Château ANGÉLUS 2022
On the southern slope of Saint-Émilion, Château Angélus benefits from a natural amphitheater where variations in altitude, exposure, and soils allow merlot and cabernet franc to find complementary expressions. The de Boüard de Laforest family has been linked to the estate since the late 18th century and has gradually built an identity in which cabernet franc holds an unusual place for the right bank. This grape variety represents nearly half of the planting and notably occupies the clay-limestone sectors at the foot of the slope, while merlot favors more clayey areas. This vineyard organization takes on a particular dimension in dry years, when the ability of different soils to regulate water supply becomes decisive. The 2022 vintage offers a particularly accomplished demonstration of this, with cabernet francs that have retained freshness and tension despite marked drought. Château Angélus has chosen to name this harvest “Le Majestueux,” highlighting the special place it holds in the recent history of the estate. The whole combines natural power, fruit precision, and remarkable verticality.
Château Angélus 2022 blends 60% merlot and 40% cabernet franc. The harvest took place from September 6 to 28, beginning with merlots with thick skins and perfectly ripe seeds. The cabernet francs were then picked progressively, their resistance to hot and dry conditions allowing them to preserve remarkable energy in the grapes. The vinification favored measured extractions to preserve aromatic purity and the finesse of a naturally dense material. The wood quickly integrates into the structure rather than dominating the fruit, allowing the depth of black berries and the floral freshness of cabernet franc to express themselves. Despite the concentration of the vintage, the balance rests on precise acidity, tight yet silky tannins, and a particularly marked saline dimension. This 2022 thus appears as an interpretation both opulent and very controlled of the Angélus terroir.
The color presents an extremely deep violet hue, with a dark core and a disc tending towards purple. The nose combines fresh blackberry, blackcurrant, and black cherry with an intense floral expression dominated by violet. Aeration gradually brings notes of graphite, spices, licorice, and a discreet menthol nuance. The palate is ample and juicy from the attack but maintains remarkable precision thanks to the verticality of the cabernet franc. The tannins, both tight and silky, support a dense material without ever giving an impression of heaviness. The finish lingers long on black fruits, spices, stone, and a persistent salinity that enhances the freshness of the whole. Still very young, Château Angélus 2022 has the necessary structure to accompany for several decades a beef fillet, a rack of lamb, roasted pigeon, royal hare, or cuisine centered around black truffle.
Grape varieties: 60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc
