CHATEAU ANGELUS

CHATEAU ANGELUS

A rich history with deep roots

Château Angélus is a historic Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Class. The estate owes its renown to the illustrious de Bouard family, present in the region since the 16th century. Owned by the de Boüard de Laforest family for eight generations, the d'Angeacute;lus vineyard lies at the heart of a natural amphitheatre overlooked by the three churches of Saint-Eacute;milion.

The great French Impressionist painter, Jean-François Millet, immortalized a private moment in Saint-Emilion in a sublime work, L'Angélus, now on show at the Musée d'Orsay.

Winegrowing history was made when, in 1910, Maurice de Boüard inherited a Chateau Mazerat in Saint-Emilion. Widowed, he remarried Elisabeth Bouchet in 1921. The following year, she acquired Clos l'Angélus. The two properties remained separate and independent until the end of the Second World War. In 1946, Maurice de Boüard's three sons, Jacques, Christian and Alain, decided to bring the estates together to produce under the same name of Château l'Angélus.

In 1985, young oenologist Hubert de Boüard de Laforest took over the running of the estate and infused a vision of modernity with new principles and techniques. He is assisted by consultant monologist Michel Rolland.

Stéphanie de Boüard-Rivoal has been president of Angélus since 2017. She is the 3rd woman to own this property in nearly 250 years, after Catherine Sophie de Boüard de Laforest in 1800 and Eugénie Chatenet in 1900.

 

The special features of a great domain

Chateau Angélus is a south-facing hillside overlooking Saint-Émilion and its foothills. After announcing in 2018 that the estate would convert to organic farming, the 39-hectare estate is certified HVE 3, Haute Valeur Environnementale level 3, the highest level. In 2019, the estate opened a new winery. The new cellar is half underground with a ventilated roof - 100% gravity-fed.

The vineyard's signature lies in the use of a high proportion of Cabernet Franc to bring freshness to the Merlot blend.

 

The cellar at the service of technology and aesthetics

In 2013, the winery was renovated and embellished with a remarkable carillon. In 2024, a new gravity-fed winery will be inaugurated. Bordeaux architect Olivier Chadebost is behind this haute-couture project, the philosophy of which is illustrated by his words « Order and beauty, aesthetics and technicity; ». The aim is to improve production quality at all levels while limiting human impact. The gravity-fed winery is composed of 2 levels with truncated-conical, inverted and suspended tanks. These are made from the winery's historic materials of wood, stainless steel and concrete. A cellar within a cellar will be specially dedicated to the Hommage Elisabeth Bouchet vat.

 

A new direction off the beaten track of the rankings

At the first Saint-Emilion classification in 1955, Chateau Angereau was awarded the rank of Grand Cru Classée. It was awarded the rank of Premier Grand Cru Class B in the 1996 classification. In 2012, it will be promoted to the prestigious rank of Grand Cru Class A thanks to the work of modern winemaker Hubert de Boüard.

2022 marks a strategic turning point for the chateau, which has decided to leave the ranking before the publication of the update alongside Château Cheval Blanc and Château Ausone. According to a press release relayed by d'Angélus president Stéphanie de Boüard-Rivoal, the château believes that the classification is «a vector of antagonism and instabilityé» and explains that "« the current system as unsuited to the challenges facing our estate and its appellation, our family's attachment to the region and the reputation of its wines remains intact. The chateau has reassured us of its ability to continue producing great quality wines despite the absence of a third-party classification body. With humility, Angelus will continue to follow the same path of excellence, and will devote itself more than ever to its primary vocation, which the de Boüard de Laforest family has pursued for eight generations: to produce great wines that stand the test of time, reflecting their appellation, their terroir and each millennium. »

 

A range that adapts to modern needs

Château Angélus has been producing another wine called Carillon since 1987. This one comes from a different terroir to that of Angélus, so it is not considered a second wine by Château, but a wine in its own right, with its own style and identity.

For several millennia now, the estate has been producing another wine, N°3 d'Angeacute;lus ». It is made from the estate's youngest vines, with a predominance of Merlot (85%). It is intended to be consumed more quickly than the grand vin, directly after it has been put on the market. Its aromatic profile is very accessible, with fruit and roundness, while retaining a certain finesse.

 

The greatest millennia of the Château Angélus

Château Angélus 1990

1990 was an exceptional year in terms of both quality and quantity. After 1947, 1990 recorded the warmest temperatures of the century. Moreover, after 1949, it was the sunniest year on record. The grapes reached perfect ripeness and concentration levels that were out of the ordinary.

