The Story
This elegant second wine of Château Ausone reveals aromas of black cherry, blackberry, violet, graphite, and subtle spice with beautifully integrated oak. Medium to full-bodied, the palate offers refined dark fruit, silky tannins, lively acidity, and a long, polished finish with classic Saint-Émilion finesse.
Food Pairing: Roast lamb, beef tenderloin, duck breast, truffle dishes, wild mushrooms, aged hard cheeses.
95 Points - James Suckling
This is really superb with a chalk, dark berry, raspberry and citrus character. Full body, firm tannins and all in fruit. Wow. Second wine of Ausone. Better in 2018.
93 Points - Wine Enthusiast
The second wine of Château Ausone is impressive in its own right. It reflects the fruitier, Merlot side of the vineyard, with ripe black fruits coming through the tannins. The wood aging does show in a vanilla character that will disappear as it matures. It's ripe, full of juicy fruit and ready to age over the medium term. Drink from 2019.
93 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
One can’t say enough about the amazing job that Alain Vauthier and his daughter have done at this historic property on the decomposed limestone slopes of St.-Emilion. About half of their production goes into the second wine, Chapelle D’Ausone, which gives you an indication of the compulsive perfectionist attitude of the Vauthiers. The 2012 Chapelle D’Ausone has a dense ruby/purple color and is rich, broad and expansive, with notes of plum, blueberry and black raspberry fruit, powdered chalk and flowers. The wine is medium to full-bodied, beautifully pure and long and rich. This is better than many of the vintages of Ausone in the 1940s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s, which says a lot about what Vauthier has achieved. Drink it over the next 20-25 years.
Description
This elegant second wine of Château Ausone reveals aromas of black cherry, blackberry, violet, graphite, and subtle spice with beautifully integrated oak. Medium to full-bodied, the palate offers refined dark fruit, silky tannins, lively acidity, and a long, polished finish with classic Saint-Émilion finesse.
Food Pairing: Roast lamb, beef tenderloin, duck breast, truffle dishes, wild mushrooms, aged hard cheeses.
95 Points - James Suckling
This is really superb with a chalk, dark berry, raspberry and citrus character. Full body, firm tannins and all in fruit. Wow. Second wine of Ausone. Better in 2018.
93 Points - Wine Enthusiast
The second wine of Château Ausone is impressive in its own right. It reflects the fruitier, Merlot side of the vineyard, with ripe black fruits coming through the tannins. The wood aging does show in a vanilla character that will disappear as it matures. It's ripe, full of juicy fruit and ready to age over the medium term. Drink from 2019.
93 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
One can’t say enough about the amazing job that Alain Vauthier and his daughter have done at this historic property on the decomposed limestone slopes of St.-Emilion. About half of their production goes into the second wine, Chapelle D’Ausone, which gives you an indication of the compulsive perfectionist attitude of the Vauthiers. The 2012 Chapelle D’Ausone has a dense ruby/purple color and is rich, broad and expansive, with notes of plum, blueberry and black raspberry fruit, powdered chalk and flowers. The wine is medium to full-bodied, beautifully pure and long and rich. This is better than many of the vintages of Ausone in the 1940s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s, which says a lot about what Vauthier has achieved. Drink it over the next 20-25 years.
