2017 Château Ausone – Saint-Émilion Premier Grand Cru Classé A
2017 Château Ausone is one of Bordeaux's most legendary wines and a true benchmark for Saint-Émilion. This exceptional Premier Grand Cru Classé A combines outstanding elegance with great concentration and impressive minerality. The wine offers complex notes of black cherries, ripe plums, violets, graphite, cedar, and dark chocolate, finished with silky-fine tannins and an unusually long aftertaste.
About the product
Château Ausone is one of the most prestigious wine estates in all of Bordeaux and has for centuries been synonymous with absolute top quality. The estate is located on Saint-Émilion’s famous limestone plateau, where the steep slopes and old vines create optimal conditions for wines of great finesse, depth, and elegance.
The 2017 vintage is composed of Merlot and Cabernet Franc from some of the appellation's best parcels. The grapes are hand-harvested with great care and vinified parcel by parcel before the wine is aged in French oak barrels. The result is a classic Ausone with impressive precision, refined structure, and a remarkable balance between ripe fruit, freshness, and limestone minerality.
About the region
Saint-Émilion is one of the world's most famous wine regions and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The area is particularly known for its Merlot-dominated wines with great elegance, complexity, and aging potential. The limestone-rich soils around Château Ausone impart a distinctive minerality and freshness to the wines, which has made the estate one of the most sought-after producers in the world. Premier Grand Cru Classé A is the highest classification in Saint-Émilion and is awarded only to the area's absolute elite.
Taste
Nose: Refined aromas of black cherries, ripe plums, blackcurrants, violets, graphite, cedar, licorice, and elegant spices.
Taste: Silky and concentrated with layers of dark berries, plums, cocoa, espresso, and limestone minerality. The fine tannins and vibrant acidity create an impressive balance between power, freshness, and elegance.
Aftertaste: Very long, complex, and mineral with lingering notes of dark fruit, graphite, cedar, spices, and elegantly integrated oak.
Serving
Best served at 16–18 °C. Decant the wine for 2–3 hours before serving to allow the complex aromas to unfold fully. Serve in a large Bordeaux glass. The wine can be enjoyed now after thorough aeration, but will develop beautifully over the next 30–40 years.
What does it pair with?
2017 Château Ausone pairs particularly well with:
- Beef tenderloin and wagyu
- Rack of lamb with rosemary
- Veal tenderloin
- Game such as red deer and roe deer
- Duck breast with mushrooms
- Dishes with black truffles
- Mushroom risotto with porcini mushrooms
- Aged hard cheeses
FAQ
What characterizes Château Ausone?
Château Ausone is one of Bordeaux's most iconic producers and is classified as Premier Grand Cru Classé A. The estate is known for wines with outstanding elegance, limestone minerality, and exceptional aging potential.
How does 2017 Château Ausone taste?
The wine offers complex notes of black cherries, ripe plums, violets, graphite, cedar, licorice, and dark chocolate with silky-fine tannins and a long, mineral aftertaste.
What does Château Ausone pair with?
It pairs perfectly with exclusive dishes featuring beef, lamb, veal, game, truffles, mushrooms, and aged cheeses.
Can 2017 Château Ausone be cellared?
Yes. Under optimal storage conditions, the wine has an aging potential of 30–40 years or longer and will develop even greater complexity, finesse, and depth.