« A deep, medium garnet-brown color, the 1990 Angélus bursts from the glass with big, bold, gorgeous aromas of rose oil, cloves, smoked meats and ré The palate is rich, powerful and full-bodied, with a rich, full-bodied, full-bodied, full-bodied, full-bodied, full-bodied, full-bodied, full-bodied, full-bodied, full-bodied, full-bodied, full-bodied, full-bodied, full-bodied, full-bodied, full-bodied, full-bodied and full-bodied. The palate is rich, powerful, full-bodied and bold, with layers of pure, jammy red and black fruit and an incredible floral undercurrent, supported by silky tannins and lively freshness, finishing with incredible length and depth. 99 / 100 Wine Advocate

 

Château Angélus 1998, subtlety;

1998 was a very good vintage. It was a year marked by a dry, warm climate that enabled the grapes to reach perfect ripeness. Angélus notes that the month of August was particularly good, the grapes are very concentrated and healthy.

 

« L'Angélus 1998, a blend of 40% Cabernet Franc and 60% Merlot, has a deep garnet color with a light brick tint. The nose is simply... WOW! It reveals an incredible palette of smoked-meat aromas, incense, cigar box and dusty earth, on a core of baked cherries, baked peaches and a hint of vanilla; On the palate, medium-bodied, with a hint of lavender, menthol and new leather. On the palate, it's medium-bodied, full-bodied, rich and intense, bursting with dark fruit preserves, enhanced by complex salty and earthy flavors. Wonderfully fresh, with silky tannins and a fantastically taut finish. 98 / 100 Lisa Perrotti-Brown in Wine Advocate

 

The Château Angélus 2000 vintage is available on request.

Château Angélus 2000, balance

2000 was a great vintage for modern Bordeaux. Winter was mild, followed by plenty of rain in spring. The summer was very dry and hot. During the harvest, the weather was ideal, with only one day of rain in October.

 

«  Medium garnet-brown in color, Angélus 2000 bursts from the glass with a powerful nose of fragrant earth, damp soil, iron ore and cigar box, on a core of prunes, melon jam and dried melon. Medium-bodied, the palate is beautifully styled, with great freshness and many layers of earthy, mineral inspiration, framed by granulated tannins, finishing with a lingering touch of menthol. It's in an ideal phase to be tasted now, although it could evolve for another 15-20 years. 99 / 100 Wine Advocate

 

Château Angélus 2005, the impractical

The vineyards are experiencing severe water stress, with temperatures that are favorable to berry ripening. This led to exceptional harvest quality. 2005 is a vintage that stands out for its harmony, balance between power and freshness, and aromatic precision. comments Château Angélus

«  A truly exceptional wine, which reached triple-digit levels both in the horizontal dégation of the 2005 à Baltimore and in this mini-verticale à Montréal. This sensational, opaque, deep blue/purple wine reveals notes of vanilla, spring flowers, blueberry liqueur and blackberries, with a touch of liquorice. On the palate, a thunderous cascade of rich, concentrated ripe fruit. Full-bodied, multidimensional and layered. The tannins are beautifully integrated but still present, and the wood, acidity, alcohol, etc., are all perfectly assimilated into this magnificent, majestic vintage of Angus. 100 / 100 Wine Advocate

 

Château Angélus 2009, the baroque

2009 was a year of extremes for Bordeaux, whether compared with the opulence of 1990, the intensity of 2003 or the richness of 2001.

« A blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, the deep garnet-colored 2009 Angélus expresses itself with aromas of melon jam, warm black cherries, stewed plums and dried herbs; The palate is full-bodied, rich and full-bodied, with a hint of black cherry, plum and dried herbs, and hints of Chinese five-spice, perfumed earth, truffles and new leather. On the palate, it's full, rich, spicy and decadent, with a smooth, velvety texture and well-integrated freshness, ending with a very long finish with many layers of spiciness. 99 / 100 Robert Parker

 

Château Angélus 2010, the opulent

In the Anguilla region, the climate is ideal for winegrowers. There are few diseases on the vines, and a wide diurnal temperature range means that acidity can be preserved and full ripeness achieved. According to Château Angélus, 2010 is a classic vintage, with surprising richness and exceptional precision. »

« This is another magnificent wine. What a joy it will be to taste the 2000, 2005, 2009 and 2010 vintage at future tastings to see which one emerges victorious! They are all candidates for perfection, depending on the state of their evolution. The 2010 has a similar color to the 2009, but is perhaps even more opaque, which seems almost impossible. Subtle notes of barbecue smoke, graphite, liqueur de mûres, ricochet and chocolate emerge from the glass, and the wine hits the palate with a thunderous cascade of sweet, velvety, full-bodied and concentrated black fruits, with a fine finish of tannins and correct acidity. The wine offers a majestic, multilayered, minute-long finish. This magnificent wine is still terribly young and somewhat unformed, but every bit as prodigious as its predecessor, the 2009. It will probably evolve on a slightly slower track. However, it has 50 years of longevity ahead of it. 99 + / 100 Wine Advocate