Chapelle d'Ausone, St Emilion Grand Cru,

The 2020 Chapelle d'Ausone is a blend of 60% Cabernet Franc, 35% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep garnet-purple in color, it is shut down to begin, soon giving way to profound notes of wild blueberries, black raspberries, and boysenberry preserves, plus suggestions of Indian spices, licorice, and lilacs. The medium-bodied palate is tightly knit with nuanced black and red fruits, supported by velvety tannins and beautifully judged freshness, finishing long and fragrant.

The 2020 Chapelle d'Ausone, raised entirely in new oak, is relatively backward on the nose, just like the 2018, and demands encouragement to eke out scents of blackberry, cedar, crushed limestone and a touch of pencil shaving. Very focused, though there is something bashful about the aromatics at the moment. The palate is medium-bodied and extremely pure, with pliant tannins and a silky smooth texture. Candied orange peel infuses the black fruit towards the mineral-driven finish. The more you remain in its presence, the more you feel the quality of this Deuxième Vin.