CHATEAU AUSONE

The Roman poet Ausonius is said to have given his name to Ausone, but no one knows for certain whether his villa stood on the same spot as the chateau. However, at the foot of the estate, at the spot called La Gaffelière, important archeological remains can be found of a Gallo-Roman villa from late antiquity decorated with mosaics and which is called La Villa du Palat. Ausonius praised the wines of Saint Emilion and it is easy to imagine the estate as a source of lyrical inspiration.

It is splendidly situated, high on the edge of a plateau, from where rows of vines run steeply down. The chateau itself is a rambling structure. A rectangular tower with a steep pointed roof is its most characteristic element. The cellar is as grand as the vat house is modest. A high cliff towers up behind the chateau and into it is cut an enormous gallery. In this underground vault, with its squat, angular pillars lay the wines. The air is damp, cool and at a constant temperature. Even on the hottest summer day it is never more than two degrees warmer than on the coldest day of winter. The pastures date back to about 1580.

As is often the case in Saint Emilion, it was originally a quarry. Here, the wine matures for sixteen to twenty months in casks that are fully renewed every year. The purchase of new casks for each vintage is a long established tradition at Ausone.

There are 2,000 cases of Chateau Ausone produced each year, on average. The reason given for this low yield is the vieilles vignes françaises which have been retained thanks to the sparing use of insecticides, amongst other things.

The only two grape varieties that can now be found in the small vineyard are Merlot (50%) and Cabernet Franc (50%). The few areas of Cabernet Sauvignon have disappeared.

Wine Produced:

Best Ausone wines ever produced: