Ausone 2006

St Emilion, Premier Grand Cru Classé A

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Tasting Notes
Bright medium ruby. Brooding, pure aromas of blackberry, blueberry, boysenberry, espresso and minerals. Wonderfully dense yet weightless, with a penetrating calcaire energy to its sappy black fruit and mineral flavors. This has filled out impressively since its early days in barrel but is still just at the beginning of its evolution. The slowly mounting, compellingly long finish saturates the palate with flavor, and the substantial tannins are amazingly sweet and fine-grained. My early candidate for wine of the vintage: this fills the mouth with perfume but its fruit of steel suggests that it will last a very long time. I won't be around to drink this beauty at its peak. Score: 97 Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar 01 May 2009
One of the handful of candidates for wine of the vintage is the 2006 Ausone. In fact, while tasting it, I was thinking, is there any estate in Bordeaux that, since 1998, has made as many legendary wines as proprietor Alain Vauthier has at his beloved Ausone? Boasting an inky/blue/purple color as well as an extraordinary, precise bouquet of minerals, flowers, blueberry liqueur, and black currants, this wine possesses fabulous fruit and great intensity, but what makes it so special is its precision, focus, and almost ethereal lightness despite substantial flavor intensity and depth. It is a ballerina with density and power. The abundant noticeable tannin is sweet and, not surprisingly, very finely grained. It should be cellared for a decade, and consumed over the following half century. Score: 98 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2019-2069 01 March 2009
The inky/blue-colored 2006 Ausone possesses a striking perfume of minerals, flowers, blackberries, and blueberries. Even though 100% new oak is utilized in the wine’s upbringing, there is no hint of wood in the aromas or flavors. Despite its fabulous texture, medium to full body, size, richness, and profound depth of flavor and nuance, it is surreal in its lightness and delicacy. Prospective purchasers should be aware that the 2006, a legend in the making, will require 10-12 years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2050. Obsessive perfectionist proprietor Alain Vauthier’s extraordinary attention to detail in both the vineyard and cellar has resulted in virtually perfect wines in vintage after vintage. Ausone is a 50-year wine, and generations to come will regard them with almost mythical acclaim. Score: 95 - 97 Robert Parker, - 01 January 1900
Tasted at Ausone. This is a gorgeous Ausone, although not quite up to the 2000 or 2005. A deep limpid purple hue. The nose is intense and floral with blackberry, cassis and violets, with less pronounced Cabernet Franc than other vintages. A rounded sensuous full-bodied palate with grippy tannins, a minerally core but just losing a little focus and precision towards the finish. This will be a medium-term Ausone, more sumptuous in style and more approachable. Tasted April 2007. Score: 94 - 96 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 01 May 2007
Much darker crimson/purple. Thick and dark, still a little rude - black fruits and berries, thick and very dense and very round and sweet at first. Pretty tough tannins but wonderfully sophisticated delicacy. Hint of greenness, rises up, dances, but not the most astonishing. Dry but very clean finish, Velvety start. Lively but a little bit skinny. More structure than the Chapelle. At the end of August the grapes were richer than in 2005 and analytically 2005 and 2006 are quite similar. In the winery, they are taken various measures to rid the building of the electric signals the French describe as ‘parasite’ and which are thought to interfere with the wine. Score: 17 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2016-2030 18 April 2007
Since the 2000 vintage, Ausone has transcended the heights producing Saint Emilion’s most sought-after wine. Just 1500 cases are produced from 50 year old vines yielding just 33hl/ha. The 2006 is 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot - the same blend as the 2005 - with the emphasis on Cabernet Franc adding complexity and length. Dark red crimson colour with intensely fragrant ruby fruit with wonderful complexity of violets, spice, minerals and a hint of tar. On the palate it is rich and loaded with pure fruits and a hint of tar. Sophisticated and restrained with a fabulous texture and good tannic strength. Great deftness. A noble wine. Score: 93 - 95 Albany Vintners, - 01 April 2007
This is a solid Ausone, with plenty of blackberry and licorice character. Full and velvety, with a solid core of fruit and medium chewy tannins. Not the 2005, but well done. Score: 92 - 94 James Suckling, Wine Spectator 01 April 2007

