Château Ausone

The Vauthier family has been at the helm of Château Ausone since the late 17th century. Today, Alain Vauthier and his daughter Pauline Vauthier manage the estate. Alain took full control in 1997, refining vineyard management and winemaking to elevate quality, securing Ausone’s position as one of Bordeaux’s most sought-after wines.

Château Ausone takes its name from the Roman poet and statesman Decimius Magnus Ausonius, who owned vineyards in the region during the 4th century. The estate itself dates back to the late 16th century, with the Dubois-Challon-Vauthier family overseeing its development from the 17th century onwards. Despite its historic classification, Ausone’s reputation surged in recent decades, particularly after Alain Vauthier’s improvements in viticulture and vinification. In July 2021, Château Ausone announced its decision to withdraw from the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classification, opting not to participate in the 2022 re-evaluation process. This move was made independently of other estates, though it coincided with a similar decision by Château Cheval Blanc. The Vauthier family, proprietors of Château Ausone, expressed concerns that the classification criteria had shifted focus toward aspects like marketing, media presence, and wine tourism infrastructure, rather than emphasizing terroir and viticulture. Pauline Vauthier, co-owner of the estate, highlighted that while marketing and wine tourism are valuable, the essence of great wine lies in terroir, viticulture, and time. She also noted that a 10-year re-evaluation period based on 15-year vertical tastings is too short to properly assess a wine's aging potential. Despite withdrawing from the classification, the Vauthier family reaffirmed their commitment to the Saint-Émilion and Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellations.

Situated on Saint-Émilion’s limestone plateau, Château Ausone’s vineyards occupy an elevated, southeast-facing position. This exposure ensures optimal ripening conditions, while the limestone-rich soils contribute to the wine’s hallmark freshness and structure. The estate’s small size and unique microclimate provide natural protection, allowing for consistent quality across vintages.

The 7-hectare vineyard is dominated by Cabernet Franc, with Merlot playing a supporting role. The proportion of each grape varies by vintage, but Cabernet Franc generally leads (e.g., 60% in 2018, 55% in 2017, and an even 50-50 split in 2016). The old vines, averaging 50 years, are cultivated with meticulous care, ensuring low yields for maximum concentration. A small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon is planted but is used only in select vintages of the second wine, La Chapelle d’Ausone.

Château Ausone follows a philosophy of precision viticulture and minimal intervention. Harvesting is done by hand in just one or two days, ensuring only perfectly ripe fruit is used. Vinification occurs in temperature-controlled vats, followed by 16 to 24 months of aging in French oak barrels. The result is a wine of remarkable depth, structure, and aging potential, often needing decades to reach its peak.

The Grand Vin, Château Ausone, is one of Bordeaux’s most highly regarded and long-lived wines, known for its power, minerality, and layered complexity. It consistently receives top critical acclaim and is produced in extremely limited quantities. The second wine, La Chapelle d’Ausone, is a more approachable expression but still maintains the estate’s signature finesse.

Château Ausone is one of Bordeaux’s most exclusive estates, with limited visitor access. Private tastings and tours are arranged by appointment, offering a rare opportunity to explore the historic limestone cellars and experience one of Saint-Émilion’s greatest terroirs firsthand.