St. Émilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend

Opened earlier in the day and double decanted a few hours prior to service. The 2011 Chapelle d’Ausone pours an opaque ruby/purple color; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of black currants, purple flowers, tobacco, earth, and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. This was back when Merlot constituted more of the blend at nearly 50/50 with Cabernet Franc (although there seems to be a kinds of ideas about the exact breakdown). These days, it’s nearly 75% Cabernet Franc, a trend that’s been gaining popularity throughout Saint-Emilion. If this is Ausone’s second wine, I would imagine the Grand Vin is pretty sensational…and likely long lived. This seemed youthful. No doubt, the more green nature of the 2011 vintage is playing a role in that but there’s also undeniable quality. Drink now with patience and through 2036 with ease.

I've been curious about this wine for some time. The original 05 Ausone review from Parker was revised and one would think it was at the request of the Chateau. Parker's 💯 point review started something like this...if you are over the age of 55, you'll want to decide if you want to buy this this wine. Largely, due to his call on it's years of drinkability; which was from 2055-80. Parker's review was mysteriously revised within two months of it's original review. Tonight, I Coravin-ed this tasting of the Chapelle D'Ausone. The 05 Chapelle D'Ausone is still very big & tight but starting it's journey into a decent drinking phase. The tannins are still chewy and dark. The fruits are; ruby blackberries, dark cherries, a mix of blue fruits, strawberries paint the back palate, dark & milk chocolate, caramel, Christmas cake, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, spice-box, black tea, a whiff of green bell peppers, irony minerals, loamy soils, tree bark, a touch of leather, lead pencil shavings, dry stems, dry stones & dark moist soil. The acidity is perfect. The structure, length, balance and tension flirt with glory. The finish runs ripe to dry fruit and the minerals are rich with a dark elegance that lasts and lasts. As good as this wine is tonight, I'll put this bottle back; which is 1 of a 6 pack and wait another 7-10 years to reopen it. Both of Ausone's 05 wines are meant for most collectors end of life or meant to be left for their children.

bam. Boom. This tasting note should be a marvel comic with lightening bolts and dialogue boxes filled with "holy fruit batgirl"

Super lush, flirting with stereotypical Cali profile, but depth and elegance remind me its en France

This was firing on all cylinders. Beautiful integrated soft tannins, lush fruit, with classic secondaries.

Lovely nose! Violets, berry pie on the bouquet. Complex. Soft and pure on the attack, settling into a long and fine tannin grip. This is a pleasure to taste and should score well with any critic I would think

Plenty of ripeness here. Still shows the pedigree of this site- regal, floral, calcareous inner perfume. I would drink this in the next year if you have any

At Women's Wine Alliance meeting

Damn good!

Lots of everything, cherry, kirsch, licorice, stony and mineral. Still primary.