2015 La Chapelle d'Ausone

A great value way to enjoy the precision and elegance of Ausone at a considerably lower price, this is a serious wine in its own right. Dense core of ripe, strawberry and plum characters. Smoky, mineral and pure. Intense, sweet hit of fruit, round, soft, supple but energetic palate. Considerable depth, complexity and finesse. (45% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.)

A second label produced mainly from the younger vines at Château Ausone, the 2015 Chapelle d'Ausone is a blend of 45% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in French oak barrels, 85% new, for 20 months. Deep garnet-purple in color, it appears broody to begin, offering glimpses at black berry preserves and crème de cassis notions with nuances of cigar box, Chinese five spice, menthol and chocolate box. Full-bodied, firm and grainy with a taut structure and packed with youthful, muscular fruit, it finishes on a compelling mineral note. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Interim Issue Mid-February 2018, The Wine Advocate

The 2015 Chapelle d'Ausone is a blend of 45% Cabernet Franc, 45% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon picked between 29 September and 15 October, matured in 85% new oak for 20 months. Pauline Vauthier commented that it was relatively easy to parse the lots between grand vin and deuxième vin this year. The nose is a little broody at first, a touch of mintiness coming through the black cherry and cassis scents. The palate is medium-bodied with a touch of dark chocolate on the entry, plenty of cassis fruit, fine tannin with a gentle grip towards the finish that feels a little more structured than recent vintages. This will probably offer 8-10 years' pleasure, possibly more.

This is really intense and powerful with fantastic energy and character. So much dark berry and walnut character. Full and chewy. Yet polished. Second wine of Ausone.

Black! Good freshness on the nose. Very sweet start - fermented blackcurrant pastilles - and finishes a little dry at the moment.
Drink 2023-2032