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Château Ausone: wines from younger vines and varietal composition
A château owned by the Vauthier family, with vineyards and underground cellars on the limestone slopes of Saint-Émilion. They make Ausone using Cabernet Franc and Merlot, and La Chapelle d’Ausone, which is centered on younger vines.
Introducing Chapelle d'Ausone using both vine age and varietal composition.
Questions for this course
Is Chapelle a lighter version of Ausone with the same proportions?
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To applied practice using the material ↓
To explanation task notes ↓Château Ausone / Learn from producers
France / Bordeaux / Saint-Émilion
Synonym/Label: Château Ausone / Château Ausone / Château Ausone
Update date: 2026-09-24
Slopes and underground cellars.
When describing the land of Ausone, distinguish between the vineyard's limestone slopes and the underground spaces used for aging. Even if both are related to the same bedrock, one concerns grape growing conditions and the other, the wine storage environment.
Raw materials of the two wines
Ausone uses Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Chapelle is described as relying mainly on younger vines, has a higher proportion of Merlot, and also includes Cabernet Sauvignon. It is not simply a comparison based on vine age.
Do not fix the blend
Although there are tendencies in the composition of the two labels, the proportions for all vintages cannot be determined by this alone. If comparing Chapelle, confirm and separately record both the varietal makeup and selected raw material for that year, and distinguish explanations of young vines.
What to align and what to compare.
Ausone
- Conditions to standardize
- Château Ausone
- Conditions for comparison.
- Cabernet Franc and Merlot
- Additional points to confirm
- Confirm vintage-specific ratios separately.
Chapelle
- Conditions to standardize
- Château Ausone
- Conditions for comparison.
- Mainly young vines, with a higher proportion of Merlot
- Additional points to confirm
- There are differences in raw material beyond vine age
Limestone
- Conditions to standardize
- Château Ausone
- Conditions for comparison.
- Vineyard slope and underground cellar
- Additional points to confirm
- Distinguish between conditions for viticulture and aging.
Order of reading and key points to consider in each article
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READ · HYPOTHESIZE · RECONSIDER
Reading materials on Château Ausone: wines from younger vines and varietal composition
Compare the stated conditions in the documentation. Numbers specifying vintages should be treated as information for that specific year.
This summarizes materials published by producers, regional groups, and importers. Each source includes the publisher and the date the material was checked.
| Comparison items | What can be determined from the materials | Ability to distinguish by reading |
|---|---|---|
| Ausone | Cabernet Franc and Merlot | Confirm vintage-specific ratios separately. |
| Chapelle | Mainly young vines, with a higher proportion of Merlot | There are differences in raw material beyond vine age |
| Limestone | Vineyard slope and underground cellar | Distinguish between conditions for viticulture and aging. |
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Read the explanation for each question
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What are the characteristics of Chapelle?
The official explanation also notes differences between Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Specifically, in Chapelle, the proportion of Merlot increases and Cabernet Sauvignon appears. Do not predict the taste based only on the age of the vines; confirm the varieties and the relevant year to recognize differences in raw material.
Which step is directly related to the underground cellar?
Vineyard geology and cellar environment are separate pieces of information in the process.
What is necessary to compare blends?
Do not confuse general producer tendencies with individual figures for each vintage.
Basis and sources for the exercise
Practice exercises in comparison
Please explain differences in raw materials and winemaking by reading the table and sources.
Read examples of organizing comparisons
| Conditions for Comparison | Comparison items | What can be determined from the materials | Ability to distinguish by reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ausone | Cabernet Franc and Merlot | Confirm vintage-specific ratios separately. | |
| Chapelle | Mainly young vines, with a higher proportion of Merlot | There are differences in raw material beyond vine age | |
| Limestone | Vineyard slope and underground cellar | Distinguish between conditions for viticulture and aging. |
Sources of materials used for comparison are listed in the text and exercises.
Explain in your own words
Please introduce Chapelle d'Ausone using both vine age and varietal composition.
Check after writing
- Did you specify the label, vintage, and scope of materials to be compared?
- Did you distinguish and explain the three items in the table?
- Did you separate verified facts from points to check further with additional references or tasting?
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