Château ANGÉLUS 2020
In Saint-Émilion, Château Angélus occupies a natural amphitheater facing south, where hillsides and the foot of the slope combine clay-limestone soils and areas richer in clay. The de Boüard de Laforest family has been connected to the property since the late 18th century and has gradually shaped a vineyard where Cabernet Franc holds a particularly important place. This uniqueness helps distinguish Angélus in the landscape of the right bank, the grape variety bringing freshness, tension, and aromatic finesse alongside Merlot. The estate's name recalls the bells of the surrounding churches once heard simultaneously from the vineyards at the time of the Angelus. In 2020, Château Angélus was still among the Premier Grand Cru Classé "A" of Saint-Émilion. The estate had then engaged for several vintages in a work favoring more measured extractions and a more precise reading of its different terroirs. In this hot and early year, the remarkable balance of the Cabernet Francs proved decisive to preserve energy and depth.
Château Angélus 2020 blends 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc. Harvesting began on September 15 with the Merlots, whose particularly rapid harvest was concentrated over only eight days, before the start of picking the Cabernet Francs on September 28. The estate itself emphasizes the exceptional quality achieved that year by this latter grape variety, which constitutes one of the keys to the vintage. The grapes were vinified seeking a progressive extraction to preserve the finesse of the tannins despite naturally concentrated material. The aging lasted nearly twenty-two months, with work under wood intended to accompany the wine's structure without sacrificing its freshness. The generous ripeness of the Merlot brings density and depth, while the Cabernet Franc gives the blend its floral relief, precision, and length. The 2020 thus appears as a powerful but remarkably controlled vintage, where richness remains contained by a fresh and structuring framework.
The color shows deep and dense, with a dark core with purple nuances. The bouquet develops blackberry, black cherry, and blackcurrant, accompanied by violet, graphite, and fine spices. With aeration, notes of licorice, cocoa, cedar, and a menthol touch appear, bringing freshness to the fruity register. The palate has a broad and velvety attack, supported by a tight but remarkably polished tannic structure. The richness of the Merlot unfolds without heaviness thanks to the Cabernet Franc, which stretches the wine on floral, peppery, and mineral notes. The finish is long and persistent, dominated by black fruits, violet, graphite, and a fresh sensation that suggests a slow evolution in the cellar. This great Saint-Émilion can accompany a beef fillet, roasted pigeon, rack of lamb, royal hare, or cuisine around black truffle.
Grape varieties: 60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc
