The wine of the vintage from the Right Bank is relatively youthful, concentrated, and rich, with a serious depth of raw materials, ripe fruits and minerality. The exotic textures are perfectly matched by the complex earthy, licorice, floral, plum, black cherry and crushed rock filled nose. The incredibly long, expansive, mineral drive finish must last for close to 60 seconds on your palate.

(tasted just off its finings) Moderately saturated medium ruby color. Flamboyantly ripe, mineral-rich aromas of dark berries, licorice, espresso and dark chocolate. Huge and thick, but with firm acids and powerful minerality giving the wine great verve, thrust and inner-mouth perfume. Not showing its fat at the moment following the recent fining, but this will return. Finishes with a strong tannic spine and great palate-staining length. This should be among the longest-lived wines of the vintage.

Tasted at Bordeaux Index’s “10-Year On” tasting in London. The Ausone 2003 has an opulent, very pure bouquet with cassis, blueberry, violets and a touch of pencil shavings. It does not quite have the ebullience of delineation of the Cheval Blanc but is very fine. The palate is fresh and offers a Burgundy-like silky smooth texture on the entry. The tannins are supremely fine and lend the middle and finish a cashmere texture. There is a hint of spice right on the aftertaste. This is just gorgeous albeit not cheap Saint Emilion! Tasted March 2013.

Full bottle 1,380 g. Signed 'Famille Vauthier'. Alain Vauthier took over in 1995 amid acrimony involving first ex-winemaker Pascal Delbeck and then a bid from François Pinault. Still admirable colour: nuanced ruby that remains robust. Still some tannin in evidence which should suit my doggy bag of bistecca alla fiorentina to be served tonight. Lots of life and richness. Real undertow of salty-sweet tamarind and this wine is very long. I must have bought this en primeur. It's definitely one of the best 2003 bordeaux! (JR)

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. 100pts RP
Drink 2020-2090
Parker's Wine Buyer's Guide No 7

The 2003 Ausone is off the charts in terms of richness. While I gave a 3-digit score to the 2000, I think this profoundly concentrated wine may be even more sublime and exotic. Its inky/blue/purple color is followed by an extraordinary perfume of flowers, crushed rocks, sweet raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, and God knows what else. The impression is one of extraordinary richness and purity, and a multilayered texture yet a surreal lightness as well as laser-like precision. This exquisite offering must be tasted to be believed. Incredibly young, it will undoubtedly close down over the next few years, re-emerging after 15-20 years. It should last for 70-100 years. It is a wine for anthology! No one in Bordeaux has made greater progress in taming the extraordinary potential of this noble terroir than Alain Vauthier, an obsessed perfectionist if there ever was one. He has instituted a Draconian selection at this tiny estate, both in the vineyard and the cellar, and the second wine, Chapelle d'Ausone, has also become one of the region's finest wines. Prospective purchasers should be aware that Ausone requires 10-20 years of cellaring before it approaches maturity.

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.