Château Ausone
Château Ausone
2013
Château Ausone represents the pinnacle of Saint-Émilion winemaking, a legendary Premier Grand Cru Classé A estate producing Merlot-Cabernet Franc blends of extraordinary depth, elegance and longevity from its historic limestone hillside vineyards.
Country
France
Region
Bordeaux - Saint-Emilion
More information
Producer
Château Ausone is one of only four Premier Grand Cru Classé A properties in the Saint-Émilion classification and among the most celebrated wine estates in Bordeaux. Situated on the steep limestone slopes of the côte, the estate has been linked to viticulture since the fourth century, when the Roman poet Ausonius is believed to have cultivated vines on this site. With approximately seven hectares of vineyards, meticulous farming and traditional winemaking, Château Ausone produces wines distinguished by their aromatic complexity, mineral precision and remarkable capacity to age gracefully for decades.
Quick Facts
- Location: Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, France
- Founded: Roman cultivation believed from 4th century, modern estate established across subsequent centuries
- Classification: Premier Grand Cru Classé A (Saint-Émilion)
- Ownership: Chanel (acquired 2022), previously Vauthier family
- Principal grapes: Merlot, Cabernet Franc
- Estate size: Approximately 7 hectares
- Soils: Deep limestone bedrock with clay
- Exposition: South-facing slopes of the côte
- Grand Vin: Château Ausone
- Second wine: La Chapelle d'Ausone
- Style: Refined power, mineral freshness and extraordinary ageing potential
- Viticulture: Low yields and meticulous vineyard management
A Legacy Rooted in Antiquity
The name Ausone honours Decimius Magnus Ausonius, the fourth-century Roman poet and consul who owned vineyards near Burdigala—present-day Bordeaux. While documentation from this period remains fragmentary, the site's suitability for viticulture has endured across centuries. The modern estate developed gradually, becoming recognised as one of Saint-Émilion's finest properties well before the establishment of the classification system.
In 1955, Château Ausone was elevated to Premier Grand Cru Classé A status, a designation it has maintained through successive reviews. Ownership passed to the Vauthier family in the mid-20th century, under whose stewardship the estate achieved global recognition for quality and consistency. In 2022, Chanel acquired Château Ausone, signalling continued commitment to the estate's heritage and reputation.
The Vineyards of the Côte
Château Ausone occupies a privileged position on the steep slopes of Saint-Émilion's limestone plateau, known locally as the côte. The approximately seven hectares of vineyards are planted on ancient calcareous bedrock overlaid with varying depths of clay, creating an environment naturally suited to low yields and concentrated fruit.
South-facing exposition provides optimal sunlight and warmth throughout the growing season, encouraging even ripening while the limestone subsoil ensures excellent drainage and adds characteristic minerality to the wines. The combination of elevation, aspect and geology creates conditions that allow both Merlot and Cabernet Franc to reach exceptional physiological maturity.
Vineyard management remains painstakingly detailed. Restricted yields, careful canopy work and selective harvesting ensure that only fully ripe, healthy fruit enters the cellar. These practices, refined across generations, allow the terroir to express itself with clarity and intensity.
Concentration, Elegance and Time
The Grand Vin of Château Ausone is typically a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, with proportions adjusted according to the character of each vintage. Extended maceration extracts colour, structure and aromatic depth, while barrel ageing in French oak—often lasting 18 to 24 months—integrates tannins and adds layers of complexity without obscuring the wine's underlying minerality.
The resulting style is one of restrained power rather than overt richness. Aromas of dark fruit, violets and graphite combine with finely woven tannins and a persistent mineral tension. These are wines that demand patience, often requiring a decade or more to begin revealing their full dimension, and capable of evolving gracefully for 30, 40 or even 50 years.
La Chapelle d'Ausone, introduced as the estate's second wine, reflects the same rigorous approach to terroir and winemaking. It offers earlier accessibility while maintaining the elegance and precision that define the property.
A Benchmark for Saint-Émilion
With its minuscule production, historic pedigree and uncompromising approach to quality, Château Ausone occupies a singular position within Bordeaux. Its wines are sought by collectors and connoisseurs worldwide, valued not only for their rarity but for their ability to express one of Saint-Émilion's most exceptional terroirs with refinement, depth and enduring character.
Country
Region
Bordeaux - Saint-Emilion
Saint-Émilion is one of the most respected wine appellations in Bordeaux and has long been recognised for producing refined, age-worthy wines of exceptional quality. Located on the Right Bank of the Dordogne River, this historic appellation combines centuries of winemaking tradition with distinctive terroir, creating elegant Merlot-dominant wines that are celebrated by collectors and enthusiasts worldwide. Established as an AOC in 1936, Saint-Émilion represents the finest expression of Right Bank winemaking.
The appellation benefits from diverse soils that define its wines. The plateau and côtes feature limestone and clay-limestone terroirs that produce structured, mineral-driven wines with remarkable ageing potential, while the lower slopes contain sandy and gravelly soils that yield softer, more approachable expressions. Merlot dominates the blend, typically complemented by Cabernet Franc and occasionally Cabernet Sauvignon, creating wines of elegance, depth and finesse.
Saint-Émilion is home to its own classification system, revised approximately every decade, which recognises Premiers Grands Crus Classés A estates such as Château Ausone and Château Cheval Blanc, alongside distinguished Premiers Grands Crus Classés B and Grands Crus Classés properties. Notable producers including Château Pavie, Château Figeac and Château Canon demonstrate the appellation's benchmark for quality and terroir expression.
