Château Ausone – The jewel in the crown of Saint-Émilion

Château Ausone in Saint-Émilion is one of the most prestigious estates in Bordeaux and boasts one of the most fascinating histories in the world of wine. Its name dates back to the Roman poet Decimus Magnus Ausonius (310–395 AD), who was not only a consul and tutor to Emperor Gratian, but also owned vineyards on this very site and celebrated the joys of wine in his poems. The modern history of the estate began in the 18th century, but the decisive turning point came in 1904, when the Vauthier family took over the management and has been running the estate ever since – now in its eleventh generation. Today, this legacy is preserved and developed with tireless dedication by the siblings Alain and Catherine Vauthier, as well as by Alain Vauthier’s children, Edouard and Constance.

The château is situated on a limestone plateau high above the village of Saint-Émilion, overlooking the Dordogne valley. The 7.3-hectare vineyards stretch across south-facing steep slopes that are sheltered from cold northerly winds and offer optimal sunshine . The unique limestone soil, interlaced with rock faces and underground passages, lends the wines their unmistakable minerality, elegance and a remarkable freshness. The plots are predominantly planted with Cabernet Franc and Merlot, with the proportion of Cabernet Franc reaching up to 65 per cent in exceptional vintages. The average age of the vines is a remarkable 50 years, and the ancient roots penetrate deep into the rock to find sufficient water and nutrients even during dry summers.

For decades, Château Ausone, alongside Château Cheval Blanc, was one of the only estates in the appellation to be awarded the highest classification, Premier Grand Cru Classé A. However, the estate relinquished this distinction in 2022 in protest at the assessment criteria – a reflection of the uncompromising philosophy of quality that continues to define the estate to this day. In the cellar ,the wines mature in the dome-like cellars hewn into the rock beneath the village, which provide ideal conditions. Ageing takes place entirely in new French oak barriques, with each vintage treated individually. The grand vin, Château Ausone, and the second wine, Chapelle d’Ausone, are among the most sought-after and expensive wines in the world – their aromas of dark berries, truffles, violets and minerality are unmistakable. Under the leadership of Alain Vauthier, the estate isnow beingsystematically convertedto organic viticulture , and the harvest is carried out exclusively by hand – a further chapter in the long and glorious history of this extraordinary terroir, which, with its aura of timelessness and excellence, continues to captivate wine lovers worldwide to this day.