Château Ausone 2007

The nose of a Hermitage with mineral, spicy and fruity components, later also reminiscent of herbs, blackberry and cherry—rarely has such complex aromatics been encountered at this stage; immensely fruity on the attack, with a silky bitterness, plenty of typicity and an overwhelming fruit expression, full of freshness and breed—impressive. Already delivers great pleasure now.

The 2007 Ausone is a candidate for one of the wines of the vintage, rivaling Pavie and Lafite Rothschild. Its deep ruby/purple hue is accompanied by a beautiful nose of spring flowers, raspberries, black currants, and crushed rocks. The wine is dense, medium to full-bodied, and pure with sweet tannin as well as a surprisingly evolved, forward style. It is one of the few Ausones I have tasted that can be drunk with great pleasure at this stage, yet it promises to evolve for two decades.

Berry and milk chocolate aromas, with hints of flowers, follow through to a medium-to-full body, with very silky tannins and a delicious, fruity finish. Subtle and pretty, balanced and gorgeous. So refined and caressing. Best after 2013. 1,635 cases made.

Charming, polished, fresh, elegant, and already giving pleasure today, with sweet black cherries, black raspberries and plums, layered with earthy and floral notes. Unlike most vintages of Ausone, this is not a wine that requires further aging.

Very dark, dense purple-violet with violet highlights. Delicate bouquet, highly refined, medium intensity, blue cherries, lilac notes, hard to approach, revealing little of its depth for now. On the palate, very, very elegant, superbly balanced, built entirely on finesse, reminiscent of a dancing Chambertin, all the way to the long finish. Not a competition Ausone; likely almost discreet in the early years, yet in ten years it will grow into a slender, classic Premier Cru, with room to improve further.

55% Cabernet Franc, 45% Merlot. Very dark, dense purple-violet with purple highlights. Delicate bouquet, highly refined, medium intensity, blue cherries, lilac notes; hard to approach as it reveals little of its depth yet. On the palate, very, very elegant, superbly balanced, entirely built on finesse, coming across like a dancing Chambertin through to the long finish. Not a competition Ausone, perhaps one that will be almost too discreet in its early years and then, in 10 years, will grow into a slim, classic, truly Premier Cru. And then add more. (18/20). 12: Clearly brightening, a lot of ruby. Many roasted notes, light caramel; a small pinch of unripe grapes masked as red bell pepper, with floral tones as well. On the palate, plenty of sweetness, also tart morello cherry notes showing an acidity not quite integrated. What remains of this wine if you take away the somewhat opulent barriques? Probably still a lot, but somehow too little to justify the market price. Even great terroirs suffer in lean meteorological conditions. Now one point lower than at the en primeur tasting. (18/20). 16: For a wine of this vintage, extremely dark. Purple-garnet, rich core. The bouquet smells of ripe black plums, serious tobacco notes, also revealing a fine slightly green spice, with a delicate hint of caramel hovering above. On the palate, on one hand offering terrific aromatics, on the other showing a matured body shape. Perhaps this is an early Ausone, best drunk in its full fruit phase. And that seems to be exactly today. The fun factor is enormous.

Floral, fragrant, sweet, powerful bouquet, redcurrants, mint, raspberries, vanilla, coconut. Velvety, sweet, finely opulent palate with a creamy structure, fine sandy tannins, powerful, sweet aromatics, long, full finish. 18/20 drink - 2030

Logo on the cork: A in a circle (Amorim) Here is the other vintage of the cru that is drinking well at the moment. Dark colour, of medium intensity and showing some evolution. Slightly discreet nose, fruity, with pleasant strawberry aromas. Hints of leather and smoke. Delicate on the attack, fruity mid-palate, with a pleasant body without being very dense; the wine stretches out on the finish with good length and a touch of austerity in its expression. Decant at the last minute.

A broad, expansive palate from the very first sip, with a coating, rich and generous texture. A beautiful, lingering finish combining a graphite-like mineral character with a seductive expression brought by elegantly judged, complex oak, delicately smoky (twenty months’ ageing). Very long on the finish and already showing an exceptional integration of tannins. Ausone’s terroir responded perfectly to the vintage.

While there is certainly plenty of wood here, the wine has weight and impressive concentration for the year. The tannins are still brooding away, giving a dark firm character to the wine. Blackberry fruits and acidity are there, but still well buried in the tannins.