Whether exploring classified estates, exceptional vintages or the appellation's rich medieval heritage, Saint-Émilion offers a distinguished introduction to Right Bank Bordeaux. Discover Saint-Émilion wines, compare prices from trusted merchants across Europe and find the best offers with Sipfind.
Grapes
Cabernet Franc is one of France’s most historic red wine grapes, valued for its aromatic intensity, vibrant acidity and ability to express both climate and soil with remarkable clarity. It produces elegant single-varietal wines and plays an essential role in some of Bordeaux’s most distinguished blends. Earlier ripening than Cabernet Sauvignon allows Cabernet Franc to perform particularly well in cooler wine regions.
In the Loire Valley, Cabernet Franc reaches its clearest expression as a varietal wine. Typical aromas include redcurrant, raspberry, red cherry and violet, often accompanied by graphite, dried herbs, tobacco and subtle peppery notes. Naturally fresh acidity and finely structured tannins can produce approachable, fruit-driven wines as well as complex examples capable of developing for many years.
The variety is especially important in Chinon, Bourgueil and Saumur-Champigny. Chinon can range from fragrant and supple to deeply structured and age-worthy, depending on vineyard site and soil. Bourgueil often combines dark red fruit with firm structure, while Saumur-Champigny is renowned for freshness, aromatic purity and refined texture. Limestone-rich tuffeau, gravel, sand and clay all contribute to the diversity of Cabernet Franc across these Loire appellations.
In Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc is principally associated with the Right Bank, particularly Saint-Émilion and Pomerol. Usually blended with Merlot and sometimes Cabernet Sauvignon, it contributes perfume, freshness, savoury complexity and structural precision. On suitable limestone and clay terroirs, Cabernet Franc can become a dominant component of exceptionally refined and long-lived wines.
Beyond France, Cabernet Franc is cultivated in regions including Tuscany, Bolgheri, Napa Valley, Washington State, Canada, Argentina and Chile, producing styles shaped by local climate and terroir. Traditionally known as Breton in the Loire and Bouchet in parts of Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc’s combination of aromatic elegance, freshness and ageing potential establishes it as one of the world’s great red wine varieties.
Merlot is one of the world’s most important red wine grapes, celebrated for its generous fruit, supple texture and ability to produce wines ranging from approachable and elegant to exceptionally complex and long-lived. Originating in Bordeaux, France, Merlot is particularly associated with the Right Bank, where it forms the foundation of many of the prestigious wines of Pomerol and Saint-Émilion.
Merlot typically expresses flavours and aromas of plum, black cherry, blackberry and red fruits, often developing notes of chocolate, tobacco, cedar, herbs and earthy complexity with maturation. Its naturally rounded texture and generally softer tannin profile distinguish it from Cabernet Sauvignon, although the finest examples can possess considerable structure, freshness and ageing potential.
In Pomerol, Merlot reaches some of its most celebrated expressions, particularly on the appellation’s clay-rich soils, producing wines of remarkable concentration, texture and complexity. In Saint-Émilion, it is commonly blended with Cabernet Franc and, to a lesser extent, Cabernet Sauvignon, creating wines that combine ripe fruit with structure, aromatic complexity and longevity.
Beyond Bordeaux, Merlot is widely cultivated in Italy, California, Washington State, Chile and other major wine regions. It can be produced as a varietal wine or used as a central component of blends, where its fruit and texture complement more structured grape varieties.
From the great Merlot-based wines of Bordeaux’s Right Bank to leading expressions around the world, Merlot’s combination of rich fruit, refined texture and capacity to express terroir has established it as one of the defining varieties of fine red wine.
History and Style
Château Ausone is the flagship Grand Vin of one of Saint-Émilion's most revered estates, holding the prestigious Premier Grand Cru Classé A status since the appellation's classification system was established. Named after the Roman poet Ausonius, this wine embodies centuries of winemaking tradition and represents the ultimate expression of Right Bank Bordeaux.
Quick Facts
- Producer: Château Ausone
- Classification: Premier Grand Cru Classé A
- Region: Bordeaux
- Appellation: Saint-Émilion
- Country: France
- Style: Full-bodied Right Bank Bordeaux with exceptional concentration
- Grape Composition: Merlot and Cabernet Franc blend, proportions vary by vintage
- Ageing Potential: 30-50+ years from vintage
- Alcohol (ABV): 13-14%
- Tasting Profile: Dark fruit, violets, graphite, limestone minerality, tobacco, truffle
- Food Pairing: Beef, lamb, game, duck, wild mushrooms, aged hard cheese
- Serving Temperature: 16-18°C
- Bottle Status: Flagship
- Vintage: Varies by vintage
Vineyard, Terroir and Style
The estate's exceptional terroir is defined by its position on Saint-Émilion's steep limestone slopes, where ancient vines are planted on some of the appellation's finest soil. The vineyard's southern exposure and remarkable drainage contribute to fruit of extraordinary concentration and complexity. Unlike Left Bank estates, Château Ausone crafts its flagship from a Merlot and Cabernet Franc blend, with the limestone terroir imparting distinctive minerality and tension to the wine's rich fruit profile.
History and Reputation
The style of Château Ausone showcases remarkable intensity balanced by elegant refinement, with layers of dark fruit, floral notes, graphite and limestone minerality. The wine's structure and precision allow it to evolve gracefully over decades, developing tertiary complexity while maintaining vibrancy. Each vintage reflects meticulous viticulture and winemaking, with rigorous selection ensuring only the finest fruit contributes to the Grand Vin.
For collectors and connoisseurs seeking benchmark Saint-Émilion, Château Ausone represents an essential acquisition. Compare prices across premium retailers on Sipfind to secure this legendary wine for your cellar.