Château Ausone
Saint-Émilion Grand Cru (Premier Grand Cru Classé)
Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
2002
Vintage
Varietal
Bordeaux Blend
ABV
Where it is, June 2026
At Peak: in the heart of its drinking window (2007-2037).
In 2026, the Château Ausone Saint-Émilion Grand Cru (Premier Grand Cru Classé) 2002 is 19 years into its peak drinking window (peak_start 2007, peak_end 2037), with 11 years of prime drinking remaining. Twenty-four years from the notoriously difficult 2002 Bordeaux harvest and at the prime mature stage of a very long peak arc, the 2002 Ausone is drinking with the extraordinary complexity that Robert Parker identified as "among the finest wines from the Right Bank" in this challenging vintage. Ground truth describes the wine's nose as "gorgeous: crème de cassis, blackberries, wet stones and wonderfully perfumed floral notes" and the palate as delivering "impressive purity, medium to full body, a multi-layered, precisely textured structure and extraordinary intensity, with a finish reaching nearly 50 seconds." At 24 years, in 2026, the primary fruit of crème de cassis and blackberries has deepened into an evolved, tertiary expression: the cassis has become more concentrated and dried; the blackberries have moved toward dried black fruit; the wet stone minerality has intensified with age into the limestone chalk character that is specific to the Ausone site. The "extraordinary intensity" (ground truth) that Parker identified remains a defining quality at 24 years: this wine's concentration on the Saint-Émilion limestone plateau is why it has aged so profoundly when many 2002 Bordeaux have faded. With 11 years of peak remaining through 2037, the 2002 Ausone sits at the mid-point of its extraordinary aging arc.
The ‘02 Saint-Émilion Grand Cru (Premier Grand Cru Classé).
Eleven years of peak remaining on Robert Parker's "finest wine from the Right Bank" in a difficult vintage - the 2002 Ausone delivers crème de cassis, blackberries, wet stones, perfumed florals, and extraordinary intensity from the most limestone-privileged estate in Saint-Émilion.
Drinking window
Tasting note
Deep ruby with the first signs of garnet development at 24 years from the 2002 harvest - the extraordinary concentration that Parker identified (ground truth: "extraordinary intensity") has preserved remarkable color depth in a year that challenged many Right Bank estates. The nose is gorgeous (ground truth): crème de cassis (ground truth) has deepened at 24 years into a more concentrated, slightly dried cassis with the complexity of long bottle age; blackberries (ground truth) have evolved toward dried black fruit and black cherry preserve; wet stones (ground truth) have intensified into a chalky limestone minerality that is specific to the Ausone estate's position on the Saint-Émilion limestone plateau. Wonderfully perfumed floral notes (ground truth) remain a defining aromatic quality: the combination of Cabernet Franc's natural florality and the limestone terroir's mineral lift produces a fragrant, complex nose of unusual elegance for a 24-year-old Bordeaux blend. On the palate, the "multi-layered, precisely textured structure" (ground truth) is still evident at 24 years: medium to full body (7.5/10), tannins now soft (3/10) but still providing a fine mineral structure, acidity (8.5/10) bright and structural. The "extraordinary intensity" (ground truth) remains in the mid-palate concentration and the finish: ground truth reports nearly 50 seconds, and at 24 years the finish remains among the longest and most mineral in this collection. Cabernet Franc's characteristic lift and perfume (the Ausone blend is typically 50-55% Cabernet Franc) provides the aromatic definition that separates this wine from Left Bank Merlot-dominated expressions.
The 2002 vintage
The 2002 Bordeaux vintage was notoriously difficult on the Left Bank (Pauillac, Margaux, St. Julien), where rain at harvest seriously damaged many wines. The Right Bank (Saint-Émilion, Pomerol) fared considerably better: the earlier-ripening Merlot and Cabernet Franc on the clay and limestone soils of the Right Bank were harvested before the worst of the late rain, and the best estates produced wines of genuine quality in a vintage where Left Bank counterparts struggled. Robert Parker specifically cited the Ausone 2002 as "among the finest wines from the Right Bank" in this vintage - acknowledging both the quality achieved and the difficulty of the conditions. At Château Ausone, the estate's specific advantage is its limestone plateau position: the thin limestone and clay soils above Saint-Émilion provide exceptional drainage that protected the 2002 vintage from the rain damage that affected other Right Bank producers who farm lower, more clay-dominant sites. The "astonishing achievement in 2002" (ground truth) reflects the estate's terroir advantage compounding with precise harvest timing.
About Château Ausone
Château Ausone holds one of the two Premier Grand Cru Classé A designations in Saint-Émilion, shared only with Château Cheval Blanc, recognizing the estate as the appellation's most elite producer. The 7-hectare estate, situated on limestone plateau and clay-limestone slopes above the historic town of Saint-Émilion, is named for the 4th-century Roman poet Ausonius. The Vauthier family has owned and farmed Ausone for generations; Alain Vauthier directed the estate through its defining modern period and produced the 2002 vintage, with winemaking now under the direction of his daughter Valérie Doublet. The Ausone blend, typically 50-55% Cabernet Franc and 45-50% Merlot, reflects the estate's limestone soils: on the plateau and slopes, Cabernet Franc achieves its finest Right Bank expression, providing the perfumed florality, mineral precision, and extraordinary longevity (ground truth: "finish reaching nearly 50 seconds") that defines the Ausone house style across all vintages. Aging in up to 100% new French oak for 18-24 months adds framework to a wine whose structure is built on limestone rather than tannin. Browse the [Bordeaux wine guide](/wines/region/bordeaux) and [Bordeaux Blend](/wines/varietal/bordeaux-blend).
