James Suckling (97-98)

The transparency of fruit and the finesse is really something here. There’s depth and beauty to the pristine, fresh fruit. Full-bodied and muscular with wonderful tannins that provide tension and form. Subtle and weightless, this is a thought-provoking young wine. 60% merlot and 40% cabernet franc.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

Only the second release of this cuvée (it was first produced in 2016 and will be produced in 2019 as well), the 2018 Château Angelus Hommage A Elisabeth Bouchet is 100% Cabernet Franc coming from a single parcel of vines averaging between 60-80 years in age. It was vinified in stainless steel and the aging spanned 18 months in new French oak. It's another magical wine from this château that somehow manages to marry serious power and richness with a sense of purity and elegance, as well as complexity, that's something to behold. Deep purple-hued, it offers a sensational array of blackcurrant and cassis fruits intermixed with truffle, spring flowers, and a subtle meaty, baking spice character that develops with time in the glass. Full-bodied on the palate, it's flawlessly balanced, has ultra-fine tannins, and an expansive, seamless, heavenly mouthfeel. Everything is in the right place, and it has perfectly integrated oak along with a gorgeous finish. There are just 849 bottles produced, with a few larger formats, so I expect this to be just about impossible to find in the marketplace (nor will it be cheap), but it's as fine a Saint-Emilion as has ever been made. It needs a decade of cellaring, and I suspect it will have 40-50 years of overall longevity.

Wine Advocate (90)

A sleeper of the vintage, this 2005 seems to be close to its plateau of maturity. It exhibits a dense ruby/plum/purple color, wonderfully sweet and silky tannins, loads of blackcurrant and floral-infused fruit, medium body and a long, layered, elegant and pure personality. It is drinking quite well and exhibiting no reason to extend its aging. This wine should continue to offer gorgeous and good-value drinking for another decade.

James Suckling (93)

A wine with mineral and blueberry character with fresh herbs and green coffee bean. Full and silky with dark chocolate and fruit. Racy. Better in three years.

Wine Enthusiast (92)

The wine has crisp fruit, layers of black currants and ample perfumed fruit. It's a bright wine, with a background of firm tannins.

James Suckling (91-92)

A dense, layered red with chocolate, hazelnut and redcurrants. It’s medium-to full-bodied. Chewy tannins at the end.

Vinous - Neal Martin (91)

The 2020 Château Angludet is the product of a crop that suffered frost damage earlier in the season with a reduced percentage of Merlot. It has a lovely nose, maybe not quite as "brisk" as I described out of barrel, yet harmonious with those appealing black fruit laced with iris flower and violet. The palate is medium-bodied, the 30% aging in amphora imparting the spiciness, the liberal dose of black pepper towards the still gritty finish. Lovely length, lovely Margaux, lovely d'Angludet.

Decanter (97)

The vines of Belair-Monange are split between limestone on the plateau and clay limestone on the slopes. This is a stand-out wine, poised and silky but still in the Moueix muscular house style in 2015. Tannins are fully present and fully committed. In the glass, the floral side opens up, and there's impressive salinity on the finish where you can practically lick the limestone. Excellent; one to put away for eight to ten years.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (90)

The 2019 Annonce de Bélair-Monange is the second wine of the château. It offers up succulent dark cherry fruit, spice and dried flowers, along with veins of saline minerality that give the wine its shape and energy. The combination of fruit and vibrancy is quite appealing. Although Annonce is a second wine, its persistence and class are undeniably top notch.

Crafted with adroit precision, Armens 2014 is a remarkable fine wine expressing the pure artistry and integrity of its distinguished producer. This exquisite vintage originates from a highly esteemed vineyard in Burgundy, France's regal wine region. Fermented with meticulously chosen grapes, and aged in oak barrels to deliver extraordinary depth and velvety texture.

The producer, Armens, is revered for its relentless pursuit of quality and innovation, leading to wines that are the epitome of authenticity. With an exceptional balance of ripened fruit flavours, coupled with hints of spices and plummy notes, Armens 2014 provides a marvellous, lingering finish that enlivens the palate. Delicate yet impactful, it is a quintessential representation of pure French winemaking prowess.

Armens 2014 is more than a fine wine, it's an experience you'll treasure. An unparalleled elixir that encapsulates the very essence of Burgundy in an irresistible symphony of flavours. Immerse yourself in the splendour that is Armens 2014.

Discerning wine connoisseurs will relish in the exquisite Aurage 2016, a hallmark of Bordeaux craftsmanship. This harmonious blend showcases the essence of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, carefully cultivated in the charming vineyards of Côtes de Castillon. This micro-cru, meticulously produced by the celebrated winemakers - Fiona, Jacques, and Daniel Thienpont - manifestly embodies their dedication to superior viticulture and refined winemaking.

Aurage 2016 exudes a rich and full-bodied character, boasting a delightful palate of vibrant blackberry and plum, intertwined with nuances of smooth spices and delicate cocoa. A triumph of balance between power and finesse, this French gem is a fitting testament to an exceptional vintage. The ageing process in new French oak barrels for 14 months engenders an unmatched complexity and depth that renders this wine a well-aged beauty. Sip and savour every drop of Aurage 2016, a wine that exhibits profound elegance and longevity.

The alluring Aurage 2018 is an exquisite embodiment of French winemaking finesse, hailing from the celebrated vineyards of the Cotes de Bordeaux Castillon. This venerated wine offers an eloquent testimony of traditional wine craftsmanship, where vines are ploughed by horses and grapes are harvested by hand, capturing the charm of yesteryears.

