A monumental Bordeaux from one of Saint-Émilion’s greatest estates. The 2000 Ausone offers a stunning mix of power and elegance, with rich blackberry, truffle, licorice and mineral notes wrapped in velvety tannins. Intensely concentrated, perfectly balanced, and built to age for decades.

The Wine Advocate | RP 98+
Published: Jun 29, 2010

Two bottles were badly corked, which is certainly a scary situation for a wine where only 1,000 or so cases were produced. However, a third bottle was magical and just short of perfection. Its saturated purple color was followed by a surprisingly more evolved and open wine than I had written in my tasting note in 2003, where I predicted maturity between 2020 and 2075. This wine displays wonderful, sweet tannin and a big, sweet kiss of truffle, crushed rock, blueberry, blackberry, and licorice. Extremely rich, full-bodied, with astonishing power, precision, and delicacy, this is a sumptuous wine that should age well for 50-60 years, but in the case of the one bottle out of three that was not corked, it seemed far more evolved and forward than I suggested in my write-up in 2003.

Wine Enthusiast | WE 98
Published: Jun 1, 2003

Forget all those garage wines, forget the upstarts of Saint-Emilion. When you want real class, you have to turn to Ausone. What a wine - magnificently dense and opaque, hugely rich and sensual. Yet it doesn't seem in the least decadent - for deep inside the wine is a huge backbone of ripe tannins. Keep for at least 10 years 

Wine Spectator | WS 97
Published: Mar 31, 2003

This is like a perfectly cut piece of silk fabric. Every angle is just right, every texture great. Fabulous aromas of tobacco, mineral and cool berry fruit. Full-bodied, with loads of silky tannins and a length that goes on and on. Very racy. Very sexy. Best wine I have ever had from this estate. Best after 2010.

Jancisrobinson.com | JR 18
Published: Mar 18, 2010
Drink: 2014-2028

Much more evolved-looking than the Cheval 2000. Less opulent nose than the Cheval served alongside. Lightly pruney and dusty, dried fruit. Much more demanding and 'modern' than the Cheval. Thick and demanding with a very dry finish. Not entirely comfortable as a tasting experience though certainly impressive. Probably just needs a bit more time but I would not counsel opening a botte of Ausone 2000 yet...

Chateau-ausone.fr

Château Ausone is the jewel of the estate, a masterpiece of subtle elegance. Like a cathedral, it initially presents a big, powerful, mineral profile of Cabernet Franc.

Then comes the Merlot, round and pure with a chiselled texture. Finesse and freshness linger long on the palate, finishing with exquisite balance.
This is a monumental wine that travels through time, polished by its loving passage.