Ausone 2008

Possibly the “wine of the vintage,” the 2008 boasts an inky/blue/purple color as well as a glorious perfume of spring flowers, blueberry and blackberry liqueur, camphor, truffles and crushed rocks. With great fruit on the attack and mid-palate, a medium to full-bodied, multidimensional mouthfeel and a skyscraper-like finish, this prodigious effort over-delivers, even for this phenomenal terroir. Give it 5-8 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 40-50 years.

This wine has a superb finish with loads of raspberry and cherry with super fine tannins. It is really silky textured. It’s full and balanced long finish. Fresh, very clean and precise. Leave it for six to seven years. Fabulous for the vintage.

Tasted at the chateau with Alain Vauthier, the Ausone ’08 is more taciturn on the nose compared to recent vintages and demands coaxing from the glass. Pure blackberry and cassis, a hint of mint, very restrained but beautifully focused. The palate is medium-bodied with cashmere tannins, pure black cherry, strawberry and raspberry fruit, perfect acidity and brilliant focus. This is a restrained, elegant Ausone that is beautifully crafted and underpinned with a pixelated finish with hints of vanilla adorning the aftertaste. Lovely. Drink 2015-2030. Tasted October 2010.