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, poet, teacher and consul born in 310 in Bordeaux, whose writings celebrate the vines and wines of the region. Although the exact association between Ausone and the Gallo-Roman villa of the Palat, discovered to the south of the estate, remains debated, the archaeological remains, such as mosaics and fragments of statues, bear witness to the ancient viticultural history of this place. From the 16th century onwards, the estate took the name Casteau Dauzone, later evolving into Château Ausone, in homage to this champion of Bordeaux wines.

Since the 13th century, the estate has had only three families of owners, a rare stability in the Bordeaux region. The Lescours family presided over the destiny of the vineyard until the 16th century, followed by Jacques de Lescure in the 17th century. From 1690, the Chatonnet-Cantenat family, then the Dubois-Challon and Vauthier families, took over. This unbroken lineage leads today to Alain Vauthier and his daughter Pauline Vauthier, representatives of the eleventh generation of winegrowers. Despite a family conflict in the 1970s between the Dubois-Challon and Vauthier families, Alain Vauthier took the reins in 1995, restoring Château Ausone to its former glory. Since 1998, under his visionary leadership, and with the advice of oenologist Michel Rolland until 2013, the estate has produced wines of exceptional quality, recognised worldwide.

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

Terroirs and Vines 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. Located at the southern entrance to the medieval village of Saint-Émilion, the vineyard extends over 7 hectares of slopes and limestone plateaus, offering an ideal east/south-east exposure. This configuration, protected from north and west winds by a belt of rocks, creates a perfect microclimate for the vines. The slopes, with inclines of 15 to 20%, and the limestone plateau with astéries give the wines their distinctive mineral signature.

The estate's soil is divided into two main types: a limestone plateau with astéries, which brings energy and precision, and argilo-calcareous slopes, where clay provides a beneficial water reserve during dry periods. This combination of limestone and clay allows the vines to flourish with balance, even in extreme vintages, as evidenced by their resistance to the historic frosts of 1892 and 1956.

The grape varieties 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 plants, 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, encourages low yields (approximately 33 hectoliters per hectare), guaranteeing exceptional concentration and aromatic intensity. Since 2020, the estate has been undergoing organic conversion, incorporating uncertified biodynamic practices, such as the use of natural treatments based on nettles, willow or valerian, and the preservation of a rich ecosystem with hedgerows, fruit trees and local wildlife.

Winemaking at Château Ausone

Winemaking at Château Ausone is a precise art, guided by a philosophy of respect for the terroir and rigorous selection. The harvests, exclusively manual, are carried out in small crates with successive sorting to retain only the finest grapes. The fruit is first kept in small-capacity stainless steel refrigerated tanks (6 hectoliters) for a cold maceration, allowing the freshness and aromas to be preserved. The alcoholic fermentation then takes place in thermo-regulated wooden vats of 54 hectoliters, followed by a vatting period of 4 to 5 weeks. Since 1995, malolactic fermentation has taken place in French oak barrels, 85% of which are new, for an ageing period of 20 to 24 months, adapted to the richness of each vintage.

The estate's cellars, carved out of ancient limestone quarries that have been worked since the 16th century, offer ideal ageing conditions thanks to their natural humidity and thermal inertia. These underground galleries, a veritable cathedral of stone, give the wines a unique precision and elegance. Every stage, from vineyard to cellar, is marked by meticulous attention, embodied by Alain and Pauline Vauthier, assisted by their cellar master, Philippe Baillarguet. This process, combining tradition and modernity, produces wines of unparalleled finesse, in which fruit, minerality and velvety tannins harmonise to deliver an exceptional tasting experience.

The Cuvées of Château Ausone

Château Ausone offers two main cuvées, each representing the excellence of the estate.

Château Ausone - The Fine Wine

Château Ausone, the flagship of the estate, is a wine of rare elegance and depth, often compared to a cathedral for its structure and majesty. Made from a blend of 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot, it is distinguished by a powerful minerality, inherited from the limestone terroir, and remarkable freshness. On the nose, it reveals complex aromas of black fruits, flowers, liquorice and crushed stone. On the palate, it offers a velvety texture, silky tannins and a perfectly balanced finish. This wine of great ageing potential, capable of maturing for 40 to 50 years in great vintages (such as 2000, 2005 or 2015), often requires 15 to 20 years to reach its full maturity. With an annual production of 15,000 to 20,000 bottles, its rarity makes it one of the most sought-after wines in Bordeaux, sold exclusively through the négociant en primeur system.

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, from younger vines. Produced at between 4,000 and 7,000 bottles depending on the vintage, it is based on a blend in which Merlot slightly dominates, sometimes complemented by a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine captivates with its crunchy fruitiness, its notes of red and black fruits, and an elegance faithful to the Ausone signature. Less complex but equally refined, it offers more immediate accessibility while retaining a ageing potential of 10 to 15 years. La Chapelle d'Ausone is an ideal introduction to the world of the estate, acclaimed by connoisseurs in search of an affordable grand cru.

The Best Vintages of Château Ausone According to Robert Parker

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

The Great Vintages of Saint-Émilion

Saint-Émilion, the jewel of the Bordeaux vineyard, is world-renowned for its wines of remarkable quality. Over the decades, this Right Bank appellation has given birth to legendary vintages that captivate lovers of great wines. Among the historic years, 1947, 1959, and 1961 stand out as essential references 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 their mark with their aromatic richness and ageing potential. More recently, the vintages 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2020 stand out for their balance, complexity and depth, consolidating Saint-Émilion's reputation as a flagship appellation, prized for its refinement and consistency.

The Other Essential Châteaux of Saint-Émilion

Explore the finest estates of Saint-Émilion, including the Premiers Grands Crus Classés A, symbols of excellence on the Right Bank. Château Pavie, elevated to this rank in 2012, impresses with the quality and power of its wines. Since 2022, Château Figeac has joined this prestigious circle, reinforcing its status among the finest. Although some estates, such as Château Angélus, Château Ausone, and Château Cheval Blanc, chose to withdraw from the classification in 2022, they remain essential references, embodying the tradition, elegance and excellence of the great wines of Bordeaux.

Château Ausone is a living legend, a symbol of Bordeaux excellence. Its history, intimately linked to that of Saint-Émilion and the poet Ausonius, is part of a viticultural heritage of unparalleled richness. Thanks to a unique terroir, respectful viticultural practices and a remarkably precise winemaking process, the wines of Ausone, from the fine wine to La Chapelle d'Ausone, embody elegance, power and longevity. Under the leadership of Alain Vauthier and his daughter Pauline, the estate continues to shine, faithful to its ambition to magnify its terroir while adapting to modern challenges, such as the organic conversion begun in 2020. For enthusiasts wishing to purchase 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 moments of emotion, to be savoured after a 4-hour decanting for young vintages, or to be carefully cellared for the decades to come. Discover these exceptional crus now and let yourself be seduced by the magic of Château Ausone, a rare treasure of the Bordeaux region.