Chateau Ausone
Just outside the medieval walls of Saint-Emilion, on the right bank of the Bordeaux area, this tiny vineyard of just 7 Ha has been named after Ausonius (ca 310 – 395 AD), a Roman poet from Bordeaux. Although Ausonius had a vineyard near St.-Emilion and Roman ruins are found at Ausone, it is not sure if Ausonius had anything to do with the château.
History
The estate’s name can be traced through linguistic changes: from Casteau Dauzone to Château Dosone and on to its current name. By the end of the 16th century, the estate had officially adopted the name in honour of the Roman poet. The Vautier family has been associated with ‘Ausone’ since 1690 and now represents the eleventh generation. Today, the estate is managed by Alain Vautier and his daughter Pauline. For most of the 20th century, Ausone was jointly owned by the Vautier and Dubois-Challon families, which led to protracted legal disputes. In the mid-1990s, the Vautier family bought out the other family’s share, after which the quality of the wine began to rise steadily. In 1955, Ausone was classified as a Premier Grand Cru Classé (A) in the Saint-Émilion classification — one of the few estates to have been awarded this honour. In 2022, the estate voluntarily withdrew from the classification system, so from this vintage onwards, the label simply states Saint-Émilion Grand Cru.
Vineyards
The estate covers seven hectares (around 17 acres), spread across small terraces on a hillside. The average age of the vines is fifty years. Some of the Cabernet Franc vines in the plot closest to the cellars are over a century old — they were planted in 1906. As the estate is small enough to walk around, each vine receives close attention. No fixed schedule is used; the team assesses the condition of the fruit to decide when to act.
Terroir
The estate is situated in a place called Roc Blancan — literally ‘white rock’. Part of the vineyard lies on a plateau, on weathered limestone, where the vines’ roots penetrate deep into the rock in search of nutrients. On the slopes, the soils are clay-limestone: the clay retains moisture during dry periods, whilst the limestone provides structure. The plots face east-southeast and are sheltered from the wind by the surrounding rocks. The nearby rivers Dordogne and Il contribute to a stable microclimate. This combination of exposure and soil has proven its resilience over time: the vines at Ausone survived the severe frosts of 1892 and 1956 with virtually no damage, whilst many neighbouring estates lost their harvests for several years.
Grapes
Cabernet Franc dominates the blend, with Merlot making up the remainder. The exact ratio varies depending on the vintage. Both varieties are grown on seven hectares, planted where the soil conditions are most suitable for each. ‘Chapelle d’Ausone’, the second wine, also contains a small proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon.
Winemaking
The approach is based on minimal intervention. Methods draw inspiration from both organic and biodynamic farming, although the estate has no official certification. Hedgerows, fruit trees and aromatic plants are grown alongside the vineyards to support the wider ecosystem. Insects, birds and bats are welcomed rather than deterred. The grapes are harvested by hand and sorted by density, then vinified plot by plot in small wooden vats. Extraction is carried out gently, using gravity. The wine is aged in underground cellars hewn into the limestone beneath the estate — former quarry galleries converted in the 18th century. Barrel ageing lasts between 16 and 18 months, with 85% of the barrels being new French oak.
Wines
Ausone produces two wines. The grand vin, Château Ausone, is made predominantly from grapes from the oldest vines. Annual production amounts to around 2,000 cases, making it one of the hardest-to-find Bordeaux wines on the market. Chapelle d'Ausone, the second wine, is made from grapes from younger vines under the same conditions as the first wine, with Merlot playing a slightly more prominent role alongside Cabernet Franc and a small addition of Cabernet Sauvignon. Both wines are aged in the same underground cellars, where stable humidity and temperature do most of the work.
The best vintages
Top vintages for Château Ausone are: 1874, 1928, 1929, 1949, 1955, 1959, 1961, 1990, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2018.
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