Château Auguste Rouge

Supple 2018 Bordeaux from organically grown grapes. The 2016 of this cuvée took 90 from James Suckling.

The bottle on the shop is the 2018 Château Auguste Rouge: supple, medium-bodied, eighty percent Merlot with ten percent each of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Aromas run blackberry, blueberry, dark plum, black cherry, licorice, and cedar. The palate is fresh black fruit and soft, integrated tannins, with a finish that persists instead of fading into oak.

James Suckling’s 90 points belong to the 2016 vintage of this rouge, which the maison still quotes — forthright ripe blackberry, a touch of soft tannin, lively acidity, organically grown, drink or hold. The 2018 is the vintage you can put in the cart today. Same estate, same organic farming, a later season.

This is the weeknight proof of the collection. Twenty-four dollars. Twelve bottles ship free in the continental offer. It is also the wine Le’ Zilch is trying to echo once the alcohol is gone.