Chapelle d'Ausone 2013

Mainly young-vine Cabernet Franc (60%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (15%). Long, fresh and appetising, but with less depth than usual.

With crushed stone and black raspberry on the nose, this petite and pretty wine showcases finesse, freshness and delicate, ripe cherries. Blending 60% Cabernet Franc, 25% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine is aging in 85% new French oak. 88-90 pts

Good intensity of fruit, blackberry, fine oak and mild spices on the nose. Good volume, fresh dark fruit, rounded texture, bright freshness, rather long and elegant finish.

Dark garnet, fairly dense at the core, ruby rim. Cool bouquet with earthy, truffle notes, plenty of tobacco, conveying relatively little sweetness for now. On the palate it shows acidity but also breed, blackberry extract and elderberry notes in the aromatic finish. Not to be underestimated, although certainly too expensive for what it ultimately delivers.

Delicate, green-spicy, fresh bouquet, red blackberries, cherries, cedar. Light, finely bitter palate with delicate fruit, mealy tannins, light, sweet aromatics, medium finish. 16/20 2018 - 2028

Delicate, subtle tannins, a racy length, precise fruit.

The aromas are very refined. The palate is fresh, elegant, medium-bodied, with a slight firmness on the finish. 60% cabernet franc, 25% merlot, 15% cabernet sauvignon. 85 new barrel. 22 hl/ha, 4,500 b.

Logo on the cork: A inside a circle (Amorim) Dark, intense color with slight evolution. Highly aromatic nose, fruity and perfectly integrated with the oak. Precise. Lusciously smooth from the very first sip, melting and extremely pleasing, I’m very surprised by the excellent structure of this vintage. Was it racked back into tank early to preserve the fruit? A success I was unaware of.

92–94. Barrel Sample. A perfumed, smoky wine, this boasts a firm line of tannins that gives the wine weight and concentration. It's rich and solidly structured while remaining deliciously fruity.