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In 1909 Comte Maurice de Boüard de Laforest inherited Domaine de Mazerat from his aunt "Souffrain de Lavergne". At the turn of the century Maurice de Boüard de Laforest acquired this neighbouring three hectare plot known as "Clos de L'Angelus", adding it to the adjacent vineyard - Château Mazerat - which had been in the family since 1850.
Little by little his sons Jacques and Christian expanded the holding by buying adjoining plots of land, until by the nineteen seventies they had completed the magnificent property run today by Hubert de Boüard de Laforest (picture) and his cousin Jean-Bernard Grenié.
Promoted to premier grand cru classé rank, acclaimed world-wide as one of Saint Emilion’s finest wines, Château Angélus embodies one family’s dedication to getting the utmost from the excellent local "terroir" growing conditions.
Here, in the vineyard and in the wine processing areas, respect of traditional methods goes hand in hand with ongoing technical advancements so that each harvest, each vintage achieves its peak of perfection.
  
Facts & Figures
Area under vine
23.4 hectares
Production
80,000 to 90,000 bottles
Soil
Clay-limetsone on the upper slopes, clay-sandy-limestone on the lower slopes
Grape varieties
50% Merlot
47% Cabernet Franc
3% Cabernet Sauvignon
Ageing
18-22 months in 100% new oak
Average age of the vines
30 years
Second wine
Carillon d'Angélus (Saint-Emilion Grand Cru)
  
Wines available
All wines sold by BDXV come direct from Bordeaux and have been stored at the Chateaux or in professional storage facilities since the time of bottling. BDXV’s wines have never ever been in the hands of private collectors. This gives you the customer the highest level of quality guarantee that the wines you buy have been stored in optimal conditions since the time they were bottled.
Chateau Angelus 2005, EUR POA*
Score: 98 points. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2038.
Robert Parker: 98 points
April 2008: This 7,000 case blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc will rival or perhaps eclipse vintages such as 2000, 1998, 1990, and 1989. Its dense purple color is followed by an extraordinary perfume of charcoal, espresso roast, blackberries, blueberries, and a hint of wood. In spite of its thick texture, terrific acidity, high tannins, and enormous intensity as well as richness, it is surprisingly approachable, but given how slowly the 1989 and 1990 have aged, I would recommend cellaring it for 8-10 years. It should keep for three decades. A brilliant wine!
April 2007: It seems like proprietor Hubert de Bouard has the Midas touch no matter what he does. The profound 2005 Angelus (a 7,000-case blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc that achieved 14.5% natural alcohol) may be the finest wine produced at this estate since 1990 and 1989. An amazingly rich bouquet of espresso roast interwoven with blueberry liqueur, violets, and graphite is followed by a wine of enormous richness, full body, superb acidity, huge tannin, and nearly perfect symmetry. This staggering effort is more backward than such recent vintages as 2003 and 2000, but after 5-10 years of cellaring, it will provide immense pleasure for three decades or more. It is a titan in the making!
April 2006: Could this be the most profound Angelus yet made by the brilliant Hubert de Bouard since he turned this once under-achieving estate around in the mid-eighties? A blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, the spectacular, inky/blue/purple-hued 2005 (7,080 cases; 14.5% natural alcohol) exhibits an extraordinary projected nose of blueberries, blackberries, liqueur of minerals, flowers, and subtle, toasty new oak. Magnificently concentrated, displaying a seamless integration of acidity, wood, tannin, and alcohol, a soaring mid-palate, and a finish that lasts over 60 seconds, this is a wine of compelling potential.
Jancis Robinson: 15 points
Purple with some paleness at rim. Big, bold and very ripe with no shortage of energy. Thick, sweet palate attack but pretty extracted on the finish. Quite exaggerated expression of what were obviously very charming ripe ingredients. Fast fade on the finish.
Chateau Angelus 2003, EUR POA*
Score: 93 points. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2023.
Robert Parker: 93 points
Kudos to proprietor Hubert Bouard, who has been making brilliant wines at this estate since the mid- to late-1980s. A blend of 58% Cabernet Franc and 42% Merlot, the beautiful 2003 (14% alcohol; 6,500 cases produced) is somewhat tightly knit, but it reveals a perfumed nose of rose petals, blackberries, menthol, and cedar. This broad, sweet 2003's supple attack is followed by a tannic mid-section. The wine does not appear to be as dense or structured as the 2004. Given the high percentage of Cabernet Franc, it is likely to put on considerable weight in the bottle. This beauty is slightly different not only because of the torrid vintage conditions, but also because it incorporates the highest percentage of Cabernet Franc ever utilized at Angelus.
Chateau Angelus 2000, EUR POA*
Score: 96 points. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2030.
Robert Parker: 96 points
The finest effort since the 1989 and 1990, this dense purple-colored wine has an extravagantly ripe, concentrated style. The 2000 (in a new engraved bottle) offers up aromas of blackberry liqueur and vintage port. As the wine sits in the glass, graphite, wet stones, smoke, barbecue spices, and olives also make an appearance. It unfolds on the palate in layers, is full-bodied, big and rich yet incredibly poised, well-balanced, and pure. Quite backward, this is one of the greatest Angelus made to date. Yields were a modest 35 hectoliters per hectare.
Jancis Robinson: 18.5/20 points
Very deep, very thick crimson, Much denser than the succeeding vintages described above. Ripe and flattering. Very intense perfume which seems to fill the entire nose. Wonderfully rich and round with notes of flowers, orange peel, a lovely silky texture. Masses of ripe tannin. Very healthy. Exotic notes. Bursting with life.
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