2020 Château Ausone Chapelle d'Ausone

Chapelle d'Ausone 2020 is the distinguished second wine of the legendary Château Ausone, offering a captivating glimpse into one of Saint-Émilion’s most revered terroirs. Crafted with the same care and precision as the grand vin, this cuvée delivers depth, finesse and remarkable purity in a more approachable style. The 2020 vintage in Bordeaux is widely celebrated for its concentration and balance, and Chapelle d’Ausone is a superb expression of that excellence.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2020 Chapelle d’Ausone shows a deep, vibrant ruby-purple hue, hinting at both richness and youth. The nose opens with an inviting mix of ripe black cherry, cassis and wild berries, layered with notes of violet, graphite, subtle cedar and a touch of spice from well-judged oak. On the palate, this is refined and precise, with a silky yet structured mouthfeel. Ripe black and red fruits are framed by fresh acidity and fine-grained tannins, giving the wine both immediate appeal and serious backbone. Hints of cocoa, licorice, crushed stone and a savory, mineral edge speak clearly of its limestone origins. The finish is long and elegant, suggesting very good aging potential; while approachable in its youth with some aeration, it will reward 8–15 years of cellaring, gaining further complexity and harmony.

Production
Chapelle d’Ausone is sourced from the same steep, limestone-rich slopes that have made Château Ausone one of Saint-Émilion’s most coveted estates. The terroir is defined by hard limestone and clay-limestone soils, excellent drainage and ideal exposure, all of which favor slow, even ripening and a naturally low yield of concentrated berries. The blend is typically dominated by Cabernet Franc and Merlot, with small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon depending on the vintage. Grapes are harvested by hand in small crates, with meticulous sorting in the vineyard and at the cellar. Vinification takes place in temperature-controlled vats, with gentle extraction to preserve finesse and aromatic purity, followed by élevage in French oak barrels (a portion of which are new), where the wine is aged and refined before release.

Food & Serving
This refined Saint-Émilion is a superb partner for elegant meat dishes such as roast lamb with herbs, beef tenderloin, veal chops or duck breast, as well as classic French fare like coq au vin or mushroom-based dishes. It also pairs beautifully with aged hard cheeses and truffled risottos, which highlight its mineral and floral nuances. Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F) to showcase its full aromatic range. Decanting for 1–2 hours in its youth will help the wine open up and soften the tannins; as it develops with age, a shorter decant primarily to remove any sediment will be sufficient.

Producer
Château Ausone is one of Bordeaux’s most storied and coveted estates, situated on the limestone plateau of Saint-Émilion. Classified as a Premier Grand Cru Classé A for many years, it has long been considered among the absolute elite of the Right Bank, known for wines that combine power, complexity and an unmistakable mineral signature. With a relatively small vineyard holding and an obsessive focus on detail in both the vineyard and the cellar, Ausone produces wines of rare precision and longevity. Chapelle d’Ausone, the château’s second wine, was created to reflect the estate’s identity in a slightly more accessible style, while still carrying the hallmark elegance and depth that have made Château Ausone a benchmark in the region.

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