{"product_id":"ausone-1998-75-cl","title":"Château Ausone 1998","description":"\u003cp\u003eAusone 1998 is a legendary Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé wine from one of Bordeaux’s most revered estates, crafted in a vintage that has already achieved near-mythical status among collectors. Produced in tiny quantities—around 1,000 cases—this wine is both rare and profoundly ageworthy, representing the pinnacle of right-bank Bordeaux. Combining power, aromatic complexity and remarkable finesse, it stands just a shade below perfection in top bottles, according to Robert Parker Jr.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn the glass, Ausone 1998 shows a deep, saturated purple hue that is just beginning to evolve at the rim, yet still astonishingly youthful for its age. The nose is highly expressive and layered, with an opulent bouquet of blackberries, blueberries and dark plums, interwoven with notes of black truffle, crushed stone, licorice and subtle floral hints. Over time, earthy undertones, graphite and a whisper of sweet spice emerge, adding further complexity.\n\nOn the palate, this is an extraordinarily rich and full-bodied wine with a seamless, velvety texture and wonderfully sweet, polished tannins. Intense dark berry fruit is framed by a core of minerality and savory truffle character, giving the wine both hedonistic richness and architectural precision. The finish is long, poised and multi-dimensional, balancing power with delicacy. While select bottles have shown more evolved and forward than initially predicted, pristine examples still have an outstanding aging potential of 50–60 years from vintage, and are drinking beautifully now through the coming decades.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduction\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eChâteau Ausone sits on the limestone slopes above the town of Saint-Émilion, on some of the most coveted terroir in all of Bordeaux. The vineyard, planted primarily to Cabernet Franc and Merlot, benefits from steep, well-drained limestone and clay-limestone soils that lend the wine its hallmark minerality and tension. Yields are kept very low, and harvesting is done by hand in multiple passes to ensure only perfectly ripe grapes are selected. In the cellar, Ausone is traditionally vinified in temperature-controlled vats, with meticulous plot-by-plot handling, followed by extended aging in a high proportion of new French oak barrels. This careful, artisanal approach—combined with minuscule production—creates a wine of extraordinary concentration, purity and long-lived structure.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood \u0026amp; Serving\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAusone 1998 is a natural partner to refined, richly flavored dishes: think roast lamb with herb crust, dry-aged ribeye, beef Wellington, pigeon, or game birds with truffle jus. It also pairs beautifully with earthy preparations featuring mushrooms, truffles, and root vegetables, as well as mature hard cheeses like Comté or aged Gruyère. Serve at 16–18°C (61–64°F) to showcase its aromatic complexity, and decant for at least 1–2 hours—longer if the bottle is particularly youthful in expression—to allow the wine to fully open and reveal its layers.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProducer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eChâteau Ausone is one of Saint-Émilion’s crown jewels, holding the coveted Premier Grand Cru Classé A status for many years and standing alongside the most esteemed estates of Bordeaux. With a history stretching back centuries and a tiny, terraced vineyard overlooking the village, Ausone has long been recognized for producing some of the region’s most profound and ageworthy wines. The estate’s commitment to low yields, meticulous vineyard work and precise, artisanal winemaking has cemented its reputation among the world’s top collectors. Wines like the 1998 vintage exemplify Ausone’s unique combination of limestone-driven minerality, intense concentration and remarkable longevity, making it a benchmark for right-bank Bordeaux at its very best.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Château Ausone","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54254986232145,"sku":"PS-7730867699912","price":764.46,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0874\/0614\/9969\/files\/AUSONE_beb357fb-db7a-45c9-a57b-b1334410ef1a.png?v=1783455485","url":"https:\/\/bottlehero.com\/products\/ausone-1998-75-cl","provider":"Bottle Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}