Château Ausone 2025 Saint-Émilion 1er Grand Cru Classé A - OWC3

Falstaff
100 punten
Dark ruby garnet, violet reflections, subtle edge brightening. Nuances of orange zest, ripe cherries, a hint of dark forest berries, floral touch, delicate precious wood spice, mineral nuances. Juicy, tightly meshed, red fruit nuances, fine spice notes, finesse-rich structure, elegant, well adhering, red berry on the finish, finesse-rich, mineral-salty, very good length, delicate style, delicate licorice, sure maturity potential.

James Suckling
99-100 punten
A high-definition wine. Wow. The aromas are incredible, with roses, strawberries and crushed stones. So perfumed. It’s the magic of perfectly ripe cabernet franc. Medium-bodied with ultra-fine tannins and a firm and silky finish. Sublime length and mouthfeel. Cool, subtle, sophisticated and stunning. So much definition. 13.7% alcohol. A blend of 65% cabernet franc, 30% merlot and 5% cabernet sauvignon.

Wine Advocate
97-99 punten
A blend of 65% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2025 Château Ausone unwinds in the glass with notes of sweet raspberries and mulberries mingled with notions of mint, rose petals and blood orange. Medium- to full-bodied, lively and perfumed, with lovely energy, exquisitely refined tannins and a bright, precise finish, it shows extraordinary potential. Some discreet changes are underway at this address, with picking (between September 2 and 23) broken up plot by plot to a greater degree; a review of the estate's cooperage choices in pursuit of better integration; and, at least this year, no second wine for the first time since 1994—given the quality of Ausone's terroir and vine material, that seems entirely reasonable. The result is one of the most refined, classy Ausone vintages in recent years, and it will be exciting to follow these evolutions over the years to come.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown
97-99 punten
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2025 Ausone needs a lot of swirling and coaxing, slowly unfurling to reveal notes of ripe blackberries, red currant preserves, and blueberry compote, plus nuances of rose bud tea, lilacs, crushed rocks, and underbrush, with a waft of lavender. The medium-bodied palate is simply electric with intense, energetic red and blue fruit layers, framed by very firm, very fine-grained tannins and incredible tension from the crisp acidity versus the concentrated flavors, finishing with epic length and depth. Stunning. The blend is 30% Merlot, 65% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Wine Cellar Insider
97-99 punten
With 2025, the oceanic influences in the perfume are strong, from there you find flowers, cigar wrapper, spice, licorice, and deep red fruits. The palate delivers intensity, concentration, fleshy, and palate-coating levels of fruit, minerality, herbs, peppery spices, plums, cherries, and black raspberries. The finish is more vibrant than usual, so you get to enjoy its wealth of fruit, with all of its vivacious character, length, elegance, and minerality. For Ausone, you can enjoy it relatively early, with only a modicum of aging. The wine blends 65% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. This marks the debut vintage for Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend for the Grand Vin. For the first time since 1995, (The year they created La Chapelle) no second wine was produced, hence the large Cabernet in the blend. 13.7% ABV. 3.5 pH. Harvesting took place September 2 - September 23. This is the earliest start to a harvest in Ausone's history. Yields were 29 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2032-2065.

Neal Martin, Vinous
96-98 punten
The 2025 Ausone represents the entirety of the vineyard this year after trial blends convinced the Vauthiers not to make a Chapelle d’Ausone. There is also 5% Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend for the first time, from five tiny plots located on a terrace close to the quarry, so that heat reflects off the wall to ensure ripening. It was picked between September 2 and 23. Almost immediately, I noticed how that soupçon of Cabernet Sauvignon tilts the style of the Grand Vin in a different and, to my mind, positive direction. Beautifully defined, a little more sapid, perhaps just a tad less precocious than usual, there is a sense of classicism in this Ausone that I admire, terroir over growing season perhaps? The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, real depth, silky smooth, with layers of blackberry and raspberry fruit and hints of white pepper and clove. Very long, with a peacock's tail on the finish, this is a fascinating and alluring Ausone that will age with style.

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
97 punten
Nuanced layers of rose petals and iris flowers, knitted down, textural and expansive, will take its sweet time to uncoil and uncurl, but you can see exactly how rewarding it will be to follow its journey. A stunning example of Ausone. Harvest September 2 to 23. No Chapelle. 30hl/h yield, 3.5ph, 100% new oak.

Antonio Galloni, Vinous
95-97 punten
The 2025 Ausone is powerful, dense and packed to the core. Readers will have to be patient with the 2025, as it is quite reticent. In 2025, the Vauthier family did not produce a second wine at Ausone. Consequently, the blend in the Grand Vin is a bit different than in most years, at 65% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Time in the glass brings out hints of blood orange, rose petal, mint and raspberry jam. It will be fascinating to see how the 2025 ages.

Decanter
96 punten
A beautiful floral fragrance on the nose, smells like a wild meadow with a touch of toasted spice, vanilla and clove along with black chocolate and blackcurrants. Smooth and creamy, round and filling with a really bright core of fresh acidity backed by mouthwatering acidity and a fleshy but really cool finish. The juicy aspect is lovely – this is a fun Ausone dare I say it, with the focus on fruit purity and clarity. Certainly an elegant and finessed wine. Chewy, supple, forward and friendly. It’s not so dense but it is complex. Perhaps a touch hands off, but I love the cool freshness and the sense of direction. Nothing is out of place. Earliest harvest ever, started 2nd September with main harvest on the 8th. The first time to have Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend and no Chapelle this year, the first time since the second wine was introduced in 1994. 3.5pH. Ageing 100% new oak. A yield of 29hl/ha.

Jancis Robinson
18/20 punten
Deep colour. Dark fruit with a floral note. Plush fruit on the palate with a suave texture of tannin. Big structure but elegant and contained. Plenty of charm but discreet power.