2012 Saint-Émilion, Le Carillon d'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 50% merlot, 47% cabernet franc and 3% cabernet sauvignon.
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
Aromatic nose of ripe red berry fruits, plum, baking spices, crushed stones and floral scents, supple mouthfeel with fine texture, round structure and good depth, oodles of flavours of blueberry, black cherry, coffee, liquorice and faint hints of dark chocolate and caramel liberally laced with mineral undertones, well-knit acidity and polished tannins leading onto a long, persistent finish. Though not having the magnificence of the grand vin, this is a delightful wine with excellent balance, understated elegance and seamless freshness, drinking beautifully now. It’s juicy, fruit-driven and deliciously opulent yet nothing is off-kilter, and there is an innate finesse that puts it on a par with many prestigious St-Emilion grands crus classés. First bottled in 1987, Carillon d’Angélus now represents 20% of the estate production. (07/2022)