Château Ausone 1998 MG

Ausone 1998 in magnum is one of the great Right Bank wines of its era—a profoundly concentrated, age‑worthy Saint‑Émilion that marries power with striking finesse. Bottled in the generous 1.5 L format, it offers an even slower, more graceful evolution, making it a coveted choice for serious cellars and special occasions. With only around 1,000 cases produced in this vintage, this is a rare opportunity to experience a near-legendary Bordeaux at the height of its complexity.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 1998 Ausone shows a deep, saturated purple core that has begun to take on subtle garnet reflections with maturity, especially from magnum. The nose is intense and layered, opening with truffle, crushed stone and graphite, before unfolding into ripe blueberries, blackberries, black cherry and hints of licorice, violet and fine cigar tobacco. There’s a distinct mineral edge, a hallmark of Ausone’s limestone soils, that gives the bouquet a lifted, almost ethereal quality. On the palate, this is full-bodied and richly textured, with a velvety, sweet tannin profile that supports rather than dominates the fruit. Dark berries, plum compote and cassis are interwoven with earthy truffle, wet stone, anise and a long, savory, almost saline finish. Despite its power and density, the wine remains precise and graceful, with excellent tension and freshness. From magnum, the 1998 still has remarkable aging potential—at a perfect drinking plateau for many enthusiasts now, but capable of evolving and gaining further nuance over the next 20–30 years or more when well cellared.

Production
Château Ausone sits on one of Saint‑Émilion’s most privileged sites, high on the limestone plateau and steep terraces that dominate the village, with thin clay-limestone soils over hard rock that lend the wine its signature minerality and longevity. The vineyard is planted predominantly to Cabernet Franc, complemented by Merlot, and yields are kept very low to maximize concentration. Harvesting is carried out by hand in small parcels, allowing optimal selection of perfectly ripe, healthy berries. In the cellar, traditional Bordeaux vinification is employed: temperature-controlled fermentation in small vats, gentle extraction to preserve finesse, and long maceration for structure and depth. The wine is then aged in a high proportion of new French oak barriques, where it slowly integrates tannin, oak spice and aromatic complexity before bottling, with the magnum format ensuring an especially long, graceful evolution.

Food & Serving
Ausone 1998 from magnum is a gastronomic wine that shines alongside refined dishes: think roast lamb with herbs, venison or game birds, beef Wellington, braised short rib or veal with truffle jus. It also pairs beautifully with earthy, umami-rich plates such as wild mushroom ragout, truffle risotto, and aged hard cheeses like Comté or mature Gouda. Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F); given its age and complexity, decanting for around 1–2 hours is recommended to allow the wine to fully open and shed any remaining bottle reduction, especially from magnum, while preserving its more delicate aromatics.

Producer
Château Ausone is one of Bordeaux’s most storied estates, ranked among the very top tier of Saint‑Émilion as a Premier Grand Cru Classé A. Named in honor of the Roman poet Ausonius, who is believed to have owned vines on the same slopes, the property boasts a winemaking history stretching back many centuries. Its tiny size, dramatic limestone terraces and meticulous, almost artisanal approach to viticulture and vinification have made Ausone one of the most sought‑after and collectible wines in the world. Over the last several decades, the château has consistently produced some of the Right Bank’s most profound, long‑lived wines, with vintages like 1998 reinforcing its reputation for combining depth, elegance and extraordinary aging potential.

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