Chateau Chapelle d'Ausone 2024

Vivid ruby with violet reflections, fragrant aromatics delivering peony and cassis puree, slate, pummice, the edge of savoury that is mouthwatering with subtle depths. Less density than many vintages, but so well handled, just totally delicious. Unusual blend with only Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, harvest 4 and 5 October. Philippe Baillarguet cellar master.

• Reviewer Name: Jane Anson

Lovely fragrance on the nose, so aromatic and expressive. Deep and nuanced with bright red berries, some blackcurrant leaf and violet touches. Structured and forward, this is lovely, a firm texture with hints of both chalkiness and fleshiness. Cool and fresh straight away with juiciness but really the stars here are the structure and gentle power pushing the wine forward. A different style but still just as juicy as the others. A little compact still but no doubt this will be a fine wine with delicious mineral undercurrents and some wet stones touches on the finish. Smart and sophisticated. A yield of 33hl/ha. 20% second wine. 3.5pH. Ageing 100% new oak. No Merlot in the blend this year.

• Reviewer Name: Georgina Hindle

A unique blend of 85% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2024 Chapelle D'Ausone has a pure, medium-bodied, wonderfully focused, lengthy style that builds nicely with time in the glass. Redcurrants, framboise, sappy spring flowers, and obvious minerality all define the aromatics, and it has nicely integrated acidity, some classy oak, and a great finish.

• Reviewer Name: Jeb Dunnuck

The 2024 Chapelle d'Ausone, like the 2021, contains no Merlot. This is a blend of 85% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged for 20 months in new oak barrels. It has an intense bouquet with brambly red berry fruit, blueberry and light violet scents. This is finely delineated, although the 2022 was more complex. The palate is medium-bodied with a smooth entry, a linear style and more black fruit compared to say, La Clotte.

• Reviewer Name: Neal Martin

The 2024 Chapelle d’Ausone is a very pretty second wine. Floral aromatics, bright red-toned fruit and refined tannins convey an impression of finesse in a mid-weight, nuanced Chapelle. In 2024, Chapelle is 85% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, as all the Merlot went into the Grand Vin (as was the case in 2021). Today, the 2024 is a bit quiet. I won't be at all surprised it is even better from bottle.

• Reviewer Name: Antonio Galloni