92 WA

    La Chapelle d'Ausone 2020

    BordeauxSaint-Emilion • Red

    Regular price 206,00€ tax included
    Sale price 206,00€ tax included Regular price 0,00€
    Unit price 206,00€ / unit
    Packaging : 1 x 75cl - Wooden Crate

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    Available vintages

    Description

    • Country France
    • Region Bordeaux
    • Appellation Saint-Emilion
    • Color Red
    • Alcohol 12.5
    • Vintage 2020
    • Grape varieties Cabernet franc, Merlot

    La Chapelle d'Ausone 2020 is an exceptional second wine which, according to many critics, possesses the stature of a first growth. This 2020 vintage is marked by great precision and a very pronounced minerality, typical of the limestone terroir of Saint-Émilion.

    Ratings

    Ratings

    • Parker (WA) 92/100
    • Vinous 95/100
    • James Suckling 95-96/100
    • Jean-Marc Quarin 95/100
    Producer

    Producer

    A breathtaking terroir The terroir of Ausone is one of the most unique in Bordeaux. The vines plunge their roots into outcropping limestone containing asterias fossils, sometimes almost bare, providing exceptional natural drainage. The steep slopes, altitude, and south to southeast exposure create an ideal microclimate—temperate and sunny—conducive to slow and perfectly balanced ripening. The alliance of Cabernet Franc and Merlot The grape varieties are based on a rare balance between Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Cabernet Franc, here in its preferred terroir, brings tension, verticality, and aromatic complexity. Merlot complements the whole with its fleshiness, depth, and velvety texture. The vines, averaging over 50 years old, produce naturally low yields, guaranteeing exceptional concentration.

    Owner and history

    The property An absolute jewel of Saint-Émilion, Château Ausone dominates the landscape from a natural amphitheater of steep slopes, at the edge of the historic village. This legendary estate comprises barely 7 hectares of vines, clinging to the most spectacular limestone slopes of the appellation. This unique configuration lends Ausone and its second wine, Chapelle d'Ausone, a rare intimacy and an exceptional identity, where each plot contributes to the creation of a truly outstanding wine. A thousand-year history The name Chapelle d'Ausone refers to the 13th-century Madeleine Chapel, surrounded by vineyards and overlooking the estate. For centuries, vines have taken root here in the rock, shaping a place steeped in history. Owned by the Vauthier family for several generations, Château Ausone embodies exemplary family continuity, guided by unwavering standards and a profound fidelity to the spirit of the place.

    Vinification and aging

    High-precision viticulture
    At Ausone, every action is carefully considered. Viticulture is practiced with meticulous attention: painstaking soil work, gentle pruning, and constant observation of the vines. The slopes necessitate primarily manual labor, reinforcing the direct connection between people and the vines. The harvest, carried out plot by plot at perfect ripeness, reflects the diversity and richness of the terroir.
    The ultimate expression of the place
    The winemaking process is carried out with restraint and precision, prioritizing the purity of the fruit and the finesse of the tannins. Fermentation takes place in wooden vats, with measured extractions and gravity-fed handling of the must and wine. The aging process, long and demanding, extends over approximately 20 months in new, perfectly integrated French oak barrels. Chapelle d'Ausone is a selection of young parcels representing the vivacity and exuberance of Ausone, with a wine expressing fresh, elegant, and crisp notes while retaining the remarkable length imparted by the terroirs of Château Ausone.

    Château Ausone

    Discover Château Ausone

    Discover Château Ausone

    The team's opinion

    2020 also marks the first year of the estate's official conversion to organic farming, a key step for the Vauthier family in preserving this historic terroir. This wine has immense potential. It can be started around 2026-2028, but it will fully blossom between 2030 and 2050.

    Wine profile

    • fruity
    • wooded
    • complex