Power and grace all in one sip. — 6 months ago
2015 vintage. 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Excellent wine from a Cru Classé that remains very much under the radar and, therefore, the prices are very reasonable for the quality. This is also the smallest Margaux Cru Classé with 16 hectares of vines. Tasted at the Château alongside the 2017. While the 2017 is a very good Classic Margaux, it doesn't have the concentration and depth of the 2015, the first produced in the new winemaking facilities. It combines grace and power with impeccable balance and a very long finish. Also tasted the first vintage of an attractive new white wine ( 2022 vintage), produced at sister estate Château Labégorce, an intriguing blend from Chardonnay, Albariño and Petit Manseng (label is not finished yet). — a year ago
Rich and elegant. Such a nice find in an excellent wine list. — 3 years ago
Beautiful. From legendary Thierry Germain. Ungrafted rootstocks planted on sandy topsoil. 12,5% abv. Dense yet weightless. Like ballerina performing a physically demanding solo yet evoking a sense of lightness and grace on the edge of your tongue. High acidity, soft chalky-type (drying) tannins, but juicy. — 6 months ago
It's very deep and dense in color and has beautiful aromatics. Shows power and grace at the same time. Very Margaux like. It needs another five years at a minimum.. Could go another ten easily. — 3 months ago
Purple red, very good clarity, medium pigment extraction. Cherry, raspberry aromas with some barrel wood. On initial pour, cola, black pepper and sour plum. Soft mouthfeel but slightly bitter finish. Needs time to open. After two hours, flavors resolve into tart plum and some cola with slight pomegranate finish, mild skin astringency, good balance, almost no bitterness. A different take from previous vintages but solid rendition of the variety. — 10 months ago
The 2019 Ausone was picked September 20-27 for the Merlot and October 3, 5 and 7 for the Cabernet Franc, then matured for 20 months in new French oak with light toasting. This is very refined and focused on the nose, less opulent compared to recent vintages, and very sophisticated, with hints of Montecristo cigar interwoven through the red fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine but quite firm tannins that frame the lightly spiced black fruit. Touches of pencil lead and white pepper appear toward the prolonged finish. This very composed Ausone might actually drink earlier than other vintages but unequivocally has the substance to age with grace in bottle. There is an abiding sense of completeness here. (Neal Martin, Vinous, February 2022)
— 3 years ago
edward Simpson
Cracking Saumur Champigny and once in awhile you just have to have a glorious cabernet franc, a la vu rouge mode...Barnhill — 15 days ago