Château Ausone 2022

Château Ausone is not a wine casually served. Its "minuscule production", once observed Robert Parker Jr., "makes it nearly impossible to find commercially."  Even the professionals in the wine trade don't get to taste it often.  Bordeaux-domiciled independent wine critic Jane Anson (formerly columnist for Decanter magazine) commented how most critics are limited to tasting it at en primeur barrel sampling, and won't see it again for 10 or 20 years, if ever.

The property derives its name, Château Ausone, from the legendary Roman poet Ausonius who is said to have lived in a villa on its steeply sloped limestone hills.  Ausonius referenced Bordeaux in one of his many poems, writing: “Bordeaux is my homeland, with its gentle breeze, its merciful sky, the generous gifts of its fertile soil, its long Spring and its warming morning mists. The mighty tidal river, below the vine-bedecked slopes, foams and boils as it surges towards the sea like a wave.” Whether he lived at the actual property remains in question. Regardless, visitors can find Roman ruins in the vineyards and records of Ausonius living in Bordeaux throughout history.  

Like any great wine, the story behind Château Ausone is a story of a family who is committed to the land they were blessed with.  It is a story of efforts made through many generations.  The modern era of Ausone started with the marriage of Edouard Dubois and Mlle Challon in 1891.  After Edouard's premature death in 1921, the property was managed by his widow and two children - Jean and Cécile.  Jean died in 1974, leaving his half to his widow, Mme Dubois-Challon.  The other half belongs to Cécile who married M Vauthier.  The two branches of the family were cordial.  But there were stories of internal bickering and constant friction due to differences in the philosophy of winemaking.  Some say the wine of this esteemed producer from the 1960s and 1970s was mediocre.  Maybe it had something to do with the disagreements over methods and practices.  Finally, in the mid 1990s, the Vauthier family bought out Mme Dubois-Challon, a new era of Château Ausone was born.

The current head of the Vauthier family, Pauline, started working in the vineyards at the age of 18.  Since she took over winemaking in 2005, Ausone has gone from one great vintage to another.  Although not officially certified, organic farming is practiced in the vineyard.  Due to the limestone soils of Ausone, the wine has incredible minerality, purity of fruit, and concentration.  They are rich and full-bodied without being heavy.  A bottle of Château Ausone demands time in the cellar – typically 15 to 20 years.  Even during an average vintage in Bordeaux, Ausone shines.  In truly remarkable vintages, Ausone takes off like a rocket ship.  We have only one issue with this great estate: each year's allocation is simply too small to meet the demand from clients.  Consider adding your name to our waitlist.

"Hands down one of the wines of the vintage, shows power and depth coupled at every point with lift and grip, stretches out through the palate, slowly but surely delivering a tickle of spiced sage and saffron, with sappy blackcurrant and graphite. 100% new oak, harvest september 5 to 27, organic conversion, 54 years average vines, Vauthier family shows once again how well they judge construction and architecture. First year not officially a Premier Grand Cru Classé A, but they have kept the ranking off the label for a number of years, so no change on that level." - Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux, (03/07/2025), Ratings: 100, Drink: 2032-2050 

"Lastly, the Grand Vin 2022 Château Ausone is based on equal parts Cabernet Franc and Merlot that spent 20 months in new barrels. Smoky black cherries, mulberries, iron, violets, and spring flower notes are just some of its nuances, and it's deep purple-hued, with full-bodied richness and a surprising level of elegance, purity, and precision. This is one of the more elegant, finesse-driven, yet still incredibly powerful examples of this Château that I can remember. It deserves a decade of cellaring and will evolve for half a century." - Jeb Dunnuck, (02/27/2025), Ratings: 98+, Drink: 2035-2085

"The 2022 Ausone, which was the earliest-picked ever on September 5 (although that is later than Cheval Blanc) has another very intense bouquet with layers of plush blackberry, blueberry, crushed violet and incense aromas that are beautifully entwined with the 100% new oak. Hints of blood orange emerge with a few minutes in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with silky tannins and perfectly pitched acidity. The slightly higher proportion of Cabernet Franc imparts a touch more pepperiness toward the finish. You can feel this on your tongue long after it has departed. There is a surfeit of freshness on the finish. This is an outstanding Ausone that can look forward to a very long future." - Neal Martin, Vinous, (02/12/2025), Ratings: 98