2023 Chapelle d'Ausone, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

Wow. This is really alluring, with multi-dimensional texture and length. Crisp and al-dente. It's medium- to full-bodied with ultra-fine tannins and crunchy, pure fruit. Salt comes through. 60% cabernet franc, 35% merlot and 5% cabernet sauvignon.

Green and red berry fruit on the nose, some ripe and unripe notes with clear cedar, liquorice and cinnamon tones. Juicy and so lively on the palate, fun and lifted, clear and crunchy cranberry - a touch of bitter, tannins are present but really soft - a tiny chewiness with real freshness and menthol lift at the end. Round and complete, maybe still little shy and oak impacted but this has a good style. Juicy and clean, light in a way, this isn't rich but it has nice depth all the same. 3.62pH.

Ruby, plum, grilled almond, fennel, love the depth of this wine, sappy and irresistable. 100% new oak. Philippe Baillarguet cellar master, Vauthier family owners, organic certified in the vineyard.

A fresh, delicate bouquet of cassis, violet, iris, raspberries and mulberries introduces the 2023 Chapelle d'Ausone, a medium to full-bodied, concentrated and textured wine with a fleshy core of fruit structured around chalky tannins and a long, precise finish.

The 2023 Chapelle d’Ausone is fabulous as it often is. Succulent ripe tannins give the 2023 tons of pure charm. Dark red/purplish fruit lavender spice menthol licorice and mocha all run through this sumptuous yet structured Saint-Émilion. This will be stellar in another few years time.

The 2023 Chapelle d'Ausone has a well-defined bouquet with dark berry fruit bell pepper and light gravel scents nicely focused with a subtle marine influence. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannins though it is not as fleshy as previous vintages with quite a strict and linear finish. I suspect it will fill out during barrel-maturation.

60% Cabernet Franc, 35% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Same blend as 2022 and 2020. Cask sample. Dense and floral with a hint of minty freshness. Smooth attack then plenty of line and length, the fruit enrobing the tannins. Freshness through and through. (JL)