Ausone - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 1998

Wine Spectator

95 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe6/30/2009

Dark ruby color. Aromas of lavender, violet, mint and crushed berries. Full-bodied, with polished, chewy tannins and lots of mint, blackberry and wet earth flavors. Goes on and on. Tight and powerful. Needs a long time to open still.'88/'98 Bordeaux blind retrospective (2008). Best after 2012.

Wine Advocate

94 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/2001

Readers should not hesitate to check out Ausone's new second wine, Chapelle d'Ausone. It reveals Ausone's minerality, finesse, and quality presented in a lower-keyed, more open-knit style. A dense opaque purple color offers up restrained, but pure aromas of liquid minerals, blackberries, black raspberries, and flowers. Medium to full-bodied, with high tannin but a long, super-pure, symmetrical mouth-feel, this dazzling, extremely complex Ausone requires 6-10 years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2050.

Wine Spectator

94 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe1/31/2001

Plenty of mineral and berry character with hints of smoke. Full-bodied, with big, chewy tannins and a long, long finish. Massive Ausone. One of the best in years. Best after 2008. 2,000 cases made.

Wine Advocate

93-94 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/2000

A huge, backward Ausone, the 1998 will require a decade or more of cellaring. The impressively saturated purple color is followed by intense aromas of black fruits, crushed stones, and flowers. In the mouth, it is rich and weighty, with superb potential, but the mouth-searing tannin (which is balanced by the wine''s profound concentration) suggests a long, long life. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2040+.

Wine Advocate

91-93 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/1999

You should not contemplate purchasing this wine unless you are willing to cellar it for at least 10-15 years. An extremely saturated black/purple color is followed by aromas of minerals, black fruits, and flowers. It is ferociously tannic, but gorgeously extracted, with outstanding purity and an old vine intensity that kicks in on the mid-palate and continues through the wine's finish. Backward, rich, and massive for Ausone, it requires considerable bottle age. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2040. To be purchased for your children and/or grandchildren!