Category:
 
Red Wines
Sub-Category:  
 
Red Wines
Producer:
 
Ausone
Label Name:
 
St Emilion Gcc a
Vintage:
 
2008
Country:
 
France
Region:
 
Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux (Right Bank)
Volume:
 
1500ml
ABV:
 
14%
Grape(s):
 
55% Cabernet Franc, 45% Merlot
Method:
 
Hand-harvested, small-batch fermentation in temperature-controlled vats; extended malolactic fermentation and ~18–20 months ageing in oak barrels (portion new oak). Low yields (~20 hl/ha).
Acidity:
 
4
Tannins:
 
4
Sweetness:
 
1
Body:
 
4
Length:
 
5
Aroma Intensity:
 
5
Best Temperature:
 
16-18
Tasting Note:
 
Concentrated, perfumed black fruit (blueberry, blackberry) with floral, truffle, crushed stone and camphor notes. Medium–full-bodied with fine, cashmere tannins, bright mineral lift and an extraordinarily long, saline finish.
Food Pairing:
 
Western: roast lamb, beef rib, venison, mushroom risotto, aged cheeses. Asian: Peking duck, char siu or Cantonese roast pork, braised beef with soy, shiitake/soy mushroom dishes.
Vineyard Info:
 
Château Ausone (Vauthier family) is a tiny, prestigious 7 ha Saint-Émilion estate planted mainly to Cabernet Franc and Merlot; famed for limestone soils and long-lived, highly perfumed wines.
Awards/Ratings:
 
Robert Parker (WA) 98; Jeb Dunnuck 98; Decanter 19/20; Neal Martin (Vinous) ~95–96; James Suckling 96; Wine Spectator ~94. Drinking window often cited 2016–2066