Aurage is the product of labour and love by the youthful and vibrant, Julien and Ludovic Hubert. These brothers, part of a third-generation winemaking family, are renowned for producing wines of incredible depth and complexity. The Aurage 2018, specifically, is a harmonious blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, exuding notes of ripe plum, black cherry, and gentle spices. Aged in oak for 14 months, it boasts a polished tannic structure and a lingering finish.

When uncorked, the Aurage 2018 reveals its splendid character, thus elevating any occasion. An enchanting amalgamation of heritage and innovation, each bottle promises an unparalleled olfactory and gustatory journey.

Emanating from the esteemed cellars of Château Lescalle, we present the bewitching pleasure of Aurage 2019. This exalted representation of Bordeaux Supérieur manifests the viticultural mastery of Propriétaire-Récoltant Max de Pourtalès, delivering a wine that boasts elegance and balance in equal measure. With its blend predominantly of Merlot and an accent of Cabernet Franc, Aurage 2019 imparts a complex profile of dark berries, plum, and subtle spice.

Precisely harvested at peak ripeness then matured in French oak barrels for eighteen months, the Aurage 2019 delivers a voluptuously silky texture, superb depth of flavour and refined maturity befitting its lineage. This wine's terroir is distinctively displayed through its graphite minerality and well-delineated structure indicative of the splendid gravelly clay soils and meticulous vine cultivation.

Aurage 2019 is a testimonial to the prowess of its producer and the rich heritage of the Bordeaux region, fulfilling the promise of a captivating and indulgent journey in every sip for discerning oenophiles.

Savour the exquisite delicacy of Aurage 2020, an extraordinary vintage hailing from the prestigious terroirs of Bordeaux's Côte de Castillon. Master winegrower, Aurélien Perdriau, meticulously oversees every aspect of the creation of this merlot-based blend, reflecting both the passion and commitment of a stellar artisan.

Born from sustainable farming practices and manual harvests, Aurage 2020 stands as a testament to French winemaking brilliance. Its ageing in French oak barrels augments the elegant minerality and dark fruit flavours with delicate woody nuances. This masterpiece encapsulates the unique soil composition of its vineyard and the nuances of its sun-kissed growth season, which awards the wine its beautifully balanced characteristics.

With its magnificent garnet hue, ripe blackcurrant and cherry notes leading to a full, velvety palate, and remarkably long finish, the Aurage 2020 promises an unparalleled wine indulgence. Log our website and delve into the world of premium wines with this truly captivating Bordeaux blend.

Jancis Robinson (16)

Less obviously seductive but rich and sweet with chalky, dry tannins. Plenty of matière. Follows the house style.

Wine Advocate (82)

This medium ruby wine remains closed, but exhibits adequate ripeness of fruit. However, the hard tannins are cause for concern. The 1981 Ausone is a medium-weight wine, with good concentration, but I believe it will always be an austere, tough-textured, charmless wine. It still needs 10 years to soften and develop. Anticipated maturity: Now-2010. Last tasted, 1/90.

Wine Spectator (89)

Firm and vivid, offering clear cherry, tobacco and cedar flavors backed by firm, round tannins; it blooms on the finish.--The Bordeaux 50. Drink now through 2000. 2,000 cases made. -JS

Wine Advocate (80)

The 1988 may need 20 years to reach its peak, as it is probably the most tannic, young Ausone I have ever tasted. The tannins are extremely hard, even astringent, but unlike a number of 1988s where the balance between tannins and fruit favors the tannin (always a troubling sign), here is a case where there is plenty of juicy red and black fruit extract in a medium-bodied, superbly concentrated, very intense and powerful wine. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2040. Last tasted, 4/93.

Vinous - Neal Martin (91)

The 1992 Ausone is an off-vintage that I had never tasted before. It was actually better than expected. The nose is agreeable with only a slight greenness underneath those tobacco tinged black fruit, a touch of bacon fat emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with coarse tannin, rather ferrous and smudged, earthy with a short finish. It has its shortcomings although it does improve in the glass, gaining more cohesion and vigour, so don’t write it off. Tasted at the Ausone vertical in London.

Wine Advocate (100)

Amazing! The limestone soils of Ausone appear to have been the perfect foil for resisting the extreme heat and drought of June, July and August, 2003. This black/purple-colored effort boasts a glorious nose of violets, truffles, lead pencil shavings, blueberry and blackberry liqueur. Full-bodied with staggering concentration, a voluptuous texture, low acidity and well-integrated, melted tannins, this deep, multidimensional, profound Bordeaux is beginning to drink exceptionally well. It should continue to do so for another two decades or more.

Wine & Spirit Magazine (98)

Tasted from barrel in 2005, this was among the best wines of the vintage, with limestone-soil character coming through the fresh brightness of fruit. Ausone was all potential energy then, and it has only improved in the two years since. The wine shares the resonant depths of the ancient limestone caves at Ausone, as the flavors echo through the finish. It starts off from a small place, a sweet confection that brings roasted blueberries to mind, the caramelized oak tasting like the edge of charred fat on extremely fine grilled beef. Over the course of several days, the wine becomes increasingly more subtle and serious in tone, with delicate red fruit, gracious mineral-inflected tannins and detailed flavors that last effortlessly. This Ausone will live for decades.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (100)

The 2005 Ausone is magnificent. A wine of soaring intensity and class, the 2005 dazzles from the very first taste. The aromatics alone are captivating, with notes of cinnamon, mint, crushed rocks, blood orange, mocha and incense. Graceful and stately in bearing, the 2005 boasts tremendous purity and breathtaking balance. Readers will find a stunning Saint-Émilion that is just at the beginning of what promises to be a very long drinking window that will be measured in decades. It is a towering achievement from the Vauthier family.