La Chapelle D'Ausone 2005 (750ML)

95 WA / 94 RP / 94 WS

Tasted single blind at Southwold. This has a very pure nose, good definition; not so much oak as the other wines in this flight, holding back a little. Just pure Saint Emilion - fresh, crisp and pleasurable. This is very refined on the palate, medium-bodied, prudent oak, natural with touches of sloes and damson towards the finish. Sensuous and refined- and bloody gorgeous. - Neal Martin, Wine Advocate

The second wine of Ausone, the Chapelle d’Ausone, usually represents about 50% of the production from this tiny historic vineyard. The 2005 has a dense minerality, sweet blueberry and blackberry fruit, and plenty of flowers and crushed rock in a full-bodied, stunningly concentrated style. Amazingly, this second wine is probably better than many of the great Ausones from the 1940s, 50s, 60s, 70s and early 80s! Drink it over the next 30+ years. - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate

Delivers very pretty aromas of toasty oak, coffee, licorice and blackberry. Full-bodied, with loads of ripe fruit and vanilla and coconut character. Rich, fruit-forward and very, very chewy. A fabulous second wine from Ausone. Best after 2012. 540 cases made. - James Suckling, Wine Spectator