Château Ausone is one of Saint-Émilion’s smallest and most historically important estates. Its seven hectares of terraced vines occupy an east-southeast-facing limestone slope on the western edge of the medieval town. Cabernet Franc is the dominant variety, supported by Merlot, and production is normally limited to roughly 1,500–2,000 12-bottle cases across the estate’s wines, depending on the vintage and selection.
Ausone matters to collectors because it combines an exceptional site, very low production, long ageing potential, sustained critical recognition and an established international market. The Vauthier family has cared for the property since 1690. Alain Vauthier and his daughter Pauline make the wine today, while Pauline, Édouard and Constance represent the eleventh generation across the family’s Saint-Émilion estates.
Its classification must be described accurately. Ausone was one of the original Premier Grand Cru Classé A estates when the first Saint-Émilion classification was published in 1955 and was reconfirmed at that level in 2012. The estate chose not to enter the 2022 classification, however. New releases remain Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellation wines but are not members of the current 2022 classified hierarchy. Ausone was never part of the 1855 Bordeaux classification.
For investors, the name alone does not establish value. The 2023, 2024 and 2025 release prices changed materially, while a live 2026 market snapshot for the 2019 showed a substantial gap between the best bid and best offer. Vintage quality, acquisition price, format, provenance, storage and a realistic exit route must therefore be assessed together.
Producer
Château Ausone
Location
Roc Blancan, on the western edge of Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux’s Right Bank, France.
Appellation
Saint-Émilion Grand Cru AOC.
Ownership
The Vauthier family; Alain Vauthier and his daughter Pauline make the wine, with Pauline, Édouard and Constance representing the eleventh generation.
Family history
The Vauthier family dates its stewardship of Ausone to 1690.
Vineyard area
Seven hectares, arranged in small terraces; some technical sources report approximately 7.25 hectares.
Principal grapes
A majority of Cabernet Franc with a smaller proportion of Merlot; the exact blend changes by vintage, and Cabernet Sauvignon may appear in Chapelle d’Ausone or exceptional blends.
Vine age
Approximately 50 years on average, with some vines more than a century old.
Typical production
Vintage-dependent; commonly reported at roughly 1,500–2,000 12-bottle cases across the estate’s wines, with the Grand Vin often around 15,000–20,000 bottles.
Historical classification
Premier Grand Cru Classé A from the first Saint-Émilion classification in 1955; reconfirmed in 2012; the estate withdrew from the 2022 classification process.
Current designation
Saint-Émilion Grand Cru AOC; not included in the current 2022 Saint-Émilion classification.
Flagship wine
Château Ausone.
Second wine
Chapelle d’Ausone, first produced in 1995; no Chapelle was made in 2025.
History and ownership
The name Ausone honours Decimus Magnus Ausonius, the fourth-century Gallo-Roman poet, teacher and statesman born in Bordeaux. Historical research has long associated the present site with Lucaniacum, an estate celebrated by Ausonius. Archaeological finds and the evolution of the property’s name from Casteau Dauzone to Château Dosone and finally Château Ausone support a deep connection with this tradition. The precise location of Ausonius’s own villa remains a historical association rather than a fact that should be overstated.
The property sits in a landscape shaped by viticulture, quarrying and religion. Limestone was extracted beneath the estate for centuries, leaving galleries that later became cellars. A Romanesque chapel stands among the vines, and an underground rotunda contains a medieval Last Judgement fresco. These features are not simply picturesque: the porous limestone, stable humidity and underground temperature have practical value for vine growth and wine ageing.
The Vauthier family dates its ownership to 1690. Control was later shared between branches of the Vauthier and Dubois-Challon families, a structure that contributed to extended disputes and uneven management during the twentieth century. Alain Vauthier began working on the family estates in the 1970s. The Vauthier family acquired the remaining shares in the mid-1990s, and Alain assumed full management in 1996–97.
That change marked the beginning of Ausone’s modern period. Vineyard work, selection and cellar practices became more precise, while the estate’s naturally low production and high Cabernet Franc content were preserved. The 2000 and 2005 vintages helped establish the contemporary critical reputation of the Grand Vin, although later releases have increasingly been discussed in terms of finesse, energy and limestone definition rather than concentration alone.
Alain and his eldest daughter Pauline make the wine today. Pauline’s siblings Édouard and Constance also work within Vignobles Vauthier, the family group responsible for Ausone, La Clotte, Moulin-Saint-Georges, Haut-Simard, Simard and de Fonbel. The estate remains family-owned and is not part of a luxury conglomerate.
