Château Ausone
Chapelle d'Ausone Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
2009
Vintage
Varietal
Bordeaux Blend
ABV
14%
Where it is, July 2026
At Peak: in the heart of its drinking window (2014-2044).
In 2026, the Chapelle d'Ausone Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2009 sits twelve years into its thirty-year peak window, which opened in 2014 and extends through 2044. This is a wine past its mid-peak point, meaning the primary dark plum and black cherry fruit intensity of its youth has evolved toward a more nuanced profile where secondary complexity from the Saint-Emilion limestone soils now plays a prominent role alongside the fruit. The velvety tannins that distinguished this wine on release have fully integrated, and the bright freshness noted at peak entry is now carrying a secondary dimension of crushed limestone minerality and spice that adds considerable depth. Chapelle d'Ausone inherits Ausone's fundamental winemaking philosophy, and in 2026 that shows: this is a wine of precision and restraint rather than hedonistic richness, offering the intellectual complexity that makes Saint-Emilion's finest limestone-terroir wines such rewarding company at the table. With eighteen more years of peak drinking ahead through 2044, the wine will continue developing in the cellar for those who wish to see where it goes, but opening bottles in 2026 rewards with a fully mature, harmonious expression of one of Bordeaux's greatest modern vintages. Explore the [Bordeaux wine region guide](/wines/region/bordeaux) or the [Bordeaux Blend varietal page](/wines/varietal/bordeaux-blend), and see [Chateau Ausone 2015](/wines/chateau-ausone/saint-emilion-grand-cru-premier-grand-cru-classe/2015) for the estate's flagship wine.
The ‘09 Chapelle d'Ausone Saint-Émilion Grand Cru.
Twelve years into a thirty-year peak, Chapelle d'Ausone 2009 delivers dark plum, crushed limestone minerality, and floral elegance from the greatest Right Bank vintage of a generation.
Drinking window
Tasting note
Chapelle d'Ausone 2009 fills the glass with a dense, evolving garnet-purple, the center still richly concentrated while a slightly more evolved brick edge at the rim signals twelve years of development at peak. The nose is immediately distinctive: dark plum and black cherry lead the fruit register, but what sets this wine apart is the precision and mineral backbone that the Ausone limestone terroir imparts. Crushed limestone and subtle spice lift above the fruit, and a delicate floral note on the upper aromatic register adds freshness that prevents the wine from reading heavy or warm despite the generosity of the 2009 vintage. The palate is medium-full in body with velvety tannins that have fully resolved into a seamless texture, and the bright natural freshness noted at release still runs through the mid-palate as a structural thread rather than a sharp acid edge. The finish is long and floral, carrying the wine's limestone-mineral character through a persistent close that speaks to the quality of the underlying terroir and the exceptional strength of the 2009 vintage across the Right Bank.
The 2009 vintage
The 2009 growing season in Saint-Emilion and the broader Right Bank was exceptional, delivering a vintage that Wine Spectator rated at 96 points Classic, describing wines that were rich and powerful, yet round and friendly, with velvety texture and loads of fruit. While Pomerol performed outstandingly, Saint-Emilion showed more variability at the appellation-wide level, with the finest limestone and clay terroirs producing the most distinguished results. For Chateau Ausone specifically, the estate's steep limestone hillside above the town of Saint-Emilion provided ideal conditions: the limestone's natural drainage and freshness moderated the vintage's warmth, preserving the mineral precision and natural acidity that characterize this terroir even in generous years. The harvest was gathered in late September under excellent conditions, with the Saint-Emilion limestone plateau producing wines where the vintage's generous ripeness and terroir-driven acidity achieved an equilibrium that accounts for the wine's thirty-year aging trajectory.
