2013 Ausone
By Chateau Ausone
2013 Ausone from Chateau Ausone, Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux
Approaching the revered 2013 Ausone from Chateau Ausone, one is immediately struck by its defiance against the challenging conditions that marked the Bordeaux vintage year of 2013. It is common knowledge amongst wine aficionados and investors alike that this particular year was no paean to ease, with Bordeaux's vignerons grappling with a cool spring and hailstorms aplenty.
The Vintage That Triumphed Over Adversity
Yet, it is precisely this adversity that makes the 2013 edition of Ausone stand out in the echelons of fine wine. Steering away from its siblings in other vintages, this is a vintage that unequivocally demonstrates resilience. The savoir-faire embedded within the walls of Chateau Ausone triumphed, contouring a wine that speaks volumes of the meticulous care and nimble adjustments executed during its vinification.
Reflected in each swirl and sniff are notes of preserved cherries and nuanced hints of truffle, interspersed with mineral undertones befitting its limestone-rich terroir. On the palate, grace dances with structure; despite the youth implied by the calendar, there's an ethereal approachability woven together with firm tannins that promise rewarding evolution for those who choose to cellar.
Investing in Resilience
In terms of investment, the 2013 Ausone presents as a compelling acquisition; it is a hallmark of finesse amid hardship. Its narrative is penned in the poised longevity it proposes—an alluring proposition for collectors and enthusiasts eager to reap the rewards of patience.
In summary, this gem from Chateau Ausone captures an essence rare for its vintage—a compelling composition born out of a ballet between nature's unpredictability and human expertise. In considering an addition to one's portfolio or cellar, this wine unmistakably paints an enticing picture—one where adversity begets refinement and where time pledges to unfurl layers yet unveiled.
Current market price
$7,540.00
12x75cl
Highest score
94
POP score
323.57
Scores and tasting notes
Probably the wine of the vintage, once again. Only 9,000 bottles of the 2013 Ausone were produced, as crop size was 50% of normal. However, proprietor Alain Vauthier and his daughter certainly have proven a truly great wine can be produced in some of the most trying conditions Bordeaux wine producers have had to deal with over the last 20 years. Yields were only 22 hectoliters per hectare and the final blend was 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot. The haunting aromas of wet rocks, spring flowers, blue and black fruits and forest floor are followed by an incredibly dense, attractive wine with sweet tannin, stunning concentration and texture, medium body and a depth that is essentially unreal in a vintage such as this. The wine is a superb example of great winemaking under the most difficult circumstances. Unlike more recent Ausones, this should be reasonably drinkable in 5-6 years and yet be capable of lasting 25-30.
Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 27 August 2014