2006 Ch. Ausone, St. Emilion

Ch. Ausone is the cherry on the cake of the St Emillion in every sense of the word. Its tiny production (only 1500 cases a year) and wonderful quality makes it one of the most sought-after wines in the world, while its hilltop location looks out over the appelation like a lord surveying all he purveys. Made from 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot this has a real 'wow' factor again in 2006. It has an amazing nose of blackberry, smoke, pepper and roses followed by a complex, lush, mouthfilling creamy palate with vigorous tannins and layer upon layer of flavour and richness. This epic wine is one of the very best in Bordeaux.

One of the handful of candidates for wine of the vintage is the 2006 Ausone...Boasting an inky/blue/purple color as well as an extraordinary, precise bouquet of minerals, flowers, blueberry liqueur, and black currants, this wine possesses fabulous fruit and great intensity, but what makes it so special is its precision, focus, and almost ethereal lightness despite substantial flavor intensity and depth. It is a ballerina with density and power. The abundant noticeable tannin is sweet and, not surprisingly, very finely grained. It should be cellared for a decade, and consumed over the following half century.
(Robert Parker - Wine Advocate - Feb-2009)