Château Ausone 2022

Wineadvocate

A blend of equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the 2022 Ausone unwinds in the glass with aromas of plums, raspberries and cherries complemented by hints of crushed mint and spices, framed by a lavish patina of creamy new oak. Full-bodied, layered and rather muscular, it's deep and concentrated, its vibrant core of fruit framed by a serious chassis of rich, powdery tannins, concluding with a long, saline finish. Given its imposing levels of structuring extract, it will require patience. - WK 04/2023

Vinous

The 2022 Ausone was picked from 5 to 30 September and matured for 20 months in French oak. These aromatics take a little time to open in the glass. Once they do, they are precise with wilted iris flowers infusing the black fruit and background pencil box and incense hints. The palate is medium-bodied with silver bead acidity threaded through the blackberry and bilberry fruit. Fresh and focused, this Ausone possesses a structured finish with a pinch of black pepper on the finish. Elegant in style, this Ausone almost creeps up in you and seduces, intellectual and persistent in the mouth. Upon departing, I couldn't help wondering if I had witnessed this Saint-Émilion demonstrates its full potential, hence the plus sign against my score. 14.4% alcohol. -ö NM 04/2023

Beck

Que de caractère, de définition et de précision dans le bouquet d'Ausone. Il est juvénile et affiche bien ses ambitions. Ainsi, la fraîcheur est un des éléments marquants du bouquet. Les nuances de thym et de poivre noir sont couplées à des parfums de pivoine et de mûres. En bouche, l'attaque est friande et précise. D'entrée, la fraîcheur annoncée par le bouquet est relayée. Elle confère d'ailleurs un peu de salinité et du tempérament. Les tannins se révèlent pas à pas, de manière sereine, pour atteindre le sommet de leur puissance, parfaitement canalisée, tardivement, en fin de bouche. C'est là qu'ils créent le lien avec le tempérament de l'acidité ce qui a pour effet d'offrir une finale salivante, juteuse, précise et d'une rare longueur. Que de pluralité, de complexité, de caractère dans Ausone. C'est une très grande réussite qui se place parmi les plus grands 2022 ! - 04/2023

Suckling

This is really open with bright and flamboyant aromas of cassis and cherries. Blueberries. Some peaches as well. I don't remember a young Ausone like that. Full-bodied with flamboyant fruit and energy. Very fine tannins. They are there but you don't feel them. Supple but very fruity. And intensely fruity at the end. - 04/2023

Dunnuck

The Grand Vin from this hallowed terroir is an even split of Cabernet Franc and Merlot that was fermented in wooden vats and will spend 20 months in new barrels. Its saturated purple hue is followed by an up-front, sexy, full-bodied Ausone offering a wealth of fruit as well as notes of black cherries, blueberries, chocolate, scorched earth, and an incredible sense of spring flowers. Concentrated and incredibly pure, with silky tannins on the palate, it has the texture and fruit to almost shine even now but should still evolve for 30 years or more. - 05/2023