Ausone 2016 has been released at €588 per bottle ex-negociant, up 8.9% on 2015 (€540). It is being offered by the international trade at £7,260 per 12×75, a 29.6% increase in sterling terms on the 2015 release price of £5,600 per case.
This year’s Ausone received the highest possible in-barrel score of 98-100 points from Neal Martin, who commented that “there is a palpable…stateliness about the Ausone this year.” James Suckling, who gave a score of 97-98 points, praised the wine as “one of the most subtle and ethereal Ausones I have encountered in a while.” Further support can be found from Liv-ex members, who rated Ausone 2016 as the 5th best wine of the vintage, placing it as the highest ranked wine outside of the First Growths.
Prices for Ausone show correlation to critic scores (Wine Advocate). This year’s vintage is entering the market below great vintages such as 2005, 2009 and 2010, as well as at a price 27.4% below that suggested by Liv-ex’s ‘fair value’ methodology, which might mark it out as a compelling offer. Buyers looking for value elsewhere may be interested in the 2008, which Robert Parker referred to as “possibly the wine of the vintage,” and is available at a price 33.8% below today’s offering.
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