Angélus - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2020
Angélus has been managed by the same family since 1782: De Boüard. Situated less than a kilometre from the famous Saint-Emilion bell tower, on the much-vaunted south-fathing "foot of the hill", Château Angélus benefits from an outstanding terroir composed of a large proportion of Cabernet Franc. It is this unique character born of the south-facing Saint-Emilion slopes that make it a signature every year.
Château Angélus was classified Grand Cru Classé in 1954 during the first Saint-Emilion classification. Thanks to the constant evolution of its practices and techniques, both for the terroir and the typicity of its wines, the 2012 classification promoted Angélus to Grand Cru Classé A alongside Ausone, Cheval Blanc and Pavie.
Passion, family, history, thoroughness, excellence, trust, dreams...all quality of the De Boüard family and their involvement every year in producing a wine of excellence.
2020 Le Sublime
“This rich and complete vintage, the perfect synthesis of its two illustrious predecessors, 2018 and 2019, is the consequence of an amazing scenario.
Thanks to a very wet winter and spring, the soils had built up plenty of water reserves, which enabled the vineyard to maintain its balance throughout the whole of the growing season.
A hot (but never scorching hot) vintage was marked by a prolonged period of drought. However, the high quality of the soils, and their ability to retain the rainwater absorbed in winter, enabled the best balances to be produced in the vineyard’s clay and limestone soils.
The two and a half months of summer provided the vines with the best conditions for ripening and the production of healthy balanced grapes, rich in very ripe polyphenols.
While the finest Merlot was first judged to have a slight advantage over the rest; as always, after a few weeks of barrel ageing, we were amazed by the Cabernet Franc, which displayed a density and flesh on a par with the greatest.” Stéphanie de Boüard-Rivoal
Surface Area27 hectares
Soils Clay-limestone on the upper part; clay, sand and limestone as the slope goes down
CertificationsHVE3
ISO14001
VinificationsIn oak and stainless steel vats for the Merlot, in concrete vats for the Cabernet Franc
- A cold soak at 8°C for some vats, depending on the characteristics of the grapes for 4 days to one week
- Temperature of alcoholic fermentation up to 28°C
- Post-fermentation maceration at 26-28°C for 1 to 3 weeks
Ageing From 20 to 22 months
- In a new fine-grain French oak barrels with medium char for the Merlot and a part for the Cabernet Franc
- In 30 hl foudres for some of the Cabernet Franc, selected for the especially subtle character of its aromas
Tasting notesThe wine displays a brilliant, dense, very dark, almost black colour with dark purple tones, mirroring the perfect ripeness of the grapes and their optimal pH level.
The nose exhibits intense aromas of juicy black fruits, such as wild cherries and blackberries. Elegant floral notes then come through, such as peony and violets. Refined tannins underpin a long-lasting, spherical, voluptuous structure on the palate, while the flavours linger long, bringing a sensation of freshness and harmony.
This vintage displays a seldom-achieved degree of elegance, while the highest levels of purity and precision are reached with this blend of extraordinary Merlot and characterful Cabernet Franc.