1985 Chateau Ausone Premier Grand Cru Classe A, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 1x750ml

Vinous 75

The 1985 Ausone is, to borrow the verbiage of Mr. Parker, a major disappointment. I cannot think of a vintage where potential and actual quality are so at odds. It has an odd and malodorous peppermint, boiled sweet, cabbage-scented nose. The palate is medium-bodied with brown sugar and something cloying sweet that jars against what must have been under-ripe fruit. It is like a substandard Pinotage but a lot more expensive. It is vintages like this that tarnished the reputation of this historic château in the 1980s and thank goodness they are consigned to history. Avoid. Tasted at the Ausone vertical in London. [Neal Martin, 01/03/2018]

Anticipated maturity: 2018-2023

Robert Parker 83

This Ausone never had the reputation of wines under the Vauthier aegis and it does little to impress here. A rather strange, almost malodorous nose with a jarring sweetness of fig and syrup (?) with touches of leather and ground coffee. The palate has a soft texture, mature tannins with some volatility creeping in towards the flabby finish. You would never guess this to be the same wine as the ’00 or ’05. Drink now. Tasted November 2006. [Neal Martin, 11/01/2006]