2008 Ausone

Ruby/violet-colored, with a deep, intense nose of ripe fruits, underbrush, flowers, tapenade, and white truffles, the 2008 Château Ausone hits the palate with a deep, concentrated, yet reserved, incredibly elegant style. Young and still unevolved, it has building structure, beautiful acidity, and a great finish. It's a gorgeous, gorgeous wine.

Okay, I am closing my eyes, I am feeling the wonderful lift and floating fruit effect, and I have to say this is a lovely Ausone. It performs some kind of vertical levitation trick, with a kick of salinity that comes from the limestone. It's juicy on the finish, kicking off its tannins like a silk sheet, emphasising the plush fruits that expand through the mid-palate with unquestionable purity and focus. This wine delivers - a contender for wine of the vintage.

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.