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Château Ausone is located on a hill directly south of the quaint town of Saint Emilion. With a long history dating back to the medieval times, the wines produced by the Chateau stand as one of the richest around. Ausone is one of only two wines, along with Château Cheval Blanc, to receive the highest rank of Premier Grand Cru Classé (A) status in the Classification of Saint-Emilion wine (The highest rating for a Saint Emilion.) Château Ausone is a very old property with medieval historical significance. In its more recent history, the wines from the chateau suffered from lower quality and a lessened reputation in the middle of the 20th century. Ausone began to return to its historical position of greatness with the hiring of Pascal Delbeck in the 1970s. Delbeck was in charge of Ausone beginning with the 1976 vintage. As of 1995, he no longer played a role in the winemaking but remained in charge of the vineyards.   The vineyards are primarily Merlot (50%), with Cabernet Sauvignon (30%) and Cabernet Franc (15%). The wines of Chateau Ausone are very powerful for a Saint Emilion. They generally require cellaring for at least 10 years to reach maturity and will often improve until 20 years from the year of the harvest. In their youth, these wines can be very tannic. As they age, the flavors of currant, raspberry and black cherry begin to come forward along with hints of spice. Chateau Ausone produces a second wine called Chapelle d'Ausone.    Appellation: St Emilion Areas under Vine: 7.3 hectares Average Annual Production: 2,000 cases per annum Soil: The soil is a mixture of limestone and clay, becoming sandier on the lower reaches where the grapes exhibit slightly lower acidity Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon (50%), Merlot (50%), Cabernet Franc (20%) Ageing: Aged in new oak barrels for 24-27 months Top Vintages: 1929, 1976, 1982, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006