Wine Advocate
par Robert Parker le 29/04/2005
There are only 18,000 bottles of this wine, which certainly will be a candidate for perfection. The limestone soils supported the heat and drought of 2003 better than the gravelly, sandy oils of St.-Emilion. Ausone obviously benefited perfectly from the climate. In addition, the little bit of rain that fell at the end of August was the magic key that opened the door to what looks to be a modern-day legend. Black/purple to the rim with an extraordinary nose of graphite, incense, licorice, Asian spice, and copious quantities of black and red fruits and that almost liquid minerality, this astoundingly great wine is the essence of Ausone and the essence of what makes Bordeaux so special. Will it evolve for 50, 75, or perhaps 100 years? Who knows? It is a magnificently concentrated, seamless, harmonious, brilliant wine that even after tasting a quarter million and twenty-six years on the road, it still gave me chills. If you can find it, if you can afford it, and if you have good DNA for aging, buy it. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2075.