Ausone and Château Cheval Blanc announced in July 2021 that they would not enter the 2022 Saint-Émilion classification. Both questioned the balance of the assessment criteria and argued that terroir, viticulture and the ability of a wine to age deserved greater weight. Their decision ended Ausone’s continuous presence at Premier Grand Cru Classé A level since the first classification but did not change its appellation, ownership or vineyard.
Vineyards and terroir
Ausone’s seven hectares are divided among small terraces on the Roc Blancan hillside. The vines face mainly east and southeast, gaining morning light while receiving protection from strong winds. The estate’s elevation and the influence of the Dordogne and Isle rivers contribute to a moderated local climate.
The vineyard occupies two related limestone environments. On the plateau, roots penetrate asteriated limestone. On the slope, limestone is mixed with clay, which retains useful moisture during dry seasons. The thin soils restrict vigour, while fissures in the rock allow old vines to reach deeper reserves. The result is a site associated with freshness, firm mineral structure and slow development in bottle.
Cabernet Franc is the majority variety and defines much of Ausone’s character. The estate’s oldest parcels include vines more than 100 years old, while the overall average is about 50 years. Cabernet Franc can bring floral perfume, red and dark fruit, graphite, freshness and tightly organised tannins. Merlot supplies breadth, flesh and textural richness. The proportion changes with the season: 2015 and 2016 were equal blends, 2018 contained 60% Cabernet Franc, 2019 contained 65%, and 2025 used 65% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.
The estate avoids a rigid farming formula. Its official description refers to methods inspired by organic and biodynamic procedures rather than claiming that every practice belongs to one certified system. Hedges, fruit trees and aromatic plants are maintained around the vineyard, while preparations made with plants including nettle, willow and valerian are used where appropriate. The intention is to support biodiversity and intervene with restraint.
Harvesting and selection are conducted parcel by parcel. Fruit quality determines the pace rather than a fixed calendar. This matters in a vineyard where the Grand Vin and Chapelle d’Ausone can draw on vines at different ages. Chapelle is generally produced from young vines that may later supply the Grand Vin, with Merlot more prominent and a small Cabernet Sauvignon component possible.
The 2025 vintage demonstrated that the range is not mechanically fixed. No Chapelle d’Ausone was made; the estate directed the selected crop into the Grand Vin. This was the first vintage without the second wine since 1994. Investors should therefore check the exact vintage rather than assume both labels exist every year.
Flagship wines
Wine or designation
Source and identity
Character and collector relevance
Château Ausone
The Grand Vin from the seven-hectare Saint-Émilion vineyard; normally led by Cabernet Franc with Merlot
The principal collector and investment wine. Tiny production, extended ageing potential, strong critic coverage and an established international market support demand, but prices and liquidity vary materially by vintage
Chapelle d’Ausone
The estate’s second wine, first made in 1995; produced under the same cellar conditions, primarily from younger vines, with a greater emphasis on Merlot and sometimes a small proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon
More accessible and earlier-developing than the Grand Vin. It benefits from the Ausone name but has lower prices, fewer public trades and a thinner resale market
2025 Château Ausone
A one-year exception in the normal hierarchy: 65% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon; no Chapelle d’Ausone was produced
The absence of a second wine may intensify the 2025 Grand Vin selection story, but it does not guarantee scarcity-driven appreciation. The wine remains en primeur and must be judged against its release price and available back vintages
Other Vauthier estates
Separate Saint-Émilion properties including La Clotte, Moulin-Saint-Georges, Haut-Simard, Simard and de Fonbel
Shared family ownership and expertise do not make these wines Ausone cuvées or second labels. Each estate has its own land, identity, production and secondary market
There is no broad family of prestige cuvées under the Ausone label. The range is deliberately narrow: the Grand Vin and, in most vintages since 1995, Chapelle d’Ausone. This makes the distinction easier than at producers with multiple vineyard labels, but it also increases the importance of checking whether an offer is the Grand Vin, Chapelle or a wine from another Vauthier property.
Best Château Ausone vintages
The best vintage depends on the purpose of the purchase. Mature wines may offer earlier drinking but carry greater condition risk; young wines provide a longer horizon but may remain closed for years. The scores below apply to the Grand Vin and are representative published assessments rather than an instruction to buy.
