Chateau Ausone, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, 2022

Château Ausone is one of the smallest and most legendary estates in Bordeaux, and 2022 is a vintage that enthusiasts will remember for a long time. If you love wines that combine power and elegance, and that know how to tell the story of their terroir sip after sip, you will find an example here that is hard to match.

The estate is located just outside the medieval village of Saint-Émilion, on the southern slope of the limestone plateau, and takes its name from the Latin poet Ausonius: its roots date back to Roman times. The vineyard consists of just 7 hectares of terraced land, on clay and the star-shaped limestone typical of the plateau, which gives the wines minerality and finesse. The property is managed by the Vauthier family, and the vineyard is farmed according to the principles of organic and biodynamic agriculture. Like Cheval Blanc, Ausone has also chosen to leave the Saint-Émilion classification: 2022 is the first vintage that no longer officially bears the title of Premier Grand Cru Classé A, but the substance in the glass remains unchanged.

2022 was a hot and dry vintage, which led to an early harvest—the earliest ever for Ausone. The Merlot was harvested between September 5th and 9th, the Cabernet Franc between the 21st and 27th, with yields of about 38 hectoliters per hectare. The blend is divided equally between Merlot and Cabernet Franc, and the wine rested for 20 months in new barriques. The heat of the vintage translates into a higher alcohol content than usual, yet without losing balance.

In the glass, it opens with a deep aromatic profile: blackberries, blueberries, and black cherries, followed by cassis, violet, and a note of incense, with touches of graphite, mint, and spices. On the palate, it is broad and powerful, yet surprisingly fresh: the tannins, dense and with an almost chalky texture, are polished with great precision, and the finish, which is extremely long, leaves a mineral and slightly peppery sensation, thanks to the significant proportion of Cabernet Franc.

At the table, it calls for dishes with character: dry-aged ribeye steak, roasted lamb with aromatic herbs, game birds, or a dish of porcini mushrooms. Serve it at around 17–18 °C, after at least a couple of hours in a decanter.

My advice? Ausone is a collector's wine in the most beautiful sense of the term: its greatness can already be sensed today, but its best will come many years from now. Put it in your cellar with confidence and open it for a truly special occasion, perhaps alongside another great from the Right Bank for an unforgettable comparison.