Wine Advisor
Ausone 1995
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
First tasted in November 1999 when it was still tannic and backward. hen blind again at the CECWINE horizontal. Deep garnet hue. A wonderful, opulent, sexy nose with pronounced vanillary oak, fruitcake and mocha. Palate is very smooth with good acidity. Fresh. Fine delineation and well knit tannins. Quite savory, with noticeable Cabernet Franc on the savory/meaty finish. Lovely wine. Drink now or over 5-8 years. Tasted September 2004.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
1995 will be remembered as an historic vintage for Ausone. It is the first year where, after more than a decade of infighting among the owners, Alain Vauthier emerged as the sole proprietor, and thus had complete control of the wine's viticulture, vinification, and up-bringing. Ausone's extraordinary minerality is present in the 1995, yet there are more aromatics, a richer, more multidimensional palate impression, and a fuller texture - all with the terroir brilliantly expressed. The wine boasts a dense ruby/purple color, and an emerging but tightly-knit nose of spring flowers, minerals, earth, and black fruits. Rich, with an opulent texture, and surprising sexiness for a young vintage of Ausone, the medium-bodied 1995 displays exquisite balance between its acid, tannin, alcohol, and fruit. Although it is not yet seamless, all the elements are present for an extraordinary evolution in the bottle. Given its backward style, this wine will require 5-7 years of cellaring, and will age at a glacial pace for 30-40 years. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2045.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Ausone's 1995 has turned out to be an exceptional success for this property. After numerous years of infighting among the owners, Alain Vauthier emerged victorious. This is the first vintage in which he has completely controlled the wine's viticulture, vinification, and upbringing. With malolactic fermentation in barrel, and the omnipresent, highly talented Michel Rolland providing guidance, this deep ruby/purple-colored wine has evolved beautifully since I tasted it in March, 1996. Readers who may have been worried about Ausone's "typicity" or terroir being submerged behind the Rolland-directed vinification, should be relieved to know that the property's vivid mineral character, along with a Musigny-like, violet, black-cherry/cassis component have emerged. Some new oak is still noticeable, but far less than last year. The wine is medium to full-bodied, tannic, and backward, as well as gorgeously pure, ripe, and multi-layered. This is a classic, potentially top-class Ausone for drinking between 2007-2035. P.S. Just wait until you read my tasting notes on the 1996 in the April issue!
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Ausone's 1995 has turned out to be an exceptional success for this property. After numerous years of infighting among the owners, Alain Vauthier emerged victorious. This is the first vintage in which he has completely controlled the wine's viticulture, vinification, and upbringing. With malolactic fermentation in barrel, and the omnipresent, highly talented Michel Rolland providing guidance, this deep ruby/purple-colored wine has evolved beautifully since I tasted it in March, 1996. Readers who may have been worried about Ausone's "typicity" or terroir being submerged behind the Rolland-directed vinification, should be relieved to know that the property's vivid mineral character, along with a Musigny-like, violet, black-cherry/cassis component have emerged. Some new oak is still noticeable, but far less than last year. The wine is medium to full-bodied, tannic, and backward, as well as gorgeously pure, ripe, and multi-layered. This is a classic, potentially top-class Ausone for drinking between 2007-2035. Last tasted 11/97
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The 1995 represents a directional shift in winemaking. With the malolactic fermentation done in barrel, this is a more flattering, sexy, spice, and appealing wine than the 1994. Dark ruby/purple-colored, with a sweet, smoky nose of violets, cassis, minerals, and earth, this medium-bodied, richly fruity, elegant wine possesses a beautiful mid-palate, and an endearing texture, yet it never comes across as heavy or overbearing. Low acidity and excellent depth suggest this wine will be approachable in 5-10 years and will keep for 20-25. Will Ausone's fabulous terroir be more or less expressed because of this new philosophy of vinification? Time will tell. All of the wines in this segment were tasted between March 19 and March 28 in Bordeaux. Most of the important wines from both the 1994 and 1995 vintages were tasted three separate times during my ten-day stay in Bordeaux.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Ausone's extraordinary minerality is present in the 1995, yet there are more aromatics, a richer, more multidimensional palate impression, and a fuller texture - all with the terroir brilliantly expressed. The wine boasts a dense ruby/purple color and an emerging but tightly-knit nose of spring flowers, minerals, earth, and black fruits. Rich, with an opulent texture and surprising sexiness for a young vintage of Ausone, the medium-bodied 1995 displays exquisite balance between its acid, tannin, alcohol, and fruit. Although it is not yet seamless, all the elements are present for an extraordinary evolution in the bottle. This wine will age at a glacial pace for 30-40 years. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2045. Last tasted, 3/01.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Deep violet-tinged ruby. Lively cassis, black cherry, tobacco and smoky oak aromas. Lush and dense, though a bit shocked by the bottling. Combines the penetrating, juicy quality and class of previous vintages of this wine with the more opulent texture and suaver tannins craved by so many of today Bordeaux lovers. May well eventually merit a higher score, but will it surpass the '96?