Tasting Notes

Bright medium ruby. Brooding, pure aromas of blackberry, blueberry, boysenberry, espresso and minerals. Wonderfully dense yet weightless, with a penetrating calcaire energy to its sappy black fruit and mineral flavors. This has filled out impressively since its early days in barrel but is still just at the beginning of its evolution. The slowly mounting, compellingly long finish saturates the palate with flavor, and the substantial tannins are amazingly sweet and fine-grained. My early candidate for wine of the vintage: this fills the mouth with perfume but its fruit of steel suggests that it will last a very long time. I won't be around to drink this beauty at its peak.

Score: 97

Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar 01 May 2009

One of the handful of candidates for wine of the vintage is the 2006 Ausone. In fact, while tasting it, I was thinking, is there any estate in Bordeaux that, since 1998, has made as many legendary wines as proprietor Alain Vauthier has at his beloved Ausone? Boasting an inky/blue/purple color as well as an extraordinary, precise bouquet of minerals, flowers, blueberry liqueur, and black currants, this wine possesses fabulous fruit and great intensity, but what makes it so special is its precision, focus, and almost ethereal lightness despite substantial flavor intensity and depth. It is a ballerina with density and power. The abundant noticeable tannin is sweet and, not surprisingly, very finely grained. It should be cellared for a decade, and consumed over the following half century.

Score: 98

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2019-2069 01 March 2009

The inky/blue-colored 2006 Ausone possesses a striking perfume of minerals, flowers, blackberries, and blueberries. Even though 100% new oak is utilized in the wine’s upbringing, there is no hint of wood in the aromas or flavors. Despite its fabulous texture, medium to full body, size, richness, and profound depth of flavor and nuance, it is surreal in its lightness and delicacy. Prospective purchasers should be aware that the 2006, a legend in the making, will require 10-12 years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2050. Obsessive perfectionist proprietor Alain Vauthier’s extraordinary attention to detail in both the vineyard and cellar has resulted in virtually perfect wines in vintage after vintage. Ausone is a 50-year wine, and generations to come will regard them with almost mythical acclaim.

Score: 95 - 97

Robert Parker, - 01 January 1900

Tasted at Ausone. This is a gorgeous Ausone, although not quite up to the 2000 or 2005. A deep limpid purple hue. The nose is intense and floral with blackberry, cassis and violets, with less pronounced Cabernet Franc than other vintages. A rounded sensuous full-bodied palate with grippy tannins, a minerally core but just losing a little focus and precision towards the finish. This will be a medium-term Ausone, more sumptuous in style and more approachable. Tasted April 2007.

Score: 94 - 96

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 01 May 2007

Much darker crimson/purple. Thick and dark, still a little rude - black fruits and berries, thick and very dense and very round and sweet at first. Pretty tough tannins but wonderfully sophisticated delicacy. Hint of greenness, rises up, dances, but not the most astonishing. Dry but very clean finish, Velvety start. Lively but a little bit skinny. More structure than the Chapelle. At the end of August the grapes were richer than in 2005 and analytically 2005 and 2006 are quite similar. In the winery, they are taken various measures to rid the building of the electric signals the French describe as ‘parasite’ and which are thought to interfere with the wine.

Score: 17

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2016-2030 18 April 2007

Since the 2000 vintage, Ausone has transcended the heights producing Saint Emilion’s most sought-after wine. Just 1500 cases are produced from 50 year old vines yielding just 33hl/ha. The 2006 is 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot - the same blend as the 2005 - with the emphasis on Cabernet Franc adding complexity and length. Dark red crimson colour with intensely fragrant ruby fruit with wonderful complexity of violets, spice, minerals and a hint of tar. On the palate it is rich and loaded with pure fruits and a hint of tar. Sophisticated and restrained with a fabulous texture and good tannic strength. Great deftness. A noble wine.

Score: 93 - 95

Albany Vintners, - 01 April 2007

This is a solid Ausone, with plenty of blackberry and licorice character. Full and velvety, with a solid core of fruit and medium chewy tannins. Not the 2005, but well done.

Score: 92 - 94

James Suckling, Wine Spectator 01 April 2007

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