In terms of fine wine, Château Ausone is one of a kind. Although growth dipped to an all-time low in 2015 with the 2005 vintage reaching “just” under the €930 mark, this is a wine that has the capacity to rise very rapidly for short periods of time. Examples of this can be seen in 2017, when the 2005 vintage was trading for €906 in October 2017, and rose to almost €1,161 in January 2018. The current trend is cascading down for all vintages since the 1990s, so investors might be wise to consider this Château in their fine wine portfolio.

One of only four St Émilion wines classified as Premier Grand Cru Classé, Château Ausone shares its name the Roman poet and great wine lover (and supposed resident of the area) Ausonious. Prices are very high as production is kept very low; just 2000 cases are produced per annum from the 18 acres of vines. It shares its left bank exposure with its rather famous neighbour Cheval Blanc, and oenologists consider this terroir the standout best growing environment on the left bank.

The disastrous weather conditions in 1892 and again in 1956 all but wiped out many fine wines from St. Emillion, yet had virtually no effect on Ausone. The favourable soil of sand, limestone and clay with porous rock subsoil meant that the deep-rooted vines were hardy and able to self regulate themselves in the harsh weather. Unsurprisingly, vintages from these years are among the most expensive from St. Emilion (Château Ausone is currently ranked in third place). Typically, wines are rich and supple, and age very well – drinkability is around 5-6 years, with the best vintages ageing well for 10 times that. Some consider that the 100-year mark is closer to the truth.

Regrettably, internal family disputes in the late 1970s to the mid1990s led the Château into decline, and wines from these years have a market value of €349-465. However, Alain Vaulthier – grandson of the “rightful” owner Cecile Dubois-Challon – took over production in the mid-1990s and quality (and prices) have been steadily rising. It has yet to reach the heights of its 1880 production, but long-term, Château Ausone is a fine wine to watch.