Vinous assessed it as being in its prime drinking window; well-stored bottles can continue developing, but each bottle should be inspected individually
A major modern turning point with only about 1,000 cases reported. Mature examples combine power and mineral definition, but age makes provenance, fill level and cork condition decisive
Wine Advocate projected 2030–2080+, while Wine Spectator suggested after 2019. It remains a long-horizon wine despite being approachable with preparation
A monumental, structured vintage from a production of about 1,330 cases. Perfect scores support recognition but are likely to be reflected in the acquisition price
Wine Advocate projected 2020–2060+; James Suckling advised after 2022
Richer and more expressive than many young Ausones, yet held together by freshness and mineral structure. Its opulence may appeal earlier than the more austere 2010
James Suckling suggested trying from 2020, but the wine remains structured and should be assessed bottle by bottle
A firmer, more classical wine than 2009, made from 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot. The score range shows why buyers should read current tasting notes rather than rely on vintage reputation alone
Château Ausone 2015
Jeb Dunnuck 100; Wine Enthusiast 100; Wine Advocate 99; James Suckling 98; Vinous 96
Wine Enthusiast advised from 2028; other assessments describe substantial long-term potential
An equal Cabernet Franc–Merlot blend combining richness with freshness. Broad critical acclaim gives it strong recognition, but the wine’s youth and price demand a patient horizon
Château Ausone 2016
Decanter 99; Wine Advocate 99; Wine Enthusiast 99; Jeb Dunnuck 98; James Suckling 98
Wine Enthusiast advised from 2025; Jeb Dunnuck expected more than 30 years of development
More seamless and energetic than the 2015, with equal Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Its consistency across critics makes it a central modern reference
Château Ausone 2018
Wine Advocate 100; Decanter 100; Jeb Dunnuck 99; James Suckling 99; Wine Enthusiast 98
James Suckling suggested after 2027; Wine Enthusiast advised from 2028; long-term assessments extend for several decades
A powerful 60% Cabernet Franc vintage with pronounced limestone character. Exceptional scores do not remove entry-price or wider Bordeaux-market risk
Château Ausone 2019
James Suckling 100; Wine Advocate 98+; Jeb Dunnuck 98
Jeb Dunnuck advised after 2030 and projected more than three decades of development
Classical, perfumed and precise, with 65% Cabernet Franc. A 2026 LiveTrade transaction and visible bid-offer spread make it the most useful current price-discovery example in this profile
Château Ausone 2020
James Suckling 99; Vinous 99; Decanter 98; Jeb Dunnuck 98+; Wine Enthusiast 98; Wine Advocate 95+
James Suckling advised after 2032; Wine Enthusiast from 2028
An equal blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot with high structure and concentration. The variation between critic scores is a reminder that style and price should be assessed alongside the headline number
Château Ausone 2022
Jeb Dunnuck 98+; James Suckling 98; Vinous 98; Decanter 96; Wine Advocate 95+
Jeb Dunnuck recommended a decade of cellaring and projected up to half a century of development
The first vintage following the estate’s withdrawal from the 2022 classification. Quality remained high, but the label and market description must state the new classification position correctly
Critic scores are opinions, not guarantees of enjoyment, liquidity or return. Drinking windows can change when wines are retasted. With older Ausone, condition and storage history may have more influence on the experience and resale value than a score awarded at release.
Prices and market performance
Market information checked: 1 October 2026.
Ausone’s scarcity supports a high price tier, but its market is not linear. Recent release prices have moved sharply as Bordeaux adjusted after a prolonged correction. A release price, a merchant’s asking price, a live bid and a completed trade measure different things and should not be presented as equivalents.
