Château L'Angélus

Château L'Angélus, Saint-Émilion

General information:

Château L'Angélus has been one of Saint-Émilion's absolute elite since 2012 and carries the Premier Grand Cru Classé Aclassification. The vineyard, which has been run by the de Boüard de Laforest family for generations, represents a more modern, powerful and opulent style within the appellation. Its name is derived from a nearby plot of land from which the angelic greeting ("Angelus") of the three churches of Saint-Émilion used to be heard.

Site & soil:

The 39-hectare vineyard parcels are located in a kind of natural amphitheatre at the foot of the Saint-Émilion hill, facing south. The soils are a mosaic of limestone, clay and gravel, providing ideal conditions for deep rooting and ripening of the grapes.

Grape varieties & wine:

The grape variety distribution is typical of modern Saint-Émilion: around 60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc and a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine, Château L'Angélus, is known for its deep, rich fruit (plum, blackberry), its warm, often slightly vanilla-like flavour (thanks to ageing in new barriques) and its voluminous, silky texture. It is a powerful, concentrated and more accessible wine that often reaches drinking maturity earlier than more classic estates such as Cheval Blanc or Ausone, without losing any of its longevity.

Specialities:

Le Carillon de L'Angélus: The second wine, which has a higher proportion of Merlot and reflects the opulent style of the Grand Vin in a more elegant and earlier drinkable form.
Modernisation: Under Hubert de Boüard, the cellar was completely modernised in the 1990s, which significantly improved the consistency and precision of the wines.
Marketing & awareness:The iconic golden bell on the label and an active presence have greatly boosted the wine's worldwide awareness and popularity.

Conclusion:

Château L'Angélus represents the powerful, fruit-driven and technically brilliant pole among Saint-Émilion's top wines. It is a wine of great intensity and sensuality, focussing less on strict minerality and restraint and more on richness, warmth and immediate charm. Its rise to the highest class reflects this successful and internationally recognised style.