The second wine of this brilliant château, the 2022 Chapelle D'Ausone checks in as 65% Cabernet Franc, 35% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon that was raised 20 months in barrels. Classic Cabernet Franc notes of black raspberries, currants, spring flowers, candied violets, and sappy mint herbs all shine here, and it's medium to full-bodied on the palate, with a pure, layered, seamless mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish. While it's not the best vintage for the second wines, you wouldn't know it by tasting this.

The 2022 Chapelle d'Ausone comes across a little suppressed on the nose compared to the Quintus. It does not quite have the same joie-de-vivre. The palate is medium-bodied with very smooth, polished tannins, mainly red fruit with a seam of graphite. It gains more complexity towards the cohesive finish and exerts gentle grip. Here, it is just the aromatics that are found wanting. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting in London.

The 2022 Chapelle d'Ausone has turned out nicely, offering up aromas of sweet mulberries, blackberries and plums mingled with hints of violets, mint and creamy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, rich and textural, it's concentrated and generously extracted, with ripe acids and a saline, oak-inflected finish.