Château Angélus is one of the most famous names on Bordeaux's Right Bank, a Saint-Émilion estate whose plush, aromatic reds have a devoted following. The wines pair the richness of Merlot with an unusually high share of Cabernet Franc, giving opulence and perfume alongside real structure. This is fine Bordeaux with a distinct signature, right down to the golden bell on the label.
History and terroir at the foot of Saint-Émilion
The de Boüard de Laforest family has farmed here since 1782, and the modern estate took shape when Maurice de Boüard inherited Château Mazerat in the early 20th century. The name comes from a plot where you could once hear the angelus prayer ring out from three surrounding churches, and a bell still sounds across the vineyard today. Angélus sits in a natural amphitheatre on south-facing lower slopes, where clay and limestone hold water and keep the fruit fresh through warm summers. Hubert de Boüard drove its rise to Premier Grand Cru Classé A in 2012, before the estate chose to leave the Saint-Émilion classification in 2022. The wine remains firmly part of the region's Bordeaux elite.
The style: plush Merlot with Cabernet Franc lift
Roughly 60% Merlot gives the wine its dark cherry and plum flesh, its cocoa and its velvet texture, while close to 40% Cabernet Franc, one of the highest shares in Saint-Émilion, adds floral lift, spice and a firm backbone. Expect graphite, violets and a savoury, mineral edge in the best years, with the structure to age gracefully for two decades or more. The second wine, Le Carillon d'Angélus, offers the same house style in a rounder, earlier-drinking form and takes its name from the estate's bells. Both sit among the more serious bottles in our red wine range.
Château Angélus FAQ
Why did Angélus leave the Saint-Émilion classification?
The estate withdrew from the 2022 ranking and gave up its Premier Grand Cru Classé A status. It said the classification had become a source of antagonism and instability, following Cheval Blanc and Ausone, who left a year earlier.
Should I drink Angélus now or cellar it?
Young vintages are already generous thanks to the Merlot, but a strong year rewards patience and will improve for fifteen to twenty years. Decant younger bottles for an hour to let them open.
What food pairs with Angélus?
Reach for roast lamb, beef tenderloin, duck or braised short ribs. Its ripe fruit and firm tannins also suit game birds, mushroom dishes and aged hard cheeses.