LA CHAPELLE D'AUSONE
2015 Grand Cru Saint Emilion
| Colour | Red |
| Origin | France, Bordeaux |
| Sub-district | Saint Emilion & Satellites |
| Village | Saint Emilion |
| Classification | Grand Cru |
| ABV | 14% |
45% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. The young (fifteen year old vines) on the Ausone property, which is on the hillside with a mix of clay and the hard limestone 'calcaire d'asteries'. A deeply savoury fruit, full but still flowing with chalky fine tannins. Intensity builds. Pure. La Cloote seems more fun, but this is more serious. Very long, picking up power on the finish. Rating: 92-93 L&S (Apr 2016)
Alternatively, we may well have some bottles in one of our shops - why not give us a call on 0207 244 0522 or send an email to: sales@leaandsandeman.co.uk.
Or, check the RELATED PRODUCTS below for different vintages or wines of a similar style.
Two-thirds of the crop went into the Grand Vin in 2015, but Ausone’s second label is still very impressive indeed. Perfumed and silky, with effortless oak integration, fine-boned tannins and nuanced red and black fruits, it lingers on the palate. One for those of us who can’t afford Ausone... Drinking range: 2022 - 2030 Rating: 94 Tim Atkin MW, www.timatkin.com (May 2016)
Black! Good freshness on the nose. Very sweet start - fermented blackcurrant pastilles - and finishes a little dry at the moment. Drinking range: 2023 - 2032 Rating: 16.5 Jancis Robinson OBE MW - www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2016)
9,000 bottles this year (more than the usual 7,000-8,000), using 10% Cabernet Sauvignon along with the Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Fragrant, elegant nose. Lovely texture. Little sweetness then really fine, matted tannins. Seductive but structured as well. Drinking range: 2022 - 2035 Rating: 94 James Lawther MW, decanter.com (Apr 2016)
Château Ausone
Unquestionably one of the biggest names of the Right Bank, this is also one of the oldest chateaux in the whole of Bordeaux. Situated at the edge of the limestone plateau on the approach to the village of Saint Emilion, at an altitude of 75 metres, Ausone dominates your view as you drive in to the village, with its beautiful stone gateposts, steeply sloping vineyards, and dry stone walls. Underneath the chateau are kilometre upon kilometre of stone quarries, the smallest of which (at 1,800m2) is the wine cellar. This was excavated back in the 16th century (most of the stone in Saint Emilion ended up building either the village itself, or the handsome limestone buildings in central Bordeaux). Further underground are stone vaults dating back 500 years! The humidity in the cellars is at well over 90%, meaning that they rarely have to perfrom ouillage (topping up), and the angel's rarely get their share! Above ground there is also the Magdeleine chapel (hence the name of the second wine of the estate, Chapelle d'Ausone), which again adds to the sense of mystique on visiting Ausone. They are currently renovating the chapel, and also creating a small room for receiving visitors (although don't hold your breath that this will ever be a centre for wine tourism - the Vaultier family are very discreet, and it is tough to get an appointment here). One of the smallest of all the top estates in Bordeaux, at just over seven hectares (smaller than its Saint Emilion rival Cheval Blanc, smaller even than Petrus in neighbouring Pomerol, but twice the size of le Pin), vines have been cultivated here since the time of Roman poet Ausonius. I'm not sure anyone is suggesting that Ausonius actually owned this vineyard, but it is likely to have been named in his honour.
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RELATED PRODUCTS
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Showing beautifully, the 2000 Château Beau-Sejour Bécot is fully in its prime drink window and offers brilliant aromatics of red and black fruits, cedar pencil, tobacco leaf, truffle, and licorice. Full-bodi...(read more)
Jeb Dunnuck, www.jebdunnuck.com
2019 CHÂTEAU TOUR SAINT CHRISTOPHE Grand Cru Saint Emilion
Bordeaux France 13% Red
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The 2019 Tour Saint Christophe is a fabulous wine that marries fruit intensity and structure. Black cherry, graphite, dried herbs, menthol, licorice and spice give this driving, potent Saint-Émilion tons of charac...(read more)
Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.comORDER COLLECT
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