Jeroen Koenen

9.5

Tasted at the chateau from a pristine, recorked bottle… 🙏🏻 (💯 for the privilige of this evening….)
Second bottle was less good, more soupy and evolved. — 2 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

This wine screams right bank Bordeaux supported by a blend of 55% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. A dark Ruby red in colour this has a lovely perfume with aromas of plum, cigar box, dried bracken and roses, tobacco and spice. Cinnamon and nutmeg from the oak. 70% of the French Oak barrels were new. Medium plus bodied. The tannins are there but lessening in impact. 14.5% ABV. This wine was #2 in the Wine Spectator’s Top 100 of 2013. A near neighbour of the aristocratic Chateau Ausone. — 6 months ago

Stefan Dolhain

8.9

2015 vintage. Owned by the Vauthier family (Ausone, Moulin Saint Georges and La Clotte). A blend of 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and interestingly 5% Carnenere and 5% Petit Verdot. Seriously reduced, I wildly double-decanted the wine, and struggled with the nose for over an hour before it finally started to shine. My patience was rewarded as the beast miraculously turned into some kind of a beauty. Ripe red fruit, violets and a mineral touch. — 5 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.6

This was shockingly open with sexy aromatics & spice where the Ausone needs another 10 years. Will be a legendary vintage for Lafleur. — 7 years ago

Robert Rothfield

9.3

A monster unicorn wine that's hard to find even in France.....it's literally 200 meters down the street from Ausone....wish I bought more — 9 years ago

Greg Gregory

9.5

Allowed a full decant for an hour and then drank with my two friends from the best wine shop in St. Emillion, owner Bruno (twin brother of Philippe that is winemaker at Ausone) and Nicolas. I've purchased and drank many great wines from and with them in the last decade. Obviously I wanted their honest opinion about BRAND. I'm excited to tell you that they were very impressed. — 11 years ago

Robert Cunningham

Wine Educator DeVinimus, Wine Workshop

9.8

Superb wine. Beats 83 Ausone. Rich elegant and long finish — 13 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

70% Merlot & 30% Cabernet Franc. Decanted 2 hours and enjoyed over the next 2 plus hours. Cork near new.

I have waited patiently nearly 20 yrs to enjoy this 2005. While it is delicious tonight, it still has not hit its precipice. Might be another 8-10 yrs for that.

This is the second wine of Chateau Ausone. If you are not familiar with this producer, if they redid the 1855 Classification, their first wine would most certainly be a first growth and at the very least a second growth.

I remember reading the first/original review of the 2005 Ausone from Robert Parker. It read, “if you are over the age of 55, you have to decide whether or not to buy this wine.” It went on to a glorious 💯 point review. However, that original review was taken down some months into it. Was it taken down at the behest of Chateau Ausone? The review was reworded to take out the over 55 age & anticipated drinking window of 2040-2080. Most of Chateau Ausone buyers are older, higher income. Would that drinking window prevent them from purchasing it as Chateau Ausone is not an inexpensive bottle price? Not for the younger incomes. Question for the ages but it inspired me to buy three bottles of their 05 Chapelle d’ Ausone.

About a yr ago, I had their 02 Chapelle d’ Ausone. Strangely, that night it showed better than this 05 tonight. The 02 vintage was not a lauded vintage. Yet on that night, the perfect time to open it. This 05 needs more cellaring time and will ultimately be a better wine in another 7-10 yrs.

The nose shows; beautiful, ripe, somewhat floral fruits that are; dark cherries, strawberries, cherries, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, sweet blueberries and raspberry notes. Mid berry cola. steeped fruit tea, gently baking spices-cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & beautiful vanillin, soft pepper, mix of dry & fresh herbs, tobacco, leather, graphite, volcanic ash, moist clays, limestone, amazing dark & red florals set is violets.

