Château Ausone

History of Château Ausone

The history of Château Ausone is rooted in a thousand-year-old tradition dating back to Roman antiquity. The estate takes its name from Decimus Magnus Ausonius, a poet, professor, and consul born in Bordeaux in 310, whose writings celebrate the region's vineyards and wines. Although the exact connection between Ausonius and the Gallo-Roman villa of Palat, discovered south of the estate, remains debated, archaeological remains such as mosaics and statue fragments bear witness to the ancient viticultural heritage of this site. As early as the 16th century, the estate was named Casteau Dauzone, later evolving into Château Ausone, in tribute to this celebrated poet of Bordeaux wines.

Since the 13th century, the estate has belonged to only three families, a rare stability in Bordeaux. The Lescours oversaw the vineyard until the 16th century, followed by Jacques de Lescure in the 17th century. From 1690 onward, the Chatonnet-Cantenat family, followed by the Dubois-Challon and Vauthier families, took over. This unbroken lineage culminates today in Alain Vauthier and his daughter Pauline Vauthier, representing the eleventh generation of winegrowers. Despite a family dispute in the 1970s between the Dubois-Challon and Vauthier families, Alain Vauthier took the helm in 1995, restoring Château Ausone to its full glory. Since 1998, under his visionary leadership, and with guidance from oenologist Michel Rolland until 2013, the estate has produced wines of exceptional, world-renowned quality.

In 2022, Château Ausone made the bold decision to withdraw from the Saint-Émilion classification, choosing to focus on the authentic expression of its terroir rather than administrative criteria. This move in no way diminished its reputation: the estate remains an icon, prized for its rare wines and unique heritage.

Terroirs and Vineyards of Château Ausone

Château Ausone benefits from an exceptional terroir, considered by many—including Robert Parker—to be one of the most prestigious in Bordeaux. Situated at the southern entrance of the medieval village of Saint-Émilion, the vineyard spans 7 hectares of limestone hillsides and plateaus, offering ideal east/southeast sun exposure. Protected from north and west winds by a belt of rocks, this layout creates a perfect microclimate for the vines. The slopes, featuring 15% to 20% inclines, together with the asteriated limestone plateau, impart to the wines their distinctive mineral signature.

The estate's soil is divided into two primary types: an asteriated limestone plateau, which brings energy and precision, and clay-limestone hillsides, where the clay provides a beneficial water reserve during dry spells. This marriage of limestone and clay allows the vines to flourish with balance, even in extreme vintages, as shown by their resistance to the historic frosts of 1892 and 1956.

The vineyard plantings are dominated by Cabernet Franc (55%) and Merlot (45%), with a marginal touch of Cabernet Sauvignon reserved for the second wine. The vines, with an average age of 50 years, include century-old vines, some planted as early as 1906, among the oldest in Saint-Émilion. The planting density, ranging from 6,500 to 12,600 vines per hectare, fosters low yields (around 33 hectoliters per hectare), ensuring exceptional concentration and aromatic intensity. Since 2020, the estate has been in organic conversion, incorporating non-certified biodynamic practices such as natural treatments using nettles, willow, or valerian, along with preserving a rich ecosystem of hedgerows, fruit trees, and local wildlife.

Winemaking at Château Ausone

Winemaking at Château Ausone is a precise art, guided by a philosophy of respecting the terroir and rigorous selection. The harvest is entirely manual, carried out using small crates with successive sorting stages to retain only the best grapes. The fruit is first stored in small-capacity (6-hectoliter) temperature-controlled stainless steel vats for cold maceration, preserving freshness and aromas. Alcoholic fermentation then takes place in 54-hectoliter thermoregulated wooden vats, followed by 4 to 5 weeks of maceration on the skins. Since 1995, malolactic fermentation has been carried out in French oak barrels—85% of which are new—with aging lasting 20 to 24 months, tailored to the richness of each vintage.

The estate's cellars, carved out of ancient limestone quarries mined since the 16th century, provide ideal aging conditions thanks to natural humidity and thermal inertia. These underground galleries, a veritable cathedral of stone, bestow a unique precision and elegance upon the wines. Every step, from vineyard to cellar, is marked by meticulous attention to detail led by Alain and Pauline Vauthier, assisted by their cellar master, Philippe Baillarguet. Combining tradition with modernity, this process allows them to produce wines of unmatched finesse, where fruit, minerality, and velvety tannins harmonize to deliver an exceptional tasting experience.

