all time. Each wine is its own experience and those you share it with enhance that experience immeasurably. Cherish each glass....and @Steve Anderson thank you for granting my request by bringing that bottle. You know now why I chose it. — 7 years ago

Bill, Ron and 65 others liked this
Michael Meyer

Michael Meyer Premium Badge

@Scott Kahn that was an epic night in your old cellar with Alec. Will forever remember it.
Scott Kahn

Scott Kahn

This just popped up in my inbox - what a wonderful memory memorialized by @BillBender!! I would love to get beyond the social distancing and have another wine event to celebrate!!
Bill Bender

Bill Bender Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Me too @Scott Kahn let’s do it. Interestingly enough last Sunday would have been my Mom’s 80th birthday....I actually showed this post to my girlfriend and we toasted her. Next time I tip a glass I will toast @Alec White he was a remarkable man