Wine and date
Public reference
What it shows
Château Ausone 2020, June 2021
Released in the UK at approximately £6,000 per 12×75cl in bond, 19% above the 2019 ex-Bordeaux release price
Consecutive high-quality vintages can be positioned very differently. A higher release price creates a more demanding starting point for future returns
Château Ausone 2023, 15 May 2024
UK merchants offered the wine at £5,280 per 12×75cl in bond, after an ex-négociant reduction of about 23.5% from 2022
A large cut did not automatically create relative value. Decanter reported that the physical 2019 was then available at about £4,800 per 12 with similar or higher scores
Chapelle d’Ausone 2023, 15 May 2024
The second wine was offered at £1,452 per 12×75cl in bond
Chapelle trades at a materially lower price tier than the Grand Vin. The Ausone association does not give it the same scarcity, critic coverage or market depth
Château Ausone 2024, 21 May 2025
Offered at £1,842 per 6×75cl in bond, equivalent to £3,684 per 12 and 30% below the 2023 opening price
Release pricing responded strongly to the market correction. The reduction improved the entry point but did not guarantee appreciation
Château Ausone 2019, 14 August 2026
Bordeaux Index LiveTrade recorded a last trade at £2,020 per 6×75cl in bond, equivalent to £4,040 per 12 or about £337 per bottle
A dated completed trade provides stronger evidence than an undated retail listing, but one transaction does not establish the price available for every case
Château Ausone 2019, checked 1 October 2026
The same marketplace displayed a best bid of £1,650 and a best offer of £2,300 for 6×75cl in bond
The £650 spread—about 39% of the bid—shows that immediate sale proceeds can be materially lower than a recent trade or current asking price
Château Ausone 2025, June 2026
Offered en primeur at £2,172 per 6×75cl in bond, about 17.9% above the 2024 release; no Chapelle d’Ausone was made
The entire selected crop entered the Grand Vin, but the higher price still had to compete with bottled back vintages and the lower 2024 entry point
Bordeaux market, first half of 2025
Moncharm’s Fine Wine Market H1 Report 2025, using Liv-ex data, recorded the Bordeaux 500 down 5.6% and Bordeaux Legends 40 down 2.6%
Ausone’s prestige and scarcity do not isolate it from a regional correction. Portfolio value can decline even when wine quality is unchanged
The 2019 snapshot is particularly useful. The last six-bottle trade of £2,020 sat between a £1,650 bid and a £2,300 offer when checked. A buyer looking at the £2,300 offer and a seller looking at the £1,650 bid were not observing the same executable price. Storage, insurance and selling commission would widen the economic difference further.
The 2023–2025 release sequence also warns against reading a price cut in isolation. The 2023 release was reduced from 2022 but remained above a highly scored physical 2019. The 2024 then fell a further 30% at UK release before the 2025 rose by almost 18%. Each wine must be compared with back vintages on score, style, maturity, availability and price, not just with the immediately preceding release.
Liquidity and demand
Château Ausone has global collector recognition and appears on major merchant lists, professional trading platforms and at international auctions. It is also included in Liv-ex’s Fine Wine Investables universe, whose Bordeaux component is designed around actively traded, highly scored wines with a physical UK market. These features support investability.
Production is far lower than at most Médoc First Growths. Scarcity can support demand, but it can also reduce the number of transactions available for valuation. A wine may be expensive and famous while still having a wider spread or fewer immediate buyers than a more frequently traded label.
Standard six- and 12-bottle cases in original wooden cases are generally easier to compare than single bottles or unusual formats. Highly rated vintages with recent trades and multiple bids tend to offer clearer price discovery. Mature bottles can attract strong demand, but provenance, fill levels, labels, capsules and storage records become increasingly important.
Chapelle d’Ausone has a lower entry price and may appeal to drinkers and collectors who want exposure to the estate’s style. Its secondary market is thinner than the Grand Vin’s, however. The absence of Chapelle in 2025 should not be used to imply that the 2025 Grand Vin will necessarily be easier to sell or more profitable.
Demand is also sensitive to regional conditions. Ausone trades inside the Bordeaux market, where indices experienced a multi-year correction. Buyers should examine current bids, recent trades, the number of cases available, geographic demand and the costs of exit before treating scarcity as liquidity.
Risks to consider
Classification accuracy. Ausone was historically Premier Grand Cru Classé A but did not enter the 2022 classification. Describing it as currently classified at that level is inaccurate and risks undermining trust.
Entry-price risk. The 2023, 2024 and 2025 release sequence shows how quickly opening prices can change. A strong score and a reduction from the previous year do not prove that a new release is cheaper than comparable physical vintages.
Bid-offer risk. In October 2026, the visible bid and offer for six bottles of the 2019 differed by £650. A seller requiring immediate liquidity may receive far less than the latest trade or lowest merchant offer.
Low-trade-frequency risk. Tiny production creates rarity but can limit the number of observable transactions. A small set of trades makes valuation less certain and may extend the time required to sell.
Vintage and style risk. Ausone can be closed, tannic and demanding in youth. Warm and cool years differ, critic scores vary, and the market may favour one style or drinking horizon over another.
Provenance and condition. Mature Ausone should have a traceable chain of ownership, professional storage, sound levels and intact labels, corks and capsules. A famous vintage in poor condition is not equivalent to a pristine bonded case.
En-primeur risk. The 2025 will not arrive in the UK until approximately 2028. Capital is committed before bottling and delivery, while price, demand and the wider market can change.
Counterfeit risk. High values and a prestigious label increase the importance of authentic sourcing. Original invoices, case markings, bottle codes and a credible storage history should be verified.
