CHÂTEAU ANGÉLUS
2023 1er Grand Cru Classé Saint Emilion
60 Merlot, 40 Cabernet Franc: 100% new oak with half of the Cabernet Franc goes into 30hl foudres for some of the Cabernet Franc: 14% alc: 3.6 pH: Harvest took place between 14 September with the first Merlot and 2 October with the last Cabernet Franc I have noted the expression ‘Barolo-like’ a couple of times in this vintage because some of the wines combine the fruit intensity and power of the greatest Piemontese wines, coupled with their trademark unshakable acid line, all delivered in a medium- to medium-plus-weight chassis. Strangely, a good few possess stunning wild cherry details, too. While none taste like Barolo, some wines have the same silhouette and similar levels of exquisite and faintly masochistic drama. Angélus does not have to work hard to engender drama in its wines; this 2023 is no exception. There is a glorious wave of flavour here, luxurious, near-decadent and detailed, but it is the way it nods to the past with its sense of place and then fully embraces modernity and purity with its pristine fruit that makes it a compelling proposition. All the action takes place on a pristine bed of bitingly clean acidity and ultra-fine-grained tannin. ’23 Angélus then piles glisteningly pure Merlot onto this platform and glazes it with stunningly aromatic Cabernet Franc. Benjamin Laforêt, estate research and development technical coordinator and the site manager of the Carillon winery, explained that he loved 2022 and 2023 Angélus equally and yet he would drink them on quite different occasions. 2022 would be for special dinners to be served with reverence and pomp, while the 2023 could be enjoyed with pals around the kitchen table. Leaving aside the fact that he must have a reasonably generous staff discount, I completely understood Benjamin’s thought process. The 2022 is admittedly a masterpiece and deserves respect and reverence, while this 2023 is more relaxed, open and gregarious. And while they are both equally delicious, this 2023 has a character and charm about it that makes the most of the Angélus terroir and its fabulous Cabernet Franc fruit. Chapeau. Rating: 19+ Matthew Jukes www.matthewjukes.com (May 2024)
75cl bottles (wood case of 6)
* This is a pre-shipment/primeur offer. All orders are accepted under the TERMS of this offer which differ from the terms of the rest of the site.
Cocoa bean, liquorice, pomegranate, smoked earth, sage, anis, fennel, slate tannins, this combines nuanced and sinewy tannins with a generous supple expansion through the palate, building in power and impact. Beautifully fragrant, measured and skilful. 50% in foudres for Cabernet Franc, 50% new oak for the Merlot. Harvest September 14 through to October 1, Benjamin Laforest winemaker, Stephane de Boüard-Rivoal owner. Drinking range: 2030 - 2050 Rating: 96 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2024)
The 2023 Angélus is elegant and polished right out of the gate. Floral top notes and bright acids bring out the more refined side of Angélus. The 2023 shows how much Angélus has evolved in recent years. Bright red-toned fruit, blood orange, mint and rose petal lend notable verve. The blend is 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc. About half of the Franc is being raised in foudre. All the elements are so well integrated for a young wine. It is one of the best recent vintages I have tasted. Drinking range: 2030 - 2053 Rating: 94-96 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (May 2024)
This is 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, pretty much reflecting what is in the vineyard. This feels focused and perfumed, with remarkably floral fruits, violets and peonies, beneath which there are layers of griottes, white peach, blood orange and blackcurrants. The palate opens with a density and focused sinewy tension, building a controlled texture from the outset, with a supple and tightly controlled midpalate, underpinned by delicious tannins, tight knit and finely drawn. The fruit has the tense definition of the vintage, holding on to that floral perfume seen on the nose, adding a layer of interest to the fruit, before a finish which is clamped down with tightly drawn tannins. An impressive Angélus, very long and structured, in the style of the vintage. This will age well and should develop brilliant complexity from those Cabernets. Rating: 95-97 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2024)
A classic blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, the 2023 Angélus reflects this estate's continuing evolution with regard to ripeness, extraction and élevage choices, offering up attractive aromas of dark berries and plums mingled with hints of mint, potpourri, rose petals, vine smoke and orange zest. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and supple, with a velvety attack that segues into a core of pure, pillowy fruit framed by supple, powdery tannins, it's cool and harmonious, concluding with a long, perfumed finish. This is a terrific effort that foregrounds the vintage and the terroir at their best. Rating: 95-96 William Kelley, The Wine Advocate (Apr 2024)
The transparency of fruit and the finesse is really something here. There’s depth and beauty to the pristine, fresh fruit. Full-bodied and muscular with wonderful tannins that provide tension and form. Subtle and weightless, this is a thought-provoking young wine. 60% merlot and 40% cabernet franc. Rating: 97-98 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2024)
Château Angélus
The name Angélus supposedly derives from that of a particular vineyard where devout winemakers could hear the Angélus bell tolling from all the town’s churches.