Medium plus resolved, powdery tannins. The palate glides with freshness and ripe, floral, juicy fruits that are; dark cherries, strawberries, cherries, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, sweet blueberries and raspberry notes. There is no bite or a stringency, Mid berry cola, steeped fruit tea, gentle baking spices-cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & beautiful vanillin, soft pepper, mix of dry & fresh herbs, excellent mid, dark spices w/ some palate heat, anise, dark chocolate baking bar, coco powder, tobacco, leather, graphite,, limestone/sandstone, dry crushed rocks, grey volcanic ash, rich, sweet forest floor w/ dry leaves, moist clays, limestone, soft cedar to sandalwood, amazing dark & red florals set is liquid violets, amazing rainfall acidity, still has firm structure/tension, well balanced, great length and a finish that is w/o end and long sets on dark, dry tannins, heated, dark spice florals, earth and tarriness.

Add two points in 7-10 yrs. I look forward to my next bottle then.

Photos of; Chateau Ausone and owner-Alain Vauthier. That short rootstock featured center is around 25+ yrs old. — 4 months ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.8

2019 vintage. Calicem might well be Saint-Emilion's best kept secret. Tasted it several times and was always blown away. This time I tasted it alongside the extraordinary Larcis Ducasse 2019, which proves my point that Calicem is definitely of Premier Grand Cru quality ( in case the classification is still a thing after Cheval Blanc, Ausone and a few others left). — 3 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.2

2014 vintage. This historical estate with great terroir surrounded by famous neighbours like Angélus, Ausone, Pavie etc. is going from strength to strength after it was bought by Denise and Stephen Adams (also owners of Château L'Enclos in Pomerol and ADAMVS in Napa Valley). 2014 vintage. 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Biodynamically farmed (since 2009, certification in 2020). Intriguing attractive nose with an amazing minerality, intertwined with cassis and a hint of truffle. In the mouth it is initially a bit severe, if classy. I would recommend decanting or taste it over several hours. After a few hours the fruit shines through compensating the tight tannic structure and the acidity. Built to age, I feel this will deserve a higher score in 5 or 6 years. It's a very classic restrained wine that definitely has an understated class. Nice value at under 50 euros if you like this style. — 6 years ago

Bill Bender

9.6

This is my 1000th wine on Delectable and I wanted to post something that meant something special to me. @Steve Anderson brought this to an incredible tasting we attended last night at a beautiful cellar in the home of @Scott Kahn who graciously hosted many of our local tasting group among wives, neighbors and other friends of his. It was an exemplary night that I had to cut much shorter than I preferred because I had to pick up my teenage daughter from a friend's house. It was a perfect storm of many important elements impacting my life both past and present. First and foremost I am a Father and even though my daughter called me much earlier than I wanted on an evening of wine involving first growths, Napa giants and Burg greats....I left because I was needed. My daughter just recently started living with me and we've been through a lot in the last year. The men I was with are almost all parents who totally get the importance of my daughter in my life....they are exceptional Dad's who have raised special kids. I respect them immensely and that is why I am honored that wine brought me together with a group that I would not likely have become friends with without it. Wine does that. It bridges gaps. It creates memories. It develops community. Delectable has done that for me as well. I have never been much of a social media guy but something about this app drew me in. Yes it was the wine...but it's the people that make this "place" truly special. I've made legit friends here and I'm better for it. I spent an amazing weekend in Chicago this summer with @Roman Sukley and @DAG...those 2 couldn't have been more generous, gracious or cool. I've also developed a synergy with @Ron R @TheSkip @Martin G Rivard @David A Lentine @Kimberly Anderson and many others I've never met but I feel like I know somehow. These people know who they are.....but back to the wine. Montelena has a special place in my heart. When I passed the bar in '93 I brought a '87 Montelena to dinner that night. Just me and my Mom. She grew up on a dirt road in a small rural town in North Carolina. Not wine country. By the time we shared the Montelena she had become a pretty ardent Chardonnay fan but did not seem to take to reds. Wine was fairly new to me but I was always trying to get her engaged with my love of red wine. Unsuccessfully. That night we shared a meal and memories at the La Valencia hotel in La Jolla and enjoyed that bottle. She was proud of me and said so. Without reservation. I was the first person on either side of my family to graduate college and now I was a lawyer. The moment touched her and it has stayed with me always. She said "you're my only child and I'm so proud of the man you've become and now you're a lawyer. I can't believe it. More than that I can't believe how much I loooooove this wine. I'm actually more impressed with that!" My Mom had a sense of humor too 😉 and right there a lifetime memory was created over a bottle that now had meaning beyond the wine. When she passed suddenly in '05 I had dinner with her husband. I brought a '90 Ausone and a '91 Montelena. We toasted my Mom. I have no recollection of the $500 Ausone but the Montelena is still one of my top 10 wines of all time. Each wine is its own experience and those you share it with enhance that experience immeasurably. Cherish each glass....and @Steve Anderson thank you for granting my request by bringing that bottle. You know now why I chose it. — 10 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.3

