Chateau Ausone - Chapelle d´Ausone 2017

JAMES SUCKLING: "Crushed raspberries, flowers and fresh mushrooms. Full-bodied, very refined and creamy with intensity but no aggression. The length is so enticing and pretty. You can drink it now, but better in 2022."

WEINWISSER: "Dunkles Granatrubin mit satter Mitte und violettem Rand. Offenes Bouquet mit Damassinepflaumen, Kräuternoten – warme Ausstrahlung. Am Gaumen mit deutlichem Zug, dank der angenehmen Frische ein schlanker, durchgezeichneter Körper mit feinmehliger Textur. Zudem punktet er im aromatischen Finale mit getrockneten Heidelbeeren."

ANTONIO GALLONI: "The 2017 Chapelle d'Ausone is just as impressive from bottle as it was from barrel. A wine of real power, depth and substance, the Chappelle impresses for its fruit concentration and structure. Deep red cherry and plum, fruit, dried flowers, mint, blood orange and sage open up in the glass, with layers of bright, saline-infused aromatics from the 40% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. In 2017, the Chapelle is truly stellar. I loved it."

DUNNUCK: "The second wine here is always terrific as well. The 2017 Chapelle D'Ausone is a blend of 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, mostly from the younger vines of the estate. It has a terrific core of darker fruits as well as complex forest floor, cedar, and violet-tinged aromatics. These all carry to a medium to full-bodied, rounded, elegant, even pretty 2017 that has light tannins and the balance to evolve for 15-20 years."

WINEADVOCATE: "Blended of 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2017 Chapelle d'Ausone sports a deep garnet-purple color. It needs a little coaxing to reveal provocative notes of plum preserves, Black Forest cake and blueberry compote plus suggestions of roses, cloves, pencil shavings and cherry pie. Medium-bodied, the palate is wonderfully zippy and elegantly fruited with a tantalizing frame of satiny tannins and a long, fragrant finish."

WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Licorice, crushed stone, espresso, flowers and black cherry liqueur initiate the encounter. From there you'll progress to a finesse styled, supple textured wine with scrumptious red berries that deliver lift and sweetness."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "This second wine of Château Ausone is from young vines, with half Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Fran in the blend for structure and tannins. The Merlot portion has given rich, jammy flavors that convey spice and blackberries. Drink this attractive wine from 2022."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung, dezent pfeffrig-gewürzig unterlegte schwarze Kirschenfrucht, etwas Schokolade, verhaltenes Bukett. Mittlerer Körper, rotbeeriges Konfit, feine Tannine, zarte Fruchtsüße, Herzkirschen im Abgang, mineralisch, bereits entwickelt."

ROBINSON: "50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. 35 hl/ha. Fermented in wooden vats and aged 20 months in new French oak. Deep purple crimson. Smoky, charry oak over pure dark fruit, the fruit just wins out in the aroma. Pure cassis. Lovely concentrated juicy cassis on the palate and wonderfully smooth and rounded but no lack of structure. Terrific freshness and length."

DECANTER: "This estate has managed to stay true to their signature, producing a gorgeous, round wine with dancing floral aromatics that accompany the autumnal fruit and wonderful lick of wet stone. The tight tannins emphasise the austere finish, but there's great persistency. 100% new oak. Harvested 23 September to 2 October, yielding 35hl/ha. Drinking Window 2026 - 2038"