Pilar, Ciaran and I went to eat at "Chai Pascal" in St. Emilion this evening. On the way to our table we met with Alain Vauthier, owner of "Chateau Ausone". My passion for wine developed after drinking a bottle of Ausone 1983, and a bottle of Cheval Blanc 1983, with my great friend Laurent Daucy, one evening back in 1992. The amazing sensory sensations felt that evening still remain with me today.
To cut a long story short, Alain sent a glass of each of his four wines to our table. All of his wines are exquisite; however, his "Chateau Ausone 2010" is quite simply amazing. Ausone has been, and always will be, one of my favourite wines. The expression of terroir exhibited by this wine simply cannot be matched in St. Emilion. Prior to Chateau Ausone we drank Alain's second wine, "Chapelle d'Ausone". The incredible finesse, elegance, balance, soft tannins, supple fruit, and terroir present in this wine, puts it on a par with the most prestigious first growths.
A bottle of "Chateau Ausone" 2010 retails in the region of €1,400 per bottle. Chapelle d'Ausone 2010 is retailing in the region of €180 per bottle.
Back home, and this is where life becomes complicated; what do I drink now! Oh for a pint of Guinness in Pakie's.
