Ausone 1997

A deep limpid garnet core. Echoing its showing in 2005, this has a lovely, opulent, velvety nose with well-knit vanillary new oak and superb fruit concentration. It still neds some time. Ditto the palate has admirable fruit concentration, maintaining the Super-Tuscan like flashiness, not complex with a super-smooth cassis and plum finish. Good persistency. Very fine, but not in the league of later vintages from Mon. Vauthier. Drink now-2017. Tasted September 2006.

A fine wine, this dark purple-colored effort reveals black raspberry, blackberry, mineral, and floral aromas in its complex, multidimensional bouquet. In the mouth, it is medium-bodied, with sweet, ripe fruit, firm tannin, good acidity, and a long, well-endowed, moderately tannic finish. Moreover, it will be a long-lived wine. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2020.