Producers: Château Ausone

Château Ausone is one of the prestigious few Saint-Émilion producers with Premier Grand Cru Classé A status. It is relatively small compared to other top rated Bordeaux châteaux, and its 7-hectare (17-acre) vineyard is planted almost entirely to Cabernet Franc and Merlot. A small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon appears in its second wine, Chapelle d'Ausone. Ausone's vineyard is on an elevated southeast-facing slope that is uncommonly steep for the region. Sheltered to the north and the west, the vineyard was spared from the devastating effects of the 1956 frosts that destroyed vines and vintages in many other parts of Bordeaux. Since the 1990s, Ausone has consistently received high critical praise, peaking with 100 points from critic Robert Parker for the 2000 vintage. A very limited production of fewer than 2000 cases annually makes Château Ausone one of the most expensive and sought-after Saint-Émilion wines.