Chapelle d'Ausone 2006

Ausone’s second wine, La Chapelle d’Ausone, is better than most Ausone cuvees were in the fifties, sixties, and seventies. Made in the style of its bigger sibling, but with softer tannin and not nearly the sublime concentration, the 2006 reveals aromas, flavors, and a character similar to Ausone. This beauty must be tasted to be believed. It should drink well for 25+ years. Obsessive perfectionist proprietor Alain Vauthier’s extraordinary attention to detail in both the vineyard and cellar has resulted in virtually perfect wines in vintage after vintage. Ausone is a 50-year wine, and generations to come will regard them with almost mythical acclaim.

Tasted at Ausone. A similar nose to the Moulin Saint George, this has a succulent nose with violets, black cherries and redcurrants. The palate is dense, very pure and focused with blackberry and a touch of cassis. Beautifully interwoven vanillary new oak with a fleshy finish that perhaps lacks a little persistency and length. Tasted April 2007.

7-8000 bottles produced in 2006 compared with 5-6000 in 2005.
Very dark. Very rich, sophisticated nose with lovely top quality oak and finesse. Just very slightly skinny and stringy on the finish but very fine. Still quite chewy and stringy at the end but lovely delicacy and harmony on the mid palate. Lovely neatness and consistency on the finish. Just neat and long. Pretty marked tannins at the moment.

Bright ruby-red. Wonderful aromatic lift to the aromas of blackberry, blueberry, violet, graphite, crushed rock and fruity pepper. Dense but light on its feet, with superb precision to the flavors of black fruits, rocks and minerals. Finishes with very suave tannins and superb clarity and length. This has the structure, lift and perfume of a topnotch calcaire wine. A serious and ageworthy second wine of uncommon class.