Chapelle d'Ausone - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Red 2012
Red
2012
Bordeaux
Saint Emilion Grand Cru
55% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Franc
James Suckling: 95 points
Grape
60% Cabernet Franc, 25% Merlot, 15% Cabernet sauvignon.
Tasting notes
The 2012 Chapelle d’Ausone reveals a dense ruby-purple color and a rich, expansive profile. The nose is aromatic and refined, offering layers of plum, blueberry, and black raspberry, accented by hints of powdered chalk and floral notes.
On the palate, it is medium to full-bodied, with remarkable purity and finesse. The texture is silky yet structured, leading into a long, lingering finish that speaks to both the wine’s depth and elegance.
A beautifully composed Saint-Émilion that combines grace and concentration, with the potential to evolve gracefully over the next decade.
More About The Winery
Named after the Roman poet Ausonius, who once owned vineyards around Saint-Émilion, Château Ausone is one of Bordeaux’s most iconic estates. Perched dramatically on the limestone slopes just outside the village, Ausone’s 7.3 hectares of vines benefit from a steep, south-east exposure that shelters them from harsh winds and rain.
The vineyard is evenly planted to 50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Franc, with vines at the top rooted in the limestone plateau, while those lower down thrive in clay and loam soils. This unique terroir yields wines of extraordinary depth, minerality, and ageing potential.
After struggling in the mid-20th century, Ausone reclaimed its legendary status from the late 1970s under Pascal Delbeck and, more recently, with Michel Rolland as consultant. Today, Château Ausone produces ultra-rich, powerful, and exotically perfumed wines, considered among the very best of Bordeaux. Revered for their longevity, these wines demand at least 10 years of cellaring and reward patience with unrivalled complexity and finesse.