About Château Ausone
Chateau Ausone sits above the town of Saint-Emilion on one of the appellation's most distinctive terroirs: a steep slope of solid limestone and clay with vine roots penetrating deeply into the bedrock, producing a mineral precision and structural intensity that distinguishes it from the clay-dominant Pomerol or the sandier reaches of Saint-Emilion's plateau. The estate was historically one of only two estates classified at Premier Grand Cru Classe A level within Saint-Emilion until voluntarily withdrawing from the classification system in 2021, along with Cheval Blanc and Petrus. Winemaking at Ausone has long emphasized whole-cluster fermentation and long maceration with elevage in approximately 100 percent new French oak, designed to match the wine's considerable natural tannic structure and mineral backbone. The Chapelle d'Ausone, the second wine, is produced from younger vines and parcels that do not meet the strict selection criteria for the grand vin: it inherits the estate's winemaking philosophy and limestone terroir character in a more accessible frame, typically reaching peak drinking several years earlier than the flagship wine.
From the cellar: pair with
Roasted lamb shoulder with rosemary and garlic
The wine's dark plum and spice profile complements lamb's savory fat content, while the crushed limestone minerality provides a structural counterpoint that cuts through richness; the floral finish echoes the rosemary's aromatic lift in a way specific to Ausone's limestone terroir character.
Duck confit with lentil and mushroom
The 2009's velvety tannins and bright natural freshness balance duck confit's rich unctuousness without being overwhelmed; the wine's spice undertones align naturally with mushroom's earthy depth, and the mineral backbone provides length through the finish.
Truffle-spiked risotto with aged Parmesan
The wine's precision and limestone mineral character match the intellectual complexity of black truffle, while the velvety texture of the 2009 pairs naturally with risotto's starchiness; the Parmesan's crystalline salt lifts the wine's dark fruit in the finish.
Service & cellaring
- Serving Temp
- 62-64F (17-18C)
- Decanting
- Decant 30-45 minutes in 2026. Twelve years of peak-window development mean tannins are fully resolved; short decanting is appropriate to allow the mineral aromatics to open. Pour carefully if sediment present.
- Cellar Storage
- 55F (13C), 60-70% humidity, bottle on its side.
The drinking window on this bottle is calculated with the Cellared Ageability Index (CAI) v1.0, a 10-factor model. Try the free drinking window calculator on any wine, or read when to drink wine for the practical signals.
More from Saint-Emilion Grand Cru
Frequently Asked
When is the ideal time to drink Chapelle d'Ausone 2009?
In 2026, the wine sits twelve years into its thirty-year peak window, well past the mid-peak transition where primary fruit intensity gives way to mature mineral complexity. This is an excellent time to open bottles: the tannins are fully integrated, the limestone mineral character has emerged as a defining thread, and the floral finish is fully developed. Peak drinking extends through 2044, with additional development possible until 2056.
How long should I decant Chapelle d'Ausone 2009 in 2026?
A 30 to 45-minute decant is appropriate in 2026. The wine has had twelve years to open and develop, and its tannins are fully integrated, so extensive aeration is not required. Pour carefully if any sediment is present. Serve at 62 to 64 degrees Fahrenheit, or 17 to 18 Celsius. The wine will continue to open in the glass over the course of a meal, gaining aromatic complexity without losing the freshness that is Ausone's signature.
What foods pair best with Chapelle d'Ausone Saint-Emilion Grand Cru?
Chapelle d'Ausone's limestone mineral precision and velvety structure pair best with dishes of corresponding elegance: roasted lamb, duck confit, truffle risotto, beef cheek braised in red wine, and aged cheeses such as Comte or aged Cantal. The wine's mineral character and bright natural acidity allow it to handle earthy, umami-rich flavors that would overwhelm a softer, more fruit-forward wine. Avoid overly spiced or peppery preparations that would mask the wine's delicate floral and mineral complexity.
How does Chapelle d'Ausone relate to the Chateau Ausone grand vin?
Chapelle d'Ausone is the second wine of Chateau Ausone, produced from younger vines and parcels declassified from the grand vin's rigorous selection. It shares the estate's limestone terroir, whole-cluster winemaking philosophy, and 100 percent new French oak elevage, but reaches peak drinking earlier and shows a somewhat more accessible frame. Comparing this 2009 Chapelle to Ausone's 2005, 2015, or 2018 grand vin vintages (all available on Cellared) reveals both the family resemblance in mineral character and the difference in scale and concentration between the two wines.