Château Ausone 是波爾多右岸的Saint-Émilion產區的頂級酒莊，而且從Saint-Émilion開始實施頂級酒莊分級制度的時候，它就一直穩居金字塔尖端的Premier Grand Cru Classé “A ”，可說是Saint-Émilion產區的王者！酒莊名稱是源自羅馬時代4世紀時候的政治家兼詩人Ausonius，據說這個莊園曾是他的住所。現在的莊主是Alain Vauthier，從17世紀開始其家族就一直是Château Ausone的主人。
本莊園位於Saint-Émilion村邊陡峭的坡上，僅有7.5公頃的葡萄園，平均樹齡超過50歲。其特別之處是種植高比例(55 %)的Cabernet Franc，而且是生長在表土淺薄的石灰岩層上，讓它的酒質特別紮實而細緻，在Saint-Émilion的酒中獨樹一幟。另外1990年代後期開始局部實行生物動力法來管理葡萄園，也聘請了Michel Roland來當釀酒顧問，讓整體品質非常明顯地大幅提升，證據是自1995年份之後，Wine Advocate的評分從未低於91分，甚至還3度獲得100分的極高評價！
1995年起，本酒莊才開始生產二軍酒La Chapelle de Ausone，50 % Cabernet Franc和50 % Merlot的組合，年產量只有600箱左右。雖說它是二軍酒，但是其品質可能還比許多Saint-Émilion頂級酒莊更優異，獲得許多酒評家們的高度推薦。
The 2018 Ausone is a blend of 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot. Deep garnet-purple in color, rather predictably, the nose is almost completely shut-down on first sniff, taking considerable aeration to begin to reveal its jaw-dropping perfume of ripe black cherries, wild blueberries and plum preserves, leading to suggestions of candied violets, molten chocolate, licorice and crushed rocks with subtle cedar and pencil lead hints. The medium to full-bodied palate (14.5% alcohol) is so tightly wound and nuanced at this stage, it requires a lot of focus unravel all that is going on here. In short: a lot. The ripe, rich, black and blue fruit layers eventually give way to the beautifully cerebral earthy/minerally subtext, carried by fantastically well-knit tension, delivering an incredibly long, foundation-shaking finish. If the earth doesn't move when you drink this, you're probably not doing it right.
WA:100 Drink Date: 2028 - 2068
