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。
A blend of 65% Cabernet Franc and 35% Merlot, the 2021 Ausone is a strong candidate for the title of wine of the vintage. Wafting from the glass with aromas of wild blueberries and raspberries mingled with rose petals, violets, exotic spices, vine smoke and blood orange, it's full-bodied, seamless and sensual, with a satiny attack that segues into a deep, layered mid-palate of breathtaking precision and intensity without weight. Built around bright acids and ultra-refined tannins and concluding with a resonant, perfumed finish, this profound young Ausone represents the essence of this great limestone terroir. I am not in the habit of drinking six-month-old Bordeaux cask samples, but this is one wine that would have sorely tempted me to make an exception to that rule if my appointment at the estate hadn't been one of the first of the day!
WA:97-100 Drink Date: NA