2016 vintage. 75 Merlot and 25 /Cabernet Franc).Owned by the Vauthier family (of Ausone fame),this is one of their cheaper offerings. The 2016 drinks well now. I like the rather restrained style of this wine, with its distinctive minerality. Don't expect a flashy "sweet" style, but more of an understated, gastronomic wine. Moreover, it doesn't break the bank. Abv. 13,5%. Even better the next day. — 5 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

Many critics would say the 2002 vintage fell short, not here. In every difficult vintage, some producers still made a good wine. The 2nd wine of Chateau Ausone is amazing with the Ribcap.

21 years in bottle says, magic. I have had better Bordeaux but, not in some time.

The fruits on the nose & palate are gloriously Bordeaux ruby.

The palate entry glides. Heavenly; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, baked plum pudding, creamy raspberries, poached strawberries and a touch of pomegranate seeds. Dry & moist tobacco, sweet graphite, charcoal, dark, rich earth with leaves, dry herbs, very soft baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanillin, the best dark spices I can remember, limestone, moist clay, crushed, dry rocks, hints of menthol/eucalyptus, dry twig, dry pebbles, withering to dry, dark, red flowers, liquid violets with a touch of red roses, near perfect acidity, balance, tension, elegance for days and a finish that last 90 seconds and falls on beautiful earth tones.

Happy Labor Day Weekend! — 10 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Clos Payrol was once a small side project of Philippe Baillarguet from Chateau Ausone made from a tiny vineyard located on the plateau next to the church. Next to nothing is made, maybe 100 cases a year which makes it even smaller than Le Pin. The 2010 pours a deep ruby/purple with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with heady notes of ripe black plums, purple flowers, tobacco, leather, mushrooms, and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose with the added note of Flintstones vitamins on the medium+ finish. A lovely Pomerol that’s drinking very well at this stage and should continue to gain secondary character, drinking well through 2035. It should be noted, Vinobles K took over Clos Payrol in 2015 and it’s now known Enclos Payrol. Production remains also small that they don’t even bother marketing it. — 2 years ago

George Chen

8.9

Open with herbal notes Like Ausone big faded sadly! — 5 years ago

Jeff Loo

9.7

Pure Magic. If you thought the 2015 and 2016 were something, this is going to blow you away. On the same level as Ausone and Cheval this vintage. 96-98pts — 7 years ago

Eric Egan

9.3

Finally a great bottle of this wine (third of the case, the first two were a bit mute)! Quite dense (like an Ausone from a hot year), with a distinct (Franc-associative) fragrance of bonfires and salty (sea-blown) willow bark. A lovely and well-balanced drink that will last for years and years to come (but only if the bottle looks good; here the capsule was in impeccable condition and level was IN)! — 10 years ago

George Chen

9.4

This cork was so tight it broke into thousand pieces and I've opens over 5000 bottles! This bottle was so confounding that I lost myself. This wine stood still in that space as if it just wanted to be left alone. Genie was not giving me much for more than an hour after decanting through funnel and drip by drip! I would not be able to tell you what this wine was if I blind tasted it. I looked for Eucalyptus and hints were there but not obvious...a brooding beast that was like a bear woken up before Spring. Tannins and acid balance was all there but it showed so slow but the structure was awe aspiring. I've had 76 Martha's before few times but no bottle confused me this much. The power tasted of Chambertin and then it was like odd Ausone...I'm screwed as I know so little now. — 12 years ago