Château Ausone 2012 DBMG

Ausone 2012 in double magnum (3 L) is a truly collectible expression of one of Saint-Émilion’s most revered Premier Grand Cru Classé A estates. Presented in this large format, it offers slower, more graceful maturation and an ideal size for special occasions or extended cellaring. The 2012 vintage may be more restrained than some blockbuster years, but it has been widely praised for its finesse, purity and haunting floral character, as captured in Neal Martin’s highly complimentary Wine Advocate note.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, Ausone 2012 shows a deep, luminous ruby-purple hue, with just the faintest beginning of maturity at the rim in bottle-aged examples. The nose takes its time to unfurl, revealing an intricate bouquet of wild briar, violets, blackcurrant and cassis pastille, lifted by subtle notes of cedar, graphite and delicate spice – an aromatic profile that some tasters liken to the elegance of top Margaux. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied yet strikingly persistent, with fine-grained, silky tannins and a vibrant, crisp line of acidity that keeps everything focused and precise. Flavors of blackcurrant, dark plum and blackberry are layered with cedarwood, pencil shavings, dried flowers and a faint savory-mineral edge from the limestone soils. The finish is long, intense and mouthcoating without ever feeling heavy, suggesting excellent balance and breeding. In double magnum, the 2012 Ausone has substantial aging potential: it can easily evolve over 20–30 years from vintage, with this format likely extending its peak drinking window even further, rewarding patience with greater complexity and harmony.

Production
Château Ausone sits on the coveted limestone and clay-limestone slopes just outside the medieval village of Saint-Émilion in Bordeaux, a terroir renowned for imparting tension, minerality and aromatic lift to the wines. The small, steep vineyards are planted primarily to Cabernet Franc and Merlot, often from very old vines, and are meticulously tended with low yields and careful selection at harvest to ensure only perfectly ripe fruit is picked. In the cellar, Ausone is traditionally vinified in small, temperature-controlled vats, with gentle extraction to preserve finesse rather than sheer power, followed by élevage in a high proportion of new French oak barrels. Each step is geared toward crafting a wine of depth, precision and longevity, qualities that are especially well expressed in this 2012 vintage and enhanced by the slow evolution afforded by the double magnum format.

Food & Serving
Ausone 2012 is an elegant yet structured Saint-Émilion that pairs beautifully with refined dishes such as roast lamb with herbs, dry-aged ribeye, veal chop, or game birds like pigeon or duck. It also shines alongside classic French preparations featuring truffles, wild mushrooms, or earthy root vegetables, as well as aged hard cheeses like Comté or old Gouda. For optimal enjoyment, serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F). Given its youthfulness in large format, decanting for 2–3 hours is recommended to allow the bouquet to fully blossom and the tannins to soften, especially if enjoyed in the next decade; older bottles at maturity will require a more gentle, shorter decant purely to remove sediment.

Producer
Château Ausone is one of the crown jewels of Saint-Émilion, holding the rare and prestigious Premier Grand Cru Classé A status and long considered among the most refined and ageworthy wines of Bordeaux. Its history stretches back centuries, with the estate taking its name—according to tradition—from the Roman poet Ausonius, a symbol of the site’s ancient viticultural roots. Under the stewardship of Pauline and Alain Vauthier, Ausone has reinforced its reputation for producing wines of remarkable purity, intensity and elegance, often with a distinctive floral, limestone-driven character. Consistently ranked among the top wines of the Right Bank, Ausone is highly sought after by collectors and connoisseurs, and the 2012 vintage in double magnum offers a particularly special opportunity to experience this benchmark estate in a format built for long-term aging and memorable gatherings.

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