Chapelle d'Ausone, St Emilion Grand Cru, 2011
There will be just 8000 bottles of the Chapelle d'Ausone 2011 produced from a blend of 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Fermentation and maceration takes place in thermoregulated wooden vats before aging in new oak barrels for about 20 months. There is much more precision (than the Moulin St Georges), with notes of fine herbs, minerals, earth and perfumed bramble fruit. There is lots of intensity on the palate with warm blue fruit, crisp juicy cherry flavours and notes of gravel. For a second wine, this really is very complex and possesses impressive structure and slaty tannins.
critic reviews
An example of terroir taking precedence over vintage, as this La Chapelle soars out of the glass even in the under-estimated 2011 vintage. Layered and fragrant, ready to go, surprisingly concentrated still at 14 years old, pomegranate and red cherry fruits against tobacco leaf and white tea.
The 2011 Chapelle d’Ausone has a well-defined, quite focused bouquet with high-toned but precise red berry fruit, crushed stone and rose petal aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with fine delineation, lifted red berry fruit laced with truffle, black pepper and a touch of clove. Lovely cohesion on the finish, this is an excellent 2011 that is ageing with style. Tasted blind at the annual 10-Year-On tasting.