2020 Chapelle d'Ausone

The vineyard of Ausone is surely one of the most magical places in Saint-Emilion along with the Côte Pavie, which is right in front of it, on the other side of the road.  The steep-slope hill, the stone walls delimiting the terraces on which grow the vines, the château on the very top of the hill : everything is unique there, beautiful, and destined to produce legendary wines. There are about 7 ha of vines planted on the east & south-east sides of the hill (limestone and clay) and on the top of it (“astéries” limestone plateau).  The vines are about 50 years old, and the vineyard is composed of about 55% of Cabernet Franc and 40% of Merlot, and some Cabernet Sauvignon. Ausone is one of the rare property in Saint-Emilion to grow a majority of Cabernet Franc. The average production is about 30 000 bts, split between roughly 20 000 bts of Ausone and 10 000 bts of Chapelle d’Ausone. Crafted in the same conditions as its elder sibling, its slightest concern is that it is made with grapes from young vines that will later produce the First Wine. Beside the Cabernet Franc, the Merlot stands out more distinctly, enhancing the crisp fruit and mingling with the subtlest hints of Cabernet Sauvignon. As always, Ausone’s hallmark of taste, its omnipresent elegance, is passionately displayed. Soils Limestone plateau with asterias and on a slope of limestone molasse Cultural practices and ageing Traditional fermentation in oak vats followed by a 20 months ageing in barrels. In conversion to be organic farming since 2020.