2022 Chapelle d'Ausone, St-Emilion

An impressive Chapelle that opens with a wave of opulence, rich and confident in its construction. Majors on tobacco, cigar box, liqourice, chocolate, creamy damson, black cherry puree, velvety tannins. Incredible to think that this character can be teased out of pure limestone soils, but their fingerprint, with a welcome edge of salty cracker, comes in on the finish. Takes the character of the vintage and leans right in to it. Highly accomplished. 3.5ph, 100% new oak. Conversion to organic farming since 2020, Philippe Baillarguet cellar master, Pauline Vauthier owner and winemaker.

Cassis, red plums, graphite, chalky minerality, violet notes, and a hint of espresso all emerge from the 2022 Chapelle D'Ausone, which is based on 60% Cabernet Franc, 33% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Sauvignon. With a vivid purple hue, medium to full body, ripe, present tannins, and a great finish, it's one hell of a second wine that will probably have 20-25 years of longevity.

A blend of 60% Cabernet Franc, 35% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2022 Chapelle d'Ausone offers up aromas of cherries, raspberries and rose petals mingled with subtle hints of incense. Medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, it's taut and youthfully firm, concluding with a mineral finish.

Red berries such as cherries and raspberries. Cassis. Full-bodied, very tight and focused on the palate with a linear acid and tannin backbone. Racy at the end. Contrasty. Plenty of energy. Just takes off. 65% cabernet franc and 35% merlot.

The 2022 Chapelle d’Ausone is a powerful but also embryonic wine. Here, too, the wine’s balance is impeccable. Super-ripe red cherry fruit, blood orange, spice, menthol and rose petal all meld together. Chapelle is a powerhouse second wine, if that term can even be used. The blend is 60% Cabernet Franc, 35% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.