Chateau Ausone - Chapelle d´Ausone 2021

WEINWISSER: "75 % Cabernet Franc, 25 % Cabernet Sauvignon. Komplexes Bouquet, edle Cassiswürze, Brombeergelee und betörende Veilchen, dahinter heller Tabak und erkalteter Hagebuttentee. Am geradlinigen Gaumen mit straffer Ausrichtung, engmaschigem Körper und perfekt stützendem dunklen Graphit. Im gebündelten Finale schwarzbeerige Konturen, Earl-Grey-Noten und erhabene Adstringenz. Beeindruckende Performance von einem Zweitwein in diesem schwierigen Jahr, gehört zu den Besten in seiner Klasse."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Some sage flower, orange blossom, violet and currant aromas follow through to a medium body, with soft and velvety tannins that show depth and texture. Pure, pretty and supple. Second wine of Ausone. 75% cabernet franc and 25% cabernet sauvignon. Better in a year or two."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "A blend of 75% Cabernet Franc and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2021 Chapelle d’Ausone is medium to deep garnet-purple in color. It needs a lot of swirling to bring forward notes of fresh raspberries, Morello cherries, and cardamom, giving way to hints of iron ore, pencil shavings, crushed rocks, and lavender. The light-bodied palate is wonderfully delicate, with a quiet intensity of red berry and mineral layers, supported by very fine-grained tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and fragrant. Very pretty! Only about 3,500 bottles were made."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "Made from 100% of the two Cabernets, the wine is structured with ripe, smoky rich tannins and great blackberry flavors. This second-label wine is likely to age well. Drink from 2027. "

DECANTER: "A bit subdued on the nose, lightly scented with soft floral accents and some red and black berry fruit. Tangy and a little tart at first, bright and bold, sharp but sleek and straight. Loses some punch towards the middle and end, softening a little but keeping the direction. Lots of cherry notes and raspberry leaf with some menthol accents on the finish. Delicate and poised, juicy. Lightly framed but flavourful and feels finessed with some underlying power too. Definitely not a light wine but needs time."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Ruby in color, you find an intriguing cedar, leafy herb, tobacco leaf, coffee bean, red plum and black raspberry nose with a touch of cinnamon in the background. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, lively, fresh and vibrant, with a crisp edge to the red fruits on the palate. The wine blends 75% Cabernet Franc with 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12.6% ABV. This is the first vintage of Chapelle d'Ausone without any Merlot in the blend. Drink from 2026-2037."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2021 Chapelle d'Ausone wafts from the glass with notes of cherries, sweet berries and licorice framed by a creamy patina of new oak. Medium-bodied, pure and refined, with powdery tannins and a bright spine, it concludes with a mineral, vanillin-inflected finish. The blend contains no Merlot, as everything the vines produced went into the grand vin."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, tiefer Kern, violette Reflexe, dezente Randaufhellung. Preiselbeeren, Tabak, ein Hauch von Cassis, rauchige Würze, zart nach Orangenzesten. Mittlerer Körper, rote Kirschen, schlank und frisch, feine Tannine, mineralisch und ausgewogen, vielseitig einsetzbar."