Château Ausone 1er Grand Cru Classé St. Emilion 1967

Château Ausone 1967 is more than just an old wine - it is a legend, a poetic work of art and at the same time one of the most controversial chapters in Bordeaux history. As a Premier Grand Cru Classé A from Saint-Émilion, it represents the most exclusive segment of right bank wines. The 1967 vintage in Bordeaux was solid, but not outstanding - and this is precisely what makes the story of this wine so exciting. While many growths from the left bank had already faded, Château Ausone managed to create something special. However, the reviews could not be more different: they range from scathing criticism to storms of enthusiasm that even crowned this wine the red wine of the vintage.

Overview and characteristics

Château Ausone 1967is a red wine from the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellation in Bordeaux. The winery is one of the oldest and most renowned in the region - its name goes back to the Roman poet Ausonius, who owned a villa here in the 4th century. Until the 2022 vintage, it held the highest honour of Premier Grand Cru Classé 'A'.

The grape composition of the 1967 vintage is typical of the right bank and is characterised byMerlot and Cabernet Franc. The special thing about Ausone is its unique terroir: the vineyards are located on a limestone plateau and the porous subsoil can store water and release it again during dry periods. This characteristic saved the vineyard during the devastating frost of 1956, which destroyed 80% of the vines in the Gironde - which is why Ausone still has vines that are more than half a century old. The alcohol content is around 13 to 13.5 per cent.

The ratings: A wine of extremes

Château Ausone 1967 is a prime example of the subjectivity of wine ratings and the crucial importance of ageing and bottle condition. The range of reviews is extraordinary and extends from fundamental disappointment to the highest praise.

The most scathing review describes a wine with a watered-down, bland nose and washed-out flavours, which showed clear browning early on and was rated as extremely disappointing. This contrasts with euphoric reviews that describe the wine as possibly the best red wine of the vintage. Here, an earthy, spicy, mineral profile with plums and cherries is described, characterised by a soft palate and bright cherry and spice flavours on the finish. Another tasting praised an intriguing, well-defined bouquet of blackberry, leather, camphor and black truffle - fresh and vibrant but unabashedly old-fashioned.

The response from the wine-collecting community is suitably mixed, ranging from beautifully drinkable bottles with surprising vibrancy to examples with quiet noses that seem tired rather than flirtatious, but several tasters confirm the astonishing vitality of well-preserved bottles.

Flavour profiles: Between disappointment and enchantment

The discrepancy between the ratings is striking and shows how much a bottle from the 1980s can differ from a bottle from the 2010s.

The later tastings paint a picture of astonishing vitality, with a profile characterised by earthy, spicy and mineral notes, with plums and cherries at the core. The aromatic palette includes blackberry, leather, camphor and black truffle, combined with a remarkable freshness and vibrancy. After more than five decades, some bottles still show a brilliant, deep red colour and develop aromas of liqueur, leather and cherry.

Several tasters emphasise that the wine is more reminiscent of an old northern Rhône wine or a Burgundy than a classic Bordeaux. It is described as light and delicate, yet remarkably complex, with an energetic nose and notes of white truffle, cedar and stalk. This Burgundian elegance seems to be a particular strength of the 1967 Ausone - a testament to the finesse of Cabernet Franc.

But even among the positive voices, there are hints of the wine's frailty. Some bottles show a quiet nose and seem tired rather than flirtatious. A slightly sherry-like tone can occur.

Market and collector's value

Château Ausone 1967 is a rarity for collectors today. Prices have levelled off at a solid level. The current auction value is around 220 to 250 euros per bottle. The price trend shows a clear increase over the last few years, reflecting the increasing rarity and appreciation. In the retail trade, bottles are traded at prices of around 250 to 300 euros, if available.

Extreme caution is advised when buying. Low fill levels, damaged labels or dented corks are not uncommon with wines of this age and indicate potentially problematic storage. The recommended drinking window for bottles with good provenance extends from around 2018 to 2028.

Historical context and significance

The 1967 vintage falls within a complex period for Château Ausone. In the decades following the Second World War, the estate experienced a period of uncertainty in which quality fluctuated. The revitalisation of the estate would not begin until a few years later, so the 1967 was produced before the great renaissance, in an era of traditional winemaking.

This makes the vibrancy that some bottles still show today all the more remarkable. This is often attributed to the unique terroir of Ausone - in particular the ability of the chalky subsoil to provide the vines with sufficient water even in difficult years. The 1967 is thus a living fossil, a testimony to the resilience of this exceptional terroir.

Summary of the ratings

Conclusion

Château Ausone 1967is perhaps the most fascinating and at the same time the riskiest wine among the great Bordeaux legends of this era. It is living proof that a great terroir can work wonders even in an average vintage - provided the bottle has enjoyed perfect ageing.

If you are lucky enough to get hold of a bottle with impeccable provenance, you can look forward to an experience of a special kind: a wine that does not display the powerful masculinity of a Médoc wine, but rather an almost Burgundian grace, a poetic delicacy and an astonishing aromatic complexity. The enthusiasm of the later tasters shows that something very special may lie dormant here.

But the flipside is just as real: many bottles were finished early on, and the likelihood of acquiring a disappointing, faded or faulty bottle is high. Château Ausone 1967 is therefore the ultimate collector's item among the wines of this era. Its value lies not in a guaranteed drinking pleasure, but in the reverence for history and the hope of experiencing for a moment the magic of this unique terroir. It is a poetic reminder that even the greatest wines are fleeting - and that their rare, successful moments are all the more precious.