The Cuvées of Château Ausone

Château Ausone produces two primary cuvées, each representing the property's excellence.

Château Ausone - The Fine Wine

Château Ausone, the estate's flagship, is a wine of rare elegance and depth, often compared to a cathedral for its structure and majesty. Crafted from a blend of 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot, it stands out for its powerful minerality, inherited from the limestone terroir, and remarkable freshness. On the nose, it reveals complex aromas of dark fruits, flowers, licorice, and crushed stone. On the palate, it offers a velvety texture, silky tannins, and a perfectly balanced finish. Capable of aging for 40 to 50 years in great vintages (such as 2000, 2005, or 2015), this wine built for long cellaring often requires 15 to 20 years to reach full maturity. With an annual production of 15,000 to 20,000 bottles, its rarity makes it one of Bordeaux’s most sought-after wines, sold exclusively through the en primeur wine trade.

La Chapelle d’Ausone - The Second Wine

La Chapelle d’Ausone, the estate's second wine, is crafted with the same care as its elder sibling, sourced from younger vines. Produced in quantities of 4,000 to 7,000 bottles depending on the vintage, it relies on a blend where Merlot slightly dominates, occasionally complemented by a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine charms with its crisp fruitiness, notes of red and dark berries, and an elegance true to Ausone's signature style. Less complex yet equally refined, it offers more immediate accessibility while retaining an aging potential of 10 to 15 years. La Chapelle d’Ausone is an ideal introduction to the estate’s world, highly favored by connoisseurs seeking an accessible grand cru.

The Best Vintages of Château Ausone According to Robert Parker

According to the prominent critic Robert Parker, certain vintages of Château Ausone stand out for their excellence. The years 2005, 2003, 1959, and 2018 achieved a perfect score of 100/100, testifying to their exceptional quality. The 2016 and 2015 vintages border on perfection with 99/100, while 2000, 2009, 2019, 2001, 2008, and 2017 reach 98/100, confirming the consistency and finesse of this iconic estate.

The Great Vintages of Saint-Émilion

Saint-Émilion, the jewel of the Bordeaux wine region, is globally renowned for its remarkably high-quality wines. Over the decades, this Right Bank appellation has given rise to legendary vintages that captivate fine wine lovers. Among the historic years, 1947, 1959, and 1961 stand out as essential benchmarks in the world of Bordeaux wines. The iconic 1982 vintage continues to be celebrated for its timeless elegance. The years 1990, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2005 have also made a lasting impression through their aromatic richness and aging potential. More recently, the 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2020 vintages are distinguished by their balance, complexity, and depth, cementing Saint-Émilion's reputation as a flagship appellation prized for its refinement and consistency.

Other Must-See Châteaux of Saint-Émilion

Explore the flagships of Saint-Émilion, notably the Premiers Grands Crus Classés A, symbols of Right Bank excellence. Château Pavie, promoted to this rank in 2012, impresses with the quality and power of its wines. Since 2022, Château Figeac joined this prestigious circle, strengthening its status among the very best. Although certain estates, such as Château Angélus, Château Ausone, and Château Cheval White, chose to withdraw from the classification in 2022, they remain essential benchmarks, embodying the tradition, elegance, and excellence of great Bordeaux wines.

Château Ausone is a living legend, a symbol of Bordeaux excellence. Its history, intimately tied to that of Saint-Émilion and the poet Ausonius, is part of a winemaking heritage of unrivaled richness. Thanks to a unique terroir, respectful viticultural practices, and remarkably precise winemaking, Ausone's wines—from the fine wine to La Chapelle d’Ausone—embody elegance, power, and longevity. Under the stewardship of Alain Vauthier and his daughter Pauline, the estate continues to shine, faithful to its ambition of magnifying its terroir while adapting to modern challenges, such as the organic conversion begun in 2020. For wine lovers wishing to buy Château Ausone, whether the fine wine or its second wine, it is an investment in an exceptional tasting experience, where each bottle tells a story of passion, tradition, and terroir. Whether you are a collector or an epicurean, the wines of Ausone promise timeless emotional moments, to be enjoyed after a 4-hour decant for young vintages, or to be treasured for decades to come. Discover these exceptional crus now and let yourself be seduced by the magic of Château Ausone, a rare Bordeaux treasure.