One can’t say enough about the amazing job that Alain Vauthier and his daughter have done at this historic property on the decomposed limestone slopes of St.-Emilion. About half of their production goes into the second wine, Chapelle D’Ausone, which gives you an indication of the compulsive perfectionist attitude of the Vauthiers. The 2012 Chapelle D’Ausone has a dense ruby/purple color and is rich, broad and expansive, with notes of plum, blueberry and black raspberry fruit, powdered chalk and flowers. The wine is medium to full-bodied, beautifully pure and long and rich. This is better than many of the vintages of Ausone in the 1940s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s, which says a lot about what Vauthier has achieved. Drink it over the next 20-25 years.

This is very intense and creamy with lots of citrus and chalky. Full body, with lively acidity and a firm tannin structure. Second wine of Ausone. Beauty.

The 2012 Chapelle d'Ausone is boisterous, open and deeply expressive, all of which provide tons of insight into what makes this Saint-Emilion property so special. Rose petal, mint and savory herbs lead to a core of dark red/purplish fruit. In this vintage, the Chapelle is unusually dominated by Cabernet Franc, which gives the wine much of its aromatic signature, poise and brilliant energy. This is a fabulous second wine from Ausone. The blend is 60% Cabernet Franc, 25% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.

The second wine, the 2012 La Chapelle d’Ausone, is an equal part blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc displaying an inky/blue/purple color as well as a sweet kiss of blueberry, blackberry, crushed rock and spring flower characteristics. Remarkably, no one at a blind tasting would ever believe this medium to full-bodied effort is a second wine – it’s that impressive! It should drink well for 15-20 years.

[60CF/27M/13CS] Fresh, spicy Cabernet Franc to smell; medium full, fresh in acidity, fairly silky in texture with a very fine tannin, and a lovely sweetness of flavour, fine, gently fleshy, very feminine in the nicest sense, long and refined and with long, gentle, fragrant aftertaste. An impressive second wine. 2020-30 [M.Schuster, Bordeaux Mar/Apr 2013]

Second wine of Ausone. Big, baked and ripe nose with pretty serious extraction. Palate is broad and expansive, very extracted with big ripe cherry and plum fruit. Tannins will take some taming but this is a wine for the medium to long term.

The Chapelle is a blend of 60% Cabernet Franc, 25% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon that was picked between 9th and 16th October. It is being matured in 80% new oak. To be honest, I found the level of new oak slightly oppressing the fruit – which is not usual for Chapelle. Perhaps it will meld together with time. The palate is medium-bodied with good fruit intensity, firm tannins, but again, I would have preferred say 60-70% oak to let the fruit speak more. Fine. Tasted April 2013.

Drink 2018-2028 (One third of the crop. 60% Cabernet Franc, 25% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. Fermented in small wooden cuves, (will have) 20 months in barrique, 85% new.) A little reduced at the moment. Some sweet oak spice and a touch of char, though that may be reinforced by the reductive smokiness. Dense and chewy but very fresh and pure fruited. Tastes as if there is a touch of Syrah! Fine and compact tannins. Very promising. Mouthwatering finish from both the freshness and the tannins. (JH)