2005 Chapelle d'Ausone, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, Bottle (750ml)

NM95 "Tasted single blind at Southwold. This has a very pure nose, good definition; not so much oak as the other wines in this flight, holding back a little. Just pure Saint Emilion - fresh, crisp and pleasurable. This is very refined on the palate, medium-bodied, prudent oak, natural with touches of sloes and damson towards the finish. Sensuous and refined- and bloody gorgeous. Drink now-2018+ Tasted January 2009." NM Jul 2009

RP94 "The second wine of Ausone, the Chapelle d’Ausone, usually represents about 50% of the production from this tiny historic vineyard. The 2005 has a dense minerality, sweet blueberry and blackberry fruit, and plenty of flowers and crushed rock in a full-bodied, stunningly concentrated style. Amazingly, this second wine is probably better than many of the great Ausones from the 1940s, 50s, 60s, 70s and early 80s! Drink it over the next 30+ years." RP Jun 2015
"Alain Vauthier has accomplished such extraordinary things at Ausone over the last few vintages, it is difficult to imagine the 2005s might be the pinnacle of his achievement. However, Vauthier never rests on the status quo ... so who knows?" Robert Parker Published: Apr 29, 2007