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Excellent deep ruby color. Pungent, very ripe black cherry and violet aromas, plus an almost chocolatey ripeness and a minerally topnote. Sweet, deep and dense, but very fresh. Finishes very long, with tongue-dusting tannins and notes of minerals and toast.
About the Producer
Located in the Saint-Emilion appellation on the right bank of Bordeaux, France, Chateau Ausone is one of only four Saint-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classe A estates in the appellation and one of the eight most prestigious estates in Bordeaux. The 7.25 hectares of vineyards at Château d'Orson are oriented to the east or south-east, allowing the vineyards to enjoy the full sun and to be protected from the north-west winds. The vineyard's proximity to the Dordogne, which is regulated by the river, provides an ideal microclimate for the grapes to grow, and the fact that the vineyard was not seriously affected by the severe frosts of 1892 and 1956 is testament to the terroir. While Merlot is the dominant wine in the Saint-Emilion appellation, Cabernet Franc is the preferred wine at Château d'Ausone, with Cabernet Franc planted in the vineyard, supplemented by some Merlot and a very small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon, which is used only for the secondary wines (Chapelle d'Ausone, Saint-Emilion). 'Ausone, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France). The average age of these vines is 52 years, with the oldest vines, planted in the early 20th century, being up to 100 years old and planted at a density of 6,500-12,000 vines per hectare. The soils are predominantly calcareous clay and limestone, which is the main reason for the minerality of the red wines of Château Ausone, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classe, France. The organic and biodynamic approach to vineyard management and winemaking at Château Ausone is a commitment to producing wines that express the full character of the terroir. In the vineyards, the staff takes care of the vines, planting fruit trees and aromatic plants, allowing insects, birds and even bats to come and go, in order to release the vitality of the soil and promote the harmony of the entire vineyard ecosystem. During the harvest, the grapes are very carefully selected and only healthy grapes of optimum ripeness are used to make the wine. During the winemaking process, the treated grapes are first subjected to Cold Maceration to extract the pigments and flavours from the skins. Next, alcoholic fermentation takes place in large traditional oak barrels, followed by Malolactic Fermentation in small French oak barrels. After this, the estate's main wines are aged in 100% new oak barrels for up to 24 months, adjusted to the characteristics of the vintage. The wines are aged in the estate's natural limestone cellars, where the humidity and temperature are stable and provide excellent conditions for the wines to age. The wines of Château d'Orson have always been known as "the poet's wine", with a deep colour, very pure aromas of dark fruit, liquorice, flowers and crushed stone, full-bodied but not too heavy, and with great potential for ageing. Robert Parker once said: "If patience is not your virtue, there is no point in buying a bottle of Ouzo". The quality of Château Ouzon's wines has been consistent, with the best vintages including 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2001, 2000 and 1998, to name but a few. In addition, the estate's secondary wine was born in 1995 from a selection of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from the young vines of the estate. Thanks to the limestone soils of the estate, this wine is rich in mineral flavours, with aromas of black cherry, blackberry, cassis and flowers, a full-bodied wine with velvety tannins and a long, impressive finish. With Robert Parker and James Suckling scores of over 90 points in almost all vintages, this wine has long ageing potential.
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