2007 Saint-Émilion, Château Angélus
About Producer
The origins of this estate date back to 1782 when Jean de Boüard de Laforest, whose family had been in Bordeaux since 1544, settled in St-Emilion. At the beginning of the 20th century, Maurice de Boüard de Laforest extended the vineyards by notably adding a 3ha enclosure named Angélus in 1920. The 20ha vineyard lies on south-facing slopes, with upper parts on clay-limestone soils planted mainly with merlot and lower parts on clay-sand-limestone with cabernet franc. The Angélus we know today owes much of its glory to Hubert, grandson of Maurice, who took over the reins of the property in 1985. It’s Hubert who single-handedly elevated the quality of Angélus with a remarkable succession of great wines since the late 1980s that has resulted in its promotion to Premier Grand Cru Classé A in 2012. Since 2012, the family property is managed by Stéphanie de Boüard-Rivoal, Hubert's daughter.
Varietals
Blend of 62% merlot and 38% cabernet franc.
About Appellation
Saint-Émilion and its vineyards that cover 5,331ha of vines were listed in 1999 as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Archeological evidence suggests that vines were planted here in Roman times. From a geological angle, the appellation can be divided in three sections. Close to the town, the limestone plateau sits on chalky and clayey siliceous soils. The northwest corner, that continues westwards into Pomerol, has a sandy layer on top of clay-like soils. Totalling 1,171ha, these two first sections are home to the finest estates of the appellation. The third section is the area south of the limestone plateau towards the Dordogne river that lies on sandy soils with alluvial gravel deposits. Across the appellation, merlot reigns supreme with cabernet franc playing a supporting role.
Tasting Notes
Expressive nose of red and black fruits, graphite, cedar and floral scents, unctuous mouthfeel with silky structure, fine tension and great precision, multilayered flavours of dark cherry, strawberry, hints of blood orange, roasted coffee and liquorice liberally laced with mineral notes, well judged acidity and resolved tannins leading onto a long, lingering finish. 2007 was a challenging year in Bordeaux with a tricky growing season given the cool and wet weather in early summer. Luckily, fine weather in September provided satisfactory ripening conditions. Largely written off upon release, not least because of their excessive en primeur prices, the best 2007s are now drinking well, soft and supple with classic character, and displaying fruit over power. Bearing witness to the excellence of its terroir and the remarkable craftmanship of its winemaking team, Angélus did pull off a very enjoyable wine with excellent balance, good density and amazing fruit purity, exuding crisp energy and beguiling charm. Indeed an utterly pleasant surprise for a much discounted vintage. (02/2022)