Château Ausone St-Émilion 1er Grand Cru 'A'
Tasted blind at the 2012 Southwold tasting, the 2012 Ausone took more time to settle in the glass than its peers, eventually deciding upon briary, violet and cassis scentsvery floral and Margaux-like in style, not powerful but insistent. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, a crisp line of acidity, blackcurrant pastille mixed with cedar and a dash of spice, the wine finally revving up towards an intense and persistent finish that almost stains the mouth with its opulence. It is a gorgeous Saint Emilion from Pauline and Alain Vauthier. Tasted January 2016. - Rober Parker Jr
Château Figeac St Emilion
The Premier Grand Cru Classe Château Figeac has a high percentage of mature cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc vines (40+ years). This gives its wines blackcurrant aromas, robust structure and length. Made by experienced winemaker Frederic Faye, with Michel Rolland, the most famous consultant oenologist in the world, this vintage has the hallmarks of a buoyant Right Bank style.