1998 Château Ausone

Mid crimson. Rich and toasty on the nose – lots of pleasure. Relatively light on the nose and evolved and a little bit over oaked? A bit edgy and uncomfortable. Quite raw tannins. Very dry on the finish. Not my favourite though good persistence. A bit austere on the finish. (JR)

Dark crimson. Lightweight nose. Round and supple with firm tannins on the finish. Embryonic – but probably worth waiting for. (JR)

Very deep purplish crimson. Member of quite another family than 1-3! Much more intense, concentrated and modern. Round, dramatic, not so recognisably Ausone – or even St Emilion – at all, though there is an undertow of terroir. Well made but extremely difficult to score against 1. Rather dry finish suggests oak very slightly overdone. Inky finish. (JR)