Le Carillon d’Angelus 2023

Though Carillon d’Angélus is the second wine at Château Angélus, there is nothing second tier about it.  Carillon d’Angélus is an elegant, floral sort of wine with boundless energy and lift. Like the grand vin at the estate, the symbol associated with Carillon d’Angélus is three toiling bells. The vines used in the second wine of this Saint-Émilion Premiere Grand Cru Classé A estate are situated in a natural amphitheater, surrounded by three local churches. The property’s namesake is derived from the proximity to these spiritual houses of worship.  During the harvest, vineyard workers can hear the church bells toiling while they tend to the vines.  But there’s a deeper meaning to the symbol of the bell: it represents the spiritual devotion the eight generations of the de Boüard family have to the vines at this property. 

The de Boüard family has an even longer history than Château Angélus, as their legacy spans 700 years.  Throughout the generations, the de Boüard family business was always deeply entrenched in the wine trade.  So much, in fact, that one of the original names of Cabernet Franc was Bouchet, the maiden name of Hubert de Boüard’s Grandmother, Elizabeth Bouchet. Château Angélus was always a respectable property in Saint-Émilion, but once Hubert de Boüard took over after graduating from Bordeaux University and studying under the famed professor Émile Peynaud, quality skyrocketed.

Many estates have emulated Château Angélus’ viticultural techniques, and though these practices may seem commonplace today they were revolutionary at the time. Hubert de Boüard adjusted the fermentation process, choosing to ferment whole berry in open top vats and conduct malolactic fermentation in small barrels instead.  He made sure the estate would harvest parcel by parcel – like the vignerons of Burgundy did – and encouraged periods of ageing their wines on the lees.  This would mean the wines would have more exposure to the yeast cells, yielding a creamier mouthfeel. 

As the second wine of this estate, Carillon d’Angélus was first released in 1987 and throughout the decades has evolved like the grand vin at the property.  Only the highest standards are implemented during the creation of this wine and precision is paramount.  This beautiful blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon is selected from different terroirs in Saint-Émilion. 

Stephanie de Boüard-Rivoal took over managing Château Angélus in 2012, which was a big year for the property.  In 2012, Château Angélus was promoted to Saint-Émilion Premiere Grand Cru Classés A – the highest honor an estate can obtain in that part of the Right Bank. Since then, Stephanie has championed the transition of Château Angélus to organic viticulture.  She is the third woman in the long line of de Boüards to run Château Angélus and managed to move the property to 100% organic farming as of 2018.  As of 2021, Château Angélus received its organic certification.  Stephanie says the vineyards give her emotional and spiritual strength. She shares her ancestors’ devotion to crafting some of the most profound wines on the Right Bank. 

The 2023 Le Carillon d'Angélus, as usual a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, exhibits attractive aromas of cherries, raspberries and blackberries mingled with hints of exotic spices, vine smoke and violets. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and polished, it's layered and enveloping, with a charming, seamless profile and a long, mouthwatering finish. As readers will by now remember, this bottling is no longer a "second wine" per se but rather draws on some 25 hectares of dedicated vineyards, emphasizing Merlot from the cool terroirs of Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes, complemented by holdings in the gravelly Figeac sector and on clay soils near Angélus itself—with anything that doesn't make the cut relegated to the No. 3 d'Angélus.

Since taking the helm at Angélus, Stéphanie de Boüard-Rivoal and her team, inspired by the terroir transparency of the wines of the 1950s, have been boldly evolving toward less impactful winemaking. What does that mean in practice? Cooler macerations, élevage that now incorporates foudres for the grand vin and tanks for Tempo, No. 3 and Carillon, reducing the impact of new barriques without the loss in precision that often comes from repeatedly reused barrels—along with, I'm sure, a host of other smaller changes that cumulatively mean that Angélus today is a very different beast from the rich, toasty wine of the 1990s and early 2000s.

"Bright violet and plum colour, vibrating with life, an easy wine to recommend as it no doubt will be to drink, love the depth and the rich damson fruit expression that combines with black chocolate, liqourice and cocoa with a juicy finish." - Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux, (04/22/2024), Ratings: 93, Drink: 2027-2037

"The second wine from Angélus, the 2023 Le Carillon D'Angélus is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc raised in 60% new oak, with the balance in stainless steel. Beautiful black raspberries, cassis, graphite, and spicy, floral notes give way to a medium-bodied, nicely balanced, concentrated 2023 offering fine tannins and the juicy, vibrant, elegant style of the vintage." - Jeb Dunnuck, Bordeaux 2023 En Primeur, (5/8/2024), Ratings: 91-93

"The 2023 vintage has delivered wines with quite low pHs, with the team opting to harvest comparatively early to preserve freshness. Long cold macerations were followed by cool fermentations, with a maximum of 22 degrees Celsius, and the wines were barreled down clean and cool. Technical director Benjamin Laforet compares the vinifications in 2023 to a long-exposure photograph and compares the resulting wines with the estate's 2001s." - William Kelley, The Wine Advocate, (04/26/2024), Ratings: 91-93