Angelus Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Premier Grand Cru Classé 2011 / 14.5% / 0.75 L

Château Angélus is one of those Bordeaux estates where history, family, and place intertwine like the layers of wine in a glass.The estate is located at the "foot of the hill" of Saint-Émilion, in a natural amphitheater that has carried the sound of the bells from three nearby churches since the Middle Ages.It is precisely the echo of the Angelus prayer (l’Angélus) that explains both the name and the distinctive bell motif on the label.Since 1782, successive generations of the de Boüard de Laforest family have tended the vineyard and upheld the estate’s tradition; in 1954, the estate was included in the Saint-Émilion classification, and in 2012 it was promoted to the rank of Premier Grand Cru Classé A (in the 2006 vintage, it was still listed as Premier Grand Cru Classé “B”).Today, Stéphanie de Boüard-Rivoal, the eighth generation of the family, is at the helm, and the vineyard itself—located just a few hundred meters from the town’s famous bell tower—is considered a model for the southern, sun-drenched slopes of Saint-Émilion and for a style that deliberately favors Cabernet Franc in the blend.

The location itself is also a distinct terroir: clay-limestone soils on a limestone bedrock, rows of vines spread out across an amphitheater-like basin, and the vineyard now covers several dozen hectares (approx..39 ha).From this blend, Angelus has for years been crafting a powerful wine with a silky texture and a “bell-like” resonance of black fruit, anise, roots, and truffle notes that age beautifully.In the cellars, the wine is aged in 100% new French oak barrels; the typical aging period is about.18–24 months, depending on the vintage.

The 2011 vintage in Saint-Émilion was a challenging year, but at Angélus it produced a wine with class and vibrancy.The final blend consists of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, and the aging process lasted about.20–22 months in 100% new French barriques; a portion of the Cabernet Franc was aged in 30-hl foudres to highlight the purity of the fruit.

In terms of ratings, the 2011 Angélus received very high scores: 95/100 from James Suckling, 94/100 in *The Wine Advocate*, 92/100 in *Wine Spectator*, and 95/100 in *Decanter*.This wine presents a cohesive profile with excellent balance and potential.

Appearance: deep ruby red with subtle navy blue highlights and a slight brick-red hue at the rim; clear; dense “tears” on the glass wall.

Aroma: ripe black cherry and blackberry, fresh violet petals, licorice, and anise; after a moment, notes of espresso, dark chocolate, delicate cedar, and tobacco leaf emerge; a mineral background with a hint of graphite.

Taste: medium-plus to full-bodied, with very fine, silky tannins and juicy, lively acidity; the midpalate is underscored by notes of black fruit and cocoa, and the finish is long, with hints of coffee, spices, and cool minerality.

Food Pairings: lamb saddle with rosemary, beef tenderloin with pepper sauce, roasted duck breast with cherry sauce, truffle risotto, aged cheeses with a nutty flavor profile (Comté, Ossau-Iraty)