Chateau Ausone Saint Emilion 1er Grand Cru A Classe 2012

Chateau Ausone Saint Emilion 1er Grand Cru A Classe 2012

Chateau Ausone Saint Emilion 1er Grand Cru A Classe 2012 is a true masterpiece. With its dark ruby color, this vintage offers a captivating bouquet of black cherries, plums, and hints of graphite. The palate is greeted with a symphony of flavors, where the luscious fruits are complemented by velvety tannins and a touch of spice. With its impeccable balance, elegance, and a lingering finish, this wine demonstrates the exceptional terroir of Chateau Ausone.

Critic tasting note: (2012 vintage)

"The bell-pepper note is quite prominent on the nose, but on the medium-bodied palate it adds freshness. Not that much structure, but some fine tannins come through at the delicate and slightly tart finish. Drink or hold. Château Quintus vertical tasting. SP." - James Suckling

"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. Tasted January 2016." - Robert Parker The Wine Advocate, Reviewed by: Neal Martin (96/100)

"The Merlot was harvested on October 9, 11 and 12, while the Cabernet Franc was picked October 13, 15 and 17, with yields of 32 hectoliters per hectare. The assemblage is 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot and will be aged in 85% new French oak for 18 months. Floral, stone, licorice and black cherries create the aromatics. Supple, rich, mineral-driven and polished black cherry and raspberries end with the one of the richest, most opulent finishes of the vintage. 95-97 Pts" - Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider (96/100)

Producer Notes

Today, the 11th generation of the Vauthier family watches over this unique terroir of seven hectares on the hillside south of the village of Saint-Émilion. This historic estate, associated with the poet Ausone, dates back to Roman times. Our expert winegrowers pay meticulous attention to each vine, respecting an entire ecosystem. Every precise action from vineyard to cellar contributes to a single ambition: to give the terroir the most authentic expression possible.

Drinking Window

2020-2050

Vineyard Notes

LOCATION: plateau and hillsides at the southern entrance to the village of Saint-Émilion. 
NATURE OF SOILS: clay-limestone with asteria.

Winemaking

Manual harvest with density sorting. Plot-by-plot vinification in small wooden vats. Gentle extraction controlled by gravity-fed rack and-return.

Ageing

20 month