Concentration risk. One producer, vintage or Bordeaux sub-region should not dominate a diversified fine-wine portfolio. Scarcity at estate level does not remove exposure to a regional downturn.
Is Château Ausone investment-grade?
Moncharm’s assessment: selected vintages of Château Ausone are investment-grade, provided the acquisition price, provenance and exit evidence justify the position.
The Grand Vin has the core characteristics associated with investable fine wine: an exceptional and clearly defined terroir, centuries of family continuity, very low production, extensive critic coverage, long ageing potential, global recognition and documented trade on professional platforms. Reference vintages including 2000, 2005, 2009, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2020 merit analysis, but they are not equally attractive at every price.
The classification withdrawal should be neither ignored nor exaggerated. Ausone’s absence from the 2022 hierarchy did not alter the vineyard, winemaking team or appellation, and leading post-withdrawal vintages have continued to attract high scores. Equally, its historical Premier Grand Cru Classé A status is not a guarantee of demand or a substitute for current market evidence.
The 2019 illustrates both strengths and constraints. It has a strong critical record, a high Cabernet Franc component and a current physical market. Its August 2026 trade proves that demand exists. The October bid-offer spread also proves that a quoted market value may differ materially from the amount available to an immediate seller.
The 2024 and 2025 demonstrate the importance of relative value. The 2024 entered the UK at a much lower price than the 2023. The 2025 then rose, supported by outstanding provisional scores and the decision not to make Chapelle. Neither release should be judged only against the prior year. Both must be compared with the 2019, 2020 and other available vintages after allowing for bottle age, storage cost and delivery timing.
Chapelle d’Ausone can be collectible and offers a lower entry price, but it should not be assumed to have the Grand Vin’s market depth. Other Vauthier estates are independent wines rather than Ausone substitutes. Their shared ownership may support confidence in the producer, but it does not make their prices or liquidity interchangeable.
Before recommending an Ausone position, Moncharm would assess:
the exact wine, vintage, format and current classification wording;
critic consensus, blend and realistic drinking horizon;
release price, recent trades, live bids and available offers;
the spread between the proposed acquisition price and a realistic resale value;
provenance, condition, bonded storage and original packaging;
storage, insurance, commission and other carrying costs;
counterfeit and authenticity checks for mature stock; and
the effect on Bordeaux, producer and vintage concentration within the wider portfolio.
Fine wine can fall in value and may take time to sell. Prices, critic scores, classifications and past performance do not guarantee future returns. This page provides general market information, not personal investment, tax or legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Is Château Ausone still Premier Grand Cru Classé A?
No. Ausone was one of the original Premier Grand Cru Classé A estates in the first Saint-Émilion classification and was reconfirmed in 2012. It withdrew before the 2022 classification and is not part of the current hierarchy. Its wine remains entitled to the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellation.
Was Château Ausone classified in 1855?
No. The 1855 classification covered leading Médoc red wines, Château Haut-Brion from Graves and the sweet wines of Sauternes and Barsac. Saint-Émilion introduced its own classification in 1955. Ausone’s historic Premier Grand Cru Classé A status comes from that separate system.
Who owns Château Ausone?
Château Ausone is owned by the Vauthier family, which dates its stewardship of the estate to 1690. Alain Vauthier and his daughter Pauline make the wine today, while Pauline, Édouard and Constance represent the eleventh generation in the wider family business.
Which grapes are used in Château Ausone?
Cabernet Franc is the majority variety in the vineyard, supported by Merlot. The blend changes by year: 2015, 2016 and 2020 were equal blends; 2019 contained 65% Cabernet Franc; and 2025 used 65% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.
What is Chapelle d’Ausone?
Chapelle d’Ausone is the estate’s second wine, normally made from younger vines under the same cellar conditions as the Grand Vin. Merlot is generally more prominent and a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon can be used. It was first made in 1995. No Chapelle was produced in 2025.
What are the best Château Ausone vintages?
Important modern reference years include 2000, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2020. The 2022 also received strong reviews after the estate left the classification. The best purchase depends on condition, maturity, style, price and live demand—not vintage reputation alone.
Why is Château Ausone so expensive?
Ausone combines a seven-hectare limestone site, very low production, old Cabernet Franc vines, long ageing potential, high critic recognition and global demand. Those features support a high price, but they do not guarantee future appreciation. Recent trades, bids, offers and comparable vintages should still be checked.
How long can Château Ausone age?
Top vintages can develop for several decades in professional storage. Critics have projected 30–50 years or more for several modern releases, and the 2005 has been given an exceptionally long horizon. These are estimates; individual bottle condition and storage remain decisive.
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