From the cellar: pair with
Rack of lamb with black olive tapenade, rosemary, and garlic confit
The Ausone blend's Cabernet Franc-driven perfumed florals (ground truth) harmonize with rosemary's aromatic character; crème de cassis and blackberries (ground truth) complement the savory black olive richness; the multi-layered, precisely textured structure (ground truth) stands up to the preparation's boldness; bright acidity (8.5/10) lifts garlic confit's richness.
Slow-braised short rib with black truffle and celery root puree
Extraordinary intensity and multi-layered structure (ground truth) demand the depth and richness of slow-braised short rib; wet stone limestone minerality (ground truth) harmonizes with truffle's mineral-earth character; the nearly 50-second finish (ground truth) extends naturally alongside the braise's complexity; bright acidity (8.5/10) cuts through the fat.
Aged Mimolette (24-month) with black cherry preserve and rye crisp
Crème de cassis and blackberries evolved to dried fruit (ground truth) echo the black cherry preserve directly; the multi-layered, precisely textured structure (ground truth) provides the backbone to match Mimolette's intense, caramel-nutty character; Cabernet Franc perfume (ground truth) adds a floral counterpoint; acidity (8.5/10) cuts through fat.
Service & cellaring
- Serving Temp
- 62-65F (17-18C)
- Decanting
- In 2026, decant 30 to 45 minutes. At 24 years with soft tannins (3/10) and bright acidity (8.5/10), the 2002 Ausone is at a mature stage where it benefits from moderate aeration but does not need the full 60-minute treatment of a younger structured wine. Pour into a large Bordeaux-format decanter and allow 30-45 minutes before the first taste. The crème de cassis, blackberries, wet stones, and perfumed floral notes (ground truth) open fully within 30 minutes; the extraordinary intensity (ground truth) and long finish are best experienced with 45 minutes of air. Drink the full bottle within 3 hours of opening.
- Cellar Storage
- 55F (13C), 60-70% humidity, bottle on its side.
The drinking window on this bottle is calculated with the Cellared Ageability Index (CAI) v1.0, a 10-factor model. Try the free drinking window calculator on any wine, or read when to drink wine for the practical signals.
More from Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
Frequently Asked
When is the 2002 Château Ausone at its best in 2026?
Now through 2037, with 11 years of prime drinking remaining. At 19 years into its peak, the 2002 is at the prime mature stage of its extraordinary aging arc: crème de cassis, blackberries, wet stones, and perfumed floral notes (ground truth) have evolved into complex, tertiary expressions of 24-year development. The extraordinary intensity (ground truth) remains fully present. Those seeking continued development can cellar through 2030-2035; those who want to experience great mature Ausone should open now. Hard decline is 2049. See the [Bordeaux wine guide](/wines/region/bordeaux).
What makes the 2002 Ausone exceptional in a difficult vintage?
Ground truth cites Robert Parker's assessment: 'among the finest wines from the Right Bank' in this notoriously difficult vintage, describing it as 'an astonishing achievement in 2002, especially in a Saint-Émilion where many disappointments were produced.' The key is Ausone's terroir advantage: the thin limestone plateau soils above Saint-Émilion provided exceptional drainage that protected the vintage from the rain damage that affected lower, clay-dominant sites. The extraordinary intensity (ground truth) and nearly 50-second finish (ground truth) reflect what Ausone's specific limestone position can achieve even in difficult conditions.
What is the Cabernet Franc character in Château Ausone?
Ausone's blend is typically 50-55% Cabernet Franc, which is unusual for Saint-Émilion and is the source of the estate's defining character: the 'wonderfully perfumed floral notes' and 'wet stones' (ground truth) that distinguish Ausone from Merlot-dominant Right Bank neighbors. On Ausone's limestone plateau, Cabernet Franc achieves its finest Right Bank expression: perfumed, mineral, and extraordinarily long-lived. This Cabernet Franc dominance also explains why Ausone ages longer than most Saint-Émilion estates - Cabernet Franc's natural acidity and structural tannins provide the longevity framework that Merlot alone cannot achieve. Browse [Bordeaux Blend](/wines/varietal/bordeaux-blend).
How should I decant the 2002 Château Ausone?
Decant 30 to 45 minutes. At 24 years with soft tannins (3/10) but bright acidity (8.5/10) and extraordinary intensity (ground truth), the 2002 benefits from moderate aeration. The crème de cassis, blackberries, wet stones, and perfumed florals (ground truth) open fully within 30 minutes; the nearly 50-second finish expresses best with 45 minutes of air. Do not use a full 60-minute decant - the wine's evolved complexity at 24 years can disperse with extended air.
How does the 2002 Ausone compare to other Right Bank benchmarks?
The 2002 Ausone stands as one of the most exceptional achievements in a difficult vintage: Robert Parker rated it among the finest Right Bank wines of 2002 (ground truth), in a year where most Saint-Émilion produced disappointing results. Its limestone terroir advantage and Cabernet Franc dominance produced a wine of extraordinary intensity and nearly 50-second finish (ground truth) that 24 years of aging has validated as genuinely exceptional. Browse [Bordeaux Blend pairings](/wines/varietal/bordeaux-blend).