Château Ausone 2024 Saint-Émilion Premier Grand Cru Classé ‘A’

James Suckling
(97-98)/100 punten
A really classic Ausone, reminiscent of the great ones of the 1980s. Medium-bodied, it has such clarity and brightness and length. Purity and precision with drive and focus from superb viticulture and winemaking. A blend of 65% cabernet franc and 35% merlot.

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
96/100 punten
Deep ruby in colour, this delivers texture and flavoursome sappy fruits, clear winemaking skill that maintains estate signature. You feel the tightrope walk of minerality and fruit, and as in 2021 Ausone is at the very top of what was possible in the vintage. Cassis bud, peony, violet, cloves, jasmine flowers, chamomile, subtle complexity and layers that expand and build through the palate. The successful construction of this wine highlights what was so challeging to fully achieve with so many others in the vintage. Harvest 30 September 5 October, Philippe Baillarguet cellar master. 100% new oak.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown
(95-97)/100 punten
Deep garnet-purple colored. Soars out of the glass with fragrant notes of black cherries, black raspberries, violets, and sassafras, with touches of forest floor and fragrant soils. The medium-bodied palate is wonderfully silky with seamless freshness supporting the delicate red berry and floral layers, finishing long and perfumed. Stunning.

The Wine Cellar Insider
(95-97)/100 punten
Intensely floral in its perfume, you also experience oceanic influences, mint, spice, smoke, licorice, black raspberries, cherries, and plums. Medium-bodied, elegant, fresh, and juicy, the marine influence from the limestone terroir is notably strong this year, enhancing the vibrancy, length, lift, and complexity of the wine. For Ausone, you will be able to enjoy this early, with only a modicum of aging. The wine blends 65% Cabernet Franc with 35% Merlot.13.67% ABV, 3.54 pH. Harvesting took place September 30 - October 5. Production was smaller than usual. Drink from 2030-2065.

Jeb Dunnuck
(94-97)/100 punten
A classic blend of 65% Cabernet Franc and 35% Merlot resting in new barrels, the 2024 Château Ausone sports a vivid ruby hue to go with a gorgeous perfume of black raspberries, subtle cassis, graphite, sappy flowers, and lead pencil. It's gorgeous on the palate, with medium to full-bodied richness, a pure, focused, remarkably elegant mouthfeel, ultra-fine tannins, and perfectly integrated oak. This classy, perfumed, sensationally elegant Ausone will drink nicely with just a few years of bottle age.

Decanter
95/100 punten
A creamy, crisp nose of cherry and raspberry yoghurt, alive and focused. Initially sharp with a punch of acidity, it turns strict and linear, framed by well-integrated tannins with a spiced, cool liquorice edge. Serious yet controlled, it offers clarity, precision, and purity, with mouthwatering acidity and minty, graphite terroir notes. Not as full as some, but faultless, it’s structured, suave, and racy, with shiny, long-lasting flavour. A yield of 33hl/ha. 3.5pH, and 100% new oak ageing, no press. A primeurs blend as wines are still ageing separately.

Antonio Galloni, Vinous
(93-96)/100 punten
The 2024 Ausone is pure sensuality. Intensely perfumed, pliant and silky on the palate, Ausone is haunting in its beauty. All the elements are so well balanced. Black cherry, lavender, mocha, espresso and exotic spice overtones all take shape in the glass. A wine of understated depth, the 2024 is impressive. Even in the early going, the 100% new oak is not at all evident, suggesting a wine with superior balance. The blend is 65% Cabernet Franc and 35% Merlot.

Neal Martin, Vinous
(93-95)/100 punten
The 2024 Ausone was picked between September 30 and October 5. It aged for 20 months in new French oak from 5 cooperages with malo in barrel as usual. There is slightly less Merlot in the blend due to mildew and coulure during the season. It has a very pure nose with black cherry, wild strawberry and a touch of cracked black pepper in the background. It just misses some of the profound complexity that a top Ausone can deliver. The palate is lovely, though, one of the most velvety 2024s that I tasted out of barrel. This is very harmonious with a focused and sustained finish. Whilst it doesn't quite have the horsepower or sheer ambition of a top-drawer Ausone, this is a success for the vintage simply because it is endowed with greater substance and persistence. There's presence here.

Peter Moser, Falstaff
94/100 punten
Dark ruby, purple reflections, subtle edge brightening. Delicate aromas of cranberry and raspberry, floral touch, delicate herbs and lime zest, delicate wood savouriness. Juicy, elegant, ripe dark berry fruit, delicate hints of cherry, fine tannins, fresh acidity, salty and persistent, shows length and certain ageing potential.

William Kelley, Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate
(91-93)/100 punten
Aromas of dark berries, toasty oak and rich espresso roast mingle with hints of petals and spices, introducing the 2024 Ausone, a medium to full-bodied, lively and sapid wine that's a blend of 65% Cabernet Franc and 35% Merlot. The tannins are nicely ripe, with some structuring oak tannin already lending a supporting presence on the finish. Jancis Robinson 17+/20 punten Fragrant and floral with a stony terroir note behind. Lovely purity of fruit on the palate with fine, elegant tannins. Very long finish. Really quite refined.