2006 La Chapelle d’Ausone Collection (10/11/15/16/17/18 - Ex Chateau 2023)

Very dark and porty-looking. A bit damp-furry + menthol on the nose and then horribly drying and tart on the finish. Not integrated nor giving any sign of ever likely to be. Uncomfortable mouthful. (JR)

Bright ruby-red. Wonderful aromatic lift to the aromas of blackberry, blueberry, violet, graphite, crushed rock and fruity pepper. Dense but light on its feet, with superb precision to the flavors of black fruits, rocks and minerals. Finishes with very suave tannins and superb clarity and length. This has the structure, lift and perfume of a topnotch calcaire wine. A serious and ageworthy second wine of uncommon class.

There are only 6000 bottles (representing 25% of the total production) of Ausone’s delicious second wine, the 2006 La Chapelle d’Ausone. Its dense ruby/purple hue is followed by an extraordinary bouquet of spring flowers, crushed rocks, creme de cassis, and hints of boysenberries as well as blueberries. With medium to full body, and stunning concentration, purity, and texture, it should drink well in 3-5 years, and last for two decades. As I wrote last year, today Ausone’s second wine is dramatically better than most first wines made in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s under the previous administration.