Chapelle d'Ausone 2017

This estate has managed to stay true to their signature, producing a gorgeous, rounded wine with dancing floral aromatics that accompany the autumnal fruit and a wonderful lick of wet stone. The tight tannins emphasise the austere finish, but there is great persistence. 100% new oak. Harvested from 23 September to 2 October, yielding 35 hl/ha.

Crushed raspberries, flowers and fresh mushrooms. Full-bodied, very refined and creamy with intensity but no aggression. The length is so enticing and pretty. You can drink it now, but better in 2022.

50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. 35 hl/ha. Fermented in wooden vats and aged 20 months in new French oak. Deep purple-crimson. Smoky, charry oak over pure dark fruit, the fruit just wins out on the nose. Pure cassis. Lovely concentrated, juicy cassis on the palate and wonderfully smooth and rounded, yet with no lack of structure. Terrific freshness and length. (JH)

Licorice, crushed stone, espresso, flowers and black cherry liqueur initiate the encounter. From there you’ll progress to a finesse-styled, supple-textured wine with scrumptious red berries that deliver lift and sweetness.

The second wine here is always terrific as well. The 2017 Chapelle D'Ausone is a blend of 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, mostly from the younger vines of the estate. It has a terrific core of darker fruits as well as complex forest floor, cedar, and violet-tinged aromatics. These all carry to a medium- to full-bodied, rounded, elegant, even pretty 2017 that has light tannins and the balance to evolve for 15–20 years.

50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35 hl/ha, production of 5,500 bottles. Deep garnet-ruby with a dense core and a violet rim. Open bouquet with damson plums and herbal notes – a warm impression. On the palate, clear drive; thanks to the pleasant freshness, a slender, well-defined body with a finely powdery texture. It also scores in the aromatic finish with dried blueberries. 17.5+/20

Kunz barrel sample 18: (50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, production 5,500 bottles, 35 hl/ha) Closed, silky bouquet, red and blue berries, slate, fine woods. Balanced, elegant palate with fine fruit, plenty of good tannins, tightly interwoven structure, powerful aromatics, long, fresh finish. Has room to improve.

(50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, production 5,500 bottles, 35 hl/ha) Closed, silky bouquet, red and blue berries, slate, fine woods. Balanced, elegant palate with delicate fruit, plenty of fine tannins, densely woven structure, powerful aromatics, long, fresh finish. Can still improve. 17/20 2024 - 2038

Taut, juicy, elegant wine, juicy, with fine depth and a long, mineral finish.

Garnet red with purple highlights. An intense, inviting bouquet marked by notes of violets and blackcurrant. A touch of black pepper and mint. The palate is elegant, compact and juicy. Chapelle has body and density, thanks to supportive tannins that bring breadth and keep all the elements in place. A refreshing structure that ideally supports the fruit. A wine that combines charm and character.

Logo on the cork: A in a circle (Amorim) Dark, intense, and beautiful color. Very aromatic nose, with ripe, pure fruit. A hint of truffle when swirled. Delicate on entry and once again caressing; even in this challenging vintage, the wine develops a little less juicy than previous ones, leading to a slightly firm finish, with a bit less aromatic return on the palate, but it’s very good.

The nose is elegant and offers fine grain, power, subtle depth and intensity. It reveals notes of blackberry and grey pepper, with lighter hints of strawberry, along with touches of raspberry and spices, as well as discreet spicy nuances. The palate is fruity, elegant, and offers a fresh acidic backbone, indulgence, precision, and juicy/fleshy fruit. On the palate, this wine shows notes of raspberry and blackcurrant, with lighter blackberry, joined by fine touches of chocolate and toasted notes, as well as very discreet hints of caramelization and spices/grey pepper. The tannins are elegant and structuring.

94–96. Barrel Sample. The richness of this fine wine is balanced by delicious freshness and acidity. It has firm tannins, of course, while also having a lift of black currant fruitiness. The tannic core promises great aging; drink from 2025.