Chateau Ausone 2008

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "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."

DECANTER: "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."

JEB DUNNUCK: "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."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "2008 Ausone smells like you just stepped into a rock quarry that is in full production. This intense sensation of minerality is enhanced with scents of fresh, ripe, blackberry, coffee, oak, spice and violets. Full bodied and intense, this opulent, concentrated, deep, suave polished wine is long, fresh, intense and pure. It really fills your mouth and palate, ending with a finish that lasts close to sixty seconds!"

WEINWISSER: "Der 2008er Ausone besteht aus 55 % Cabernet Franc und 45 % Merlot. Dunkle, dichte Farbe. Mit liköriger Süsse und brachialem, dunkelbeerigen Aroma springt der 2008er Ausone aus dem Glas. Frisch und knackig im Duft, zeigt er sich offensiver, dafür etwas weniger tief und komplex als andere Jahrgänge. Im Mund besitzt er eine dichte, intensive Attacke mit ultrafeinen Gerbstoffen. Sein mächtiges, dunkelbeeriges Aroma ist sehr differenziert, schmelzig und klar. Mit kerniger, verdichteter Mitte scheint er nicht ganz so weit gefasst wie der 2009er. Die rassige Säure verleiht ihm Länge mit feinem, mineralischem Nachhall, kompromisslos trocken und terroirgetrieben vom Kalkstein. Einer der überraschenden Ausones der Probe."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "Wonderfully perfumed wine that exudes class. It has weight and extraction, its tannins lending themselves to the ripe texture. The wine is concentrated, dense in texture and for aging."

JAMES SUCKLING: "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."

VINUM: "Einer der ganz grossen Weine des Jahres, ungemein stiltreu gehalten: Intensives, komplexes Aroma, das Tannin ist dicht und frisch, doch auch von genügender Rasse. Majestätisch nannten wir ihn en Primeur und das ist er tatsächlich, mit Feuer, Würze und Charakter."

WINE SPECTATOR: "This makes you sit up and pay attention, with a stunning array of loam, Turkish coffee, roasted cedar and licorice root flavors coursing along the bottom half, while sleek plum, blackberry and anise notes drive over the top. The mouthwatering finish is loaded with dark fruit, all harnessed by iron-clad grip. Best from 2014 through 2024."