France · Bordeaux

Chateau Angelus

Château Angélus is a Saint-Émilion estate with origins documented to the 17th century, promoted to Premier Grand Cru Classé A status in the 2012 classification revision — Saint-Émilion's highest tier, shared with Cheval Blanc and Ausone — following decades of quality improvement under Hubert and later Stéphanie de Boüard de Laforest. The estate spans 39 hectares on Saint-Émilion's clay and limestone slopes and plateau, planted to Merlot (47%), Cabernet Franc (45%), and a small Cabernet Sauvignon component — an unusually high Franc proportion that contributes structural elegance. The name Angélus derives from three church towers visible from the estate whose bells traditionally rang the angelus prayer. Stéphanie de Boüard took full management control in 2012, maintaining the opulent modern style that attracted Parker 100-point scores in 1989, 2000, 2005, and 2010. Auction data shows 1,735 lots of the grand vin at $433 average with the 2000 vintage most actively traded and prices reaching $6,161. Tempo d'Angélus, a library-release series of older vintages presented in special packaging, averages $590 across 89 lots with 1997 as the top vintage — the premium over the grand vin reflects the special presentation and rarity of specific older releases. Carillon d'Angélus, the second wine, averages $81 across 20 lots. The estate was demoted in the controversial 2022 Saint-Émilion reclassification, which it has formally challenged in French courts.