- Château Ausone 2023 has been released for £5,280 per 12×75.
- ‘Exudes sophistication and could easily surpass the 2022’ said Neal Martin, who rated it 96-98 points.
- Buyers looking for value may turn to the 2019 and 2020 vintages.
As part of this year’s Bordeaux En Primeur campaign, Château Ausone 2023 has been released at €432 per bottle ex-négociant, down 23.5% on the 2022 opening price (€565 per bottle).
It is being offered by the international trade for £5,280 per 12×75, a 22.4% decrease on the 2022 release price (£6,800 per 12×75). Today’s international release price equals the 2019’s opening price.
Château Ausone has secured a spot in the last six editions of the Liv-ex power 100. In 2022 and 2021, the brand placed within the top 50; in 2023 it ranked 75th.
As reported by Jane Anson, the 2023 is the first vintage from the château that will be certified organic — along with the other Vauthier family wines.
Buyers looking for value have several options among back vintages, notably the 2020 and 2019. See more pricing analysis below.
Critical response
The 2023 Ausone ranks among the seven wines receiving a potentially perfect score of 98-100 points from Lisa Perrotti Brown MW (The Wine Independent). She notes aromas of ‘fresh blackberries, violets, licorice, pencil shavings, and tar, leading to an undercurrent of Sichuan pepper and fertile loam’.
Antonio Galloni (Vinous) awarded the wine a barrel score of 96-98 points, adding that those ‘lucky enough to own it should be thrilled’.
Neal Martin (Vinous) also awarded 96-98 points, describing the wine as ‘more understated compared to recent vintages but exuding sophistication’. According to him, the 2023 ‘could easily surpass the Vauthier’s 2022’.
Yohan Castaing (The Wine Advocate) scored a barrel range of 95-97 points. He describes ‘an incipient bouquet of violet, smoke, dark wild berries, spices and cherries, all beautifully interwoven with creamy new oak’.
The wine received a 97-point score from Jane Anson, who said it is ‘full of nuance, capturing the aromatics depths and heights of the vintage’.
Pricing analysis
While today’s opening price makes the 2023 Ausone one of the more expensive vintages on the market, its impressive critical response may attract buyers. For those interested in back vintage opportunities, there are several possible options.
The 98-point 2019 vintage, Neal Martin’s joint-highest scoring of the past decade, may be of interest to buyers. It is currently available at a Market Price of £4,800, a discount of 9.1% to today’s release.
Buyers may also be interested in the 2020 vintage, receiving 97 points from Neal Martin and available at a 7.2% discount to today’s release.
The 96-point 2017 vintage and 92-point 2014, the two least expensive vintages of the past decade, may provide value to buyers looking for entry points into Château Ausone.
Use our ready-made list to easily spot opportunities in back-vintages of Château Ausone and other Right-Bank wines.
Our Bordeaux En Primeur 2023 page contains everything you need to know about this year’s campaign. You can also sign up for our daily En Primeur email alerts using the form below.
Liv-ex analysis is drawn from the world’s most comprehensive database of fine wine prices. The data reflects the real time activity of Liv-ex’s 620+ merchant members from across the globe. Together they represent the largest pool of liquidity in the world – currently £100m of bids and offers across 20,000 wines.
