Château Ausone is considered one of the great bastions of Saint-Émilion, set in a truly spectacular location on a steep hillside overlooking the picturesque village below. The estate’s history is both ancient and fascinating, closely tied to the Roman poet Ausonius—after whom the château is named—who, according to legend, owned a villa and vineyard in the area during the 4th century AD.
Even today, Ausone’s exceptional terroir remains one of the secrets behind its quality. The vineyards are planted on steep slopes, some reaching gradients of up to 20%, benefiting from ideal sun exposure. The soils—composed of limestone, clay, and sand—provide excellent drainage, encouraging deep root systems that allow the vines to absorb essential minerals.
In fact, Ausone is one of the smallest estates among the prestigious Premier Grand Cru Classé “A” properties of Saint-Émilion. Paradoxically, this limited scale is precisely what enables its uncompromising quality and meticulous attention to detail at every stage of production. The château is renowned for its rigorous approach, reflected in the small quantities produced each vintage.
During the 1990s, the estate was affected by family disputes, but it ultimately remained under the control of the Vauthier family, who continue to manage it today while upholding its legacy of excellence.
The estate’s flagship wine, Château Ausone Saint-Émilion 1er Grand Cru Classé “A”, is typically crafted from an equal blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. It is distinguished by remarkable elegance, impressive concentration, and a refined aromatic complexity of red and black berries, floral notes, and mineral nuances, supported by silky, well-integrated tannins. This is a wine with extraordinary aging potential, capable of evolving gracefully in bottle for decades—often over half a century. Legendary vintages such as 1989, 2005, and 2009 are highly sought after by collectors worldwide.
