Château Angélus St-Emilion 2020 - 1er Grand Cru Classé A

Located in the heart of the Saint-Émilion coast, in the appellation’s most prestigious sector, with a south-facing exposure, Angélus boasts one of the finest terroirs, spanning 25 hectares in a single block. This estate, brought to the pinnacle of success by Hubert de Boüard—an exceptional winemaker and the heart and soul of the place—is now led by his daughter Stéphanie and his nephew Thierry Grenié de Boüard, who have been at the helm since 2016. The estate has few equals. It features a high percentage of Cabernet Franc (40 to 50%), significant human and financial investment (the new winery built in 2014 enables the production of wines of even more impressive precision, and the recent helium balloon system is designed to counteract hail damage), and above all, meticulous attention to every detail. All of this adds up to a set of exceptionally high standards. These constant efforts earned the estate the highest ranking of Premier Grand Cru Classé A in 2012, an elite distinction that places it on the same level as Cheval Blanc or Ausone. Recently, the transition to organic farming has completed the estate’s rise to prominence; it stands out for its highly distinctive sensuality and subtle anise notes found nowhere else. Fresh, elegant, and supported by velvety tannins, Angélus remains one of the most complex Saint-Émilions on the Right Bank.

 

Promoted to the top four Grand Cru Classé A estates in the most recent Saint-Émilion classification in 2012, no other château has climbed so far up the Bordeaux hierarchy in such a short time. This remarkable rise, achieved over two decades, is the work of Hubert de Boüard—a modernist winemaker, master communicator, and international consultant, and a leading figure in local and national wine industry organizations. In 2013, the winery underwent a complete renovation and beautification, and is now crowned by a spectacular carillon. After restructuring the family estate’s vineyard parcels—giving it every advantage to reach the appellation’s highest standards of quality—Hubert de Boüard stepped down. In 2017, Thierry Grenié-de Boüard joined Stéphanie de Boüard-Rivoal at the helm of the château. The eighth generation has taken the reins and is significantly reshaping the landscape. Angélus exemplifies the best of the formal and sophisticated perfection found in today’s great Bordeaux wines. Ten kilometers from Angélus, a new winery will be used for the vinification of Carillon and N°3, the second and third wines, each sourced from dedicated plots. With the 2021 vintage, the château will officially obtain its organic certification.

Notes of blackberry and plum, with hints of chocolate. Oyster shell. Full-bodied and very firm, with a linear structure. Tight and powerful. Very pure fruit. Tension and energy. Silky tannins. Some notes of coffee beans and chocolate. Should be aged for at least 5 or 6 years. 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc. Best enjoyed after 2028.

The flagship wine of this great estate, the 2020 Château Angelus is a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, aged for 22 months in new oak barrels. Darker and more concentrated than the 2019, it offers magnificent medium- to full-bodied aromas of red currants, black raspberries, sandalwood, spring flowers, and smoked tobacco. With near-perfect balance, it does not quite reach the flamboyant style of 10 years ago, but it stands out for its remarkable purity, ultra-fine tannins, a round and harmonious palate, and a finish of great intensity. It is entirely in keeping with the vintage’s classic, balanced, and structured style, and it is recommended to let it age in the bottle for 7 to 8 years. It can be enjoyed for over 30 years. 2030–2060

On the nose, nature reigns supreme: savory and floral notes, along with aromas of fresh red berries and the crispness of a northern forest. All the sounds of the forest are there: birdsong, the rustling of leaves in the wind… A well-rounded wine that captures your full attention, compelling you to notice every detail. Breathtaking grace and finesse that linger in a long, briny, and savory finish. 2028–2058

Purity. That’s the word that comes to mind when you take a deep sniff of Angélus 2020. Aromatic purity, stretching from fresh fruit to delicate floral notes. Purity of texture, perfectly velvety, built on a perfectly ripe, firm structure. Purity of a masterful structure blending powdery tannins, a smooth texture, and refreshing tension. We are undoubtedly in the presence of a model of balance. Lively, savory, mouthwatering, and still clad in its usual soft velvet garb, Angélus has found its footing and its style once again, establishing itself as one of the major wines of this vintage.

The nose is beautifully developed, refined, and elegant, offering lovely finesse of texture, purity, intensity (with finesse), concentration (with finesse), and a lovely breadth of the aromatic profile. It features notes of vibrant blackcurrant, strawberry, and, more subtly, vibrant blueberry, combined with subtle hints of black tea, juicy cherry, and peony, as well as delicate hints of pepper, spices, a discreet hint of citrus zest, violet, and an imperceptible hint of black tea. On the palate, it is beautifully delicate, full of precision and subtlety, offering finesse, tension, and a refined richness, along with a certain discretion and restraint in its power, a lovely, racy minerality, and an airy quality in its balance. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of crisp, juicy raspberry; pulpy, juicy blackberry; and, more subtly, fresh, vibrant blackcurrant, combined with hints of black plum, violet, and bergamot, as well as subtle hints of star anise and an imperceptible touch of saltiness. The bitter notes are beautifully balanced, with smoothness, savory depth, and a lovely powdery texture (which enhances the appeal) on the finish and in the aftertaste. The tannins are precise, refined, structuring, and polished. A beautifully aromatic and lively finish. A wine full of finesse and subtlety.

Everything that makes Château Angélus so exceptional is found here in abundance! The wine has an almost opaque color. In the glass, the aroma bursts forth with notes of black, dark red, and blue fruits, smoke, licorice, flowers, espresso, chocolate, and a spectrum of spices. The wine is full-bodied, intense, silky, vibrant, and concentrated, with multiple layers of perfectly ripe fruit that is sweet and as textured as cashmere. The wine unfolds, expands, and intensifies on the palate. The fruit offers purity and depth in the flawless finish, which lingers for nearly 60 seconds. Give it a little time in the cellar, and it will likely reach triple digits. It’s that good! Best enjoyed between 2026 and 2060.