2012 Château Ausone, 6-bottle Lot, Wood Case

Château Ausone is one of the Premier Grand Crus Classe A of St.-Emilion, which means it is considered one of the finest wines of the right bank according to the region’s historic classification system. Legend has it that the estate’s name is derived from the name of the 4th century Roman poet Ausonius, who lived in the area and maintained a vineyard. But the château itself notes that the link may be more fanciful than fact. Nevertheless the estate, which includes a mere 17.3 acres of vineyards, has long enjoyed one of the best locations in all of Bordeaux on a steep southwestern slope a few meters from the medieval town of St.-Emilion. The estate makes a fraction of the wine made by many of its larger neighbors. The estate makes 20,000 to 30,000 bottles annually of its Chateau Ausone Premier Grand Cru, and about 7,000 bottles of its second line, Chapelle d’Ausone. The vineyards are planted in 50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Franc. The average age of the vines is 50-55 years.

Saint-Émilion is on the east side of the Dordogne River. At 13,400 acres it is one of Bordeaux’s largest appellations, and perhaps its most picturesque. It is also home to what has been called “the garagiste” movement of upstart, tradition-defying winemakers who produce artisanal wines in styles that are unconventional for the appellation. The village of Saint-Émilion dates from the middle ages and it sits on low hills, surrounded by ancient walls. Like its neighbor Pomerol, Saint-Émilion was not included in the famous Bordeaux classification system of 1855. But a century later a ranking system was put in place, and unlike the classification system for the Medoc, the Saint-Émilion system is reviewed every ten years, meaning that estates can be upgraded or downgraded. There are three rankings: Grand Cru Classé, Premier Grand Cru Classé B and Premier Grand Cru Classé A, with the final ranking being the best. Such legendary Saint-Émilion estates as Châteaux Ausone and Cheval-Blanc are Premier Grand Cru Classé A, along with Châteaux Pavie and Angélus, both added to the classification in 2012. Wines in this appellation are primarily Merlot, mixed with Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.