The estate was brought by the present owner’s great-grandfather, Comte Maurice de Boüard, in 1921. He also owned another property Château Mazerat, and after World War II his sons united the two estates under its present name.
The next generation took over in the form of the dynamic Hubert de Boüard, a graduate oenologist from Bordeaux university, in 1985. Hubert felt that the Château was underperforming, and he has worked hard since to re-energise the property, aided by his cousin Jean-Bernard Grenié. Their commitment and investment was rewarded in 1996, when the Château was promoted to a Premier Grand Cru Classé.
Hubert's daughter, Stéphanie de Boüard-Rivoal, joined the team in 2012, and his nephew, Thierry Grenié de Boüard in 2016. Together they represent the eighth generation of the family to run Angélus.
Please make sure that you have read the terms of this offer which are different from those on the main website. If you are unclear as to what is involved in primeur purchases please do contact our private client team via email or on 020 7018 0187.
Ordering
Prices are all in bond by the case size stated.
Pre-Orders are a firm commitment to buy wines on release, as long as the release price is within the upper and lower price bands set by you on the pre-order form. Pre-orders will be fulfilled subject to availability but providing this firm commitment to buy effectively gives you priority and is a good idea for the most desirable wines.
Wines listed on the website can be ordered in the usual way via the website wishlist order form. You can also send orders directly to our private client team via email. Please note that, for the most sought-after wines, priority will be given to those who ordered the same wines last year and to those that have pre-ordered.
Confirmation
All orders will be confirmed by email and are binding unless written cancellation is received within seven days of email confirmation. Pre-orders are not binding if the release price is above your upper price band.
Invoices are all raised at the in bond price (excluding any duty and VAT) which will become payable at the prevailing rates when the wines arrive in the UK, should you wish to take duty paid delivery.
Payment is required on sight of invoice, by cash, cheque, debit card or bank transfer. We regret we cannot accept credit cards for en primeur orders. We reserve the right to apply a dunning charge of 2% per month on invoices unpaid after 30 days.
Delivery
- Shipment to our bond (at LCB Creek Road) and insurance are included in the in bond price.
- Delivery is free to Lea and Sandeman / Elephant storage accounts, both duty paid and in bond.
- Other deliveries (In Bond and Duty Paid) are also free subject to a minimum order from the offer of £500. Orders below this total will be charged an administration and handling fee of £16.50+ VAT when invoices are issued. We will group deliveries and this is a charge for your entire purchases, not a per-case charge.
- Delivery of 2023 Bordeaux bought en primeur is expected during 2026. Delivery dates may vary as wines are shipped from Bordeaux at different times.
Practical notes - how it works
We start a sale in each customer's name and add all their primeur orders to one sale which is invoiced at the end of the campaign (or when the customer wishes). Immediate payment of invoices is then required by cash, cheque, debit card or bank transfer. We and our customers find that having a single invoice for the vintage is the simpler option but please note that confirmed orders are still binding even if the final invoice has not yet been issued.
Please specify on your wishlist order form where you would like the wines shipped on arrival in the UK. If this is to a third-party bonded warehouse, please specify the relevant account details. If the wines are required duty-paid we will issue a second invoice for duty and VAT at the prevailing rate when the wines are available for delivery.
Half-bottles, Magnums and larger bottles.
One of the additional advantages of buying en primeur is being able to order the wine in the format you want. While most of our listings are for 75cl bottles, we can source wines in any format that is offered by the Château. Please note that format requests cannot be changed once wines have been invoiced. Additional charges for special formats do apply and are as follows:-
- +£18.00 per case of 12 half-bottles
- +£30.00 per case of 24 half-bottles
- +£7.50 per case of 3 Magnums (2 bottles equivalent, 1.5 litres each)
- +£11.00 per case of 6 Magnums
- +£45.00 per individually boxed Double Magnum (4 bottles equivalent, 3 litres)
- +£60.00 per individually boxed Imperial (8 bottles equivalent, 6 litres) for Salmanazars, Balthazars, Nebuchadnezzars and Melchiors please enquire for availability and price.
Storage Options:
Wines bought en primeur won't arrive in the UK until 2026. If you do not wish to take home delivery at that point, you may wish to consider where you would like the wines shipped. Lea & Sandeman offers duty paid and in bond storage through a dedicated storage company called Elephant Storage. For more details on the terms and fees associated with storage please go to our Storage Homepage or contact our private client team for more information.