Chateau Ausone 2009

JAMES SUCKLING: "Incredible nose of currants and blueberries. Flowers too. Licorice. Such purity on the nose of Cabernet Franc. Full body, incredible structure, with fabulous tannins and a long, long finish. Built out of stone. The prefect Ausone. Try after 2022."

WEINWISSER: "60 % Cabernet Franc, 40 % Merlot, 18 000 Flaschen. Delikates, feinstes Bouquet mit kandierten Früchten, schwarzen Kirschen, Kandisnoten, just fermentiertem Darjeelingtee, feinen frischen Kräutertönen, Veilchen, Cassis und verschiedenen Edelhölzern, die sich in den zarten und doch intensiven Duft mischen. Perfekter Gaumenauftritt, zart schmelzende Tannine, völlig harmonisch, schwarze Beeren, Lakritze, endloses Finale mit dunklem Malz, Vanillemark und eingedicktem Birnensaft. Perfekter St.-Emilion-Klassiker auf dem Weg zur Legende."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "A masterpiece in the making, proprietor Alain Vauthier’s 2009 Ausone boasts a dense purple color along with notes of powdered chalk, crushed rocks and wild blue, red and black fruits. Extravagantly rich with great minerality, precision and freshness as well as a voluptuous texture (unusual for a baby Ausone), this is an extraordinary wine. Sadly, there are fewer than 1,200 cases ... for the world. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2060"

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "Barrel sample. It may be 14.5 percent alcohol, but, with its huge freshness, the wine almost sings with elegance. The texture is opulent, with intense black fruits and a core of solid tannins. Impressive balance."

FALSTAFF: "Frisch, fast rotbeerig, die Frucht dennoch etwas verkapselt, mineralisch, Edelholzanklänge. Wieder nach roten Früchten, frisch strukturiert, feine Schokonote, bleibt gut haften, wirkt trotz des Jahrgangs fast schlank, große Länge."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "2009 Ausone offers crushed stone, smoke, fennel, and black with blue fruits in the nose. Full bodied and supple, this rich, silky, voluptuous wine, produced from 55% cabernet franc and 45% merlot , ends with sweet plums, minerals, and dark berries. 96-98 Pts"

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Tasted blind. Medium-concentration crimson. Sweet and almost coconut oaky nose. Thick, sweet and attention-grabbing but it does lack a bit of freshness. More to be marvelled at than to refresh. Lots of alcohol."