Location and terroir
Château Angélus is located in Saint-Émilion in the Bordeaux region in the south of France. The vineyard plots extend over a natural amphitheatre site on the south-facing slope and at the foot of the hill. The slope position provides natural drainage, while the orientation concentrates the warmth of summer and encourages an earlier budburst.
The soils comprise clayey-calcareous as well as sandy-clayey-calcareous formations. Lime and clay are distributed in balanced proportions; the official description cites percentages of 8 to 20 percent.
Vines and vineyard work
For the Grand Vin, 33 hectares of vineyard area are documented, with an average vine age of 39 years. The Grand Vin consists of 52 percent Merlot, 47 percent Cabernet Franc and 1 percent Petit Verdot. Merlot grows on the more clay-rich hill, while Cabernet Franc grows on sandy-clayey-calcareous soils at the foot of the hill. Rootstocks are matched to the conditions of the site.
Between the rows of vines, cover crops such as rye, vetches, field peas, lucerne, clover, rape, mustard, daikon radish and ryegrass are used depending on soil requirements. Vineyard work includes the removal of watersprouts and excess shoots in spring, as well as leaf work in summer. Hedges, trees and other measures to promote biodiversity are intended to reduce pest pressure on the vines.
Wines and ageing
Château Angélus is associated with a dense, creamy structure, freshness and a significant contribution from Cabernet Franc. This grape variety brings dense, yet silky tannins and freshness. Older Cabernet Franc vines on warm sandy limestone gravel over clay can, at an age of more than 40 years, produce low-yielding grapes for high-quality selections.
Carillon d’Angélus is a Saint-Émilion Grand Cru made with variable proportions of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is described as fruit-driven, with velvety tannins and an elegant finish. The winery completed in 2019 has optical laser sorting, facilities for biological acid breakdown, a barrel cellar and 18 inverted conical tanks that are operated entirely using the gravity-flow method. Nitrogen systems protect the wines and control the oxygen content during vinification and ageing.
History and classification
The de Boüard de Laforest family has been based on the estate since 1782. In 1920, Maurice de Boüard de Laforest added a three-hectare plot called Angelus to the property. The estate was classified in 1954 and in 1985 covered more than 20 hectares. Carillon d’Angélus was first produced with the 1987 vintage.
In the official Saint-Émilion Grand Cru classification of 29 October 2012, Château Angélus was listed as a Premier Grand Cru Classé with the A rating. On 5 January 2022, the Château announced its withdrawal of its application for the next classification.
