Chateau Ausone, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2008

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.

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.

The 2008 Ausone has a dark hue with just slight aging on the rim. It has an introspective nose: black fruit, melted tar, cracked black pepper and a background of dried blood/meaty scents. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins; it's a little austere for Ausone and is strict and drier than more benevolent vintages. Saline towards the finish that exerts a gentle grip. I would afford this another couple of years in bottle. Tasted at the château.

(90% merlot and 10% cabernet franc; 27 hl/ha; 100% new oak) Inky-purple color. Brooding, complex aromas of blueberry juice, air-dried plum and balsamic vinegar, with a touch of dusty minerality. Sweet and massive on entry, this conveys a serious sense of huge power but also impeccable balance to its black fruit and sweet spice flavors. Finishes clean and impressively long, with ultra-silky tannins that coat the gums and won't let go.