2015 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, 40% cabernet franc and 10% cabernet sauvignon on 15ha in different parcels on clay, limestone and sandy soils. Aged 16 months in 50% new oak.
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 red and black fruits, chocolate, tobacco and crushed flowers, supple mouthfeel with fleshy texture and excellent precision, multilayered flavours of ripe blackberry, cherry, clove, cinnamon and hints of minty notes, silky tannins and juicy acidity leading onto a long, appealing finish. This is a delightful, accessible wine with impressive freshness and delicate balance. I particularly love the fruit intensity and restrained power on the palate, and there is an overall sense of harmony exuding from this wine that makes it very enjoyable at this early stage of its drinking window. Though not having the magnificence of Angélus, this Carillon d’Angélus has a distinctive personality that can easily stand up to many St-Émilion grands crus. (12/2021)