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Fabulous aromas of currants, rose petals, dried strawberries and hints of lemon rind. Wet earth and chalk. Full and dense and so compacted and squeezed. What a texture. Phenomenal. Needs five to six years to open, but it’s a joy to taste. Amazing. Such energy! From organically grown grapes as well. I am in awe.
My Right Bank wine of the vintage, along with Lafleur (Pomerol). A record 60% Cabernet Franc in the blend. Powerful and fine at once. Racy dark fruit, liquorice and violet nose. Palate has real verve, tension and ample fruit. Strong tannic frame but tiny, fine tannins. Minerally presence. Balanced.
Drinking Window: 2022 - 2045
The 2014 Ausone has an almost pastille-like purity on the nose, equally red and black fruit laced with allspice and clove, gaining complexity all the time in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, fleshy and generous, a fine bead of acidity, gaining volume and mass towards the succulent, velvety smooth final third. This is a very seductive wine with not a hair out of place, though it is not the most cerebral Ausone that I have tasted in recent years. More an Ausone intent on sensory pleasure. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.
The 2014 Ausone, a blend of 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot, was matured in barrel for 20 months with 85% new oak. Compared to the Chapelle d'Ausone, this Grand Vin demanded gentle coaxing from the glass. It eventually unfurls to reveal mineral-rich red berry fruit, oregano, orange blossom and later on blackcurrant winegums. It displays superb delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with filigree tannin. There is an almost sorbet-like freshness conferred upon this Saint Emilion by the growing season, very harmonious and poised with one of the most precise and tensile finishes that you will find this vintage. One of the stars of the vintage, this may merit a higher score with bottle age. This is a great success.
Drinking Window: 2022 - 2045
Reviewer Name: Neal Martin
Review Date: 31st March 2017
Not especially deep colour. Very sweet but much better oak management than at one time. Chestnut intensity. And some freshness. But it does not leap out of the glass yelling ‘top wine’! Something a bit sinewy. Plays the sweetness and freshness cards rather than alcohol and density. Quite playful.
