Region | |
---|---|
Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > St Emilion |
Colour | Red |
Type | Still |
Bottle proffered for my birthday. Deep garnet core with faint, thin dark brick rim. The nose is quite spicy, earthy and Graves in style. Burnt toast, turning more mulberry-ish with aeration. The palate is tannic at first but becomes more rounded with notes of blueberries and cassis. Backward but focused and very long. A bit frayed on the finish, a touch of volatility. A very fine Ausone that needs another 3-5 years to reach its peak. Tasted February 2004.
The 1988 Ausone may need 20 years to reach its peak. Unlike a number of 1988s where the balance between tannin and fruit favors the former (always a troubling sign), Ausone offers plenty of juicy red and black fruit extract in a medium-bodied, superbly concentrated, intense, and powerful format. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2040. Last tasted, 1/93.