2018 No. 3 d'Angelus France Red

2018 No. 3 d'Angelus

93 JS

Featured Review

A rich nose of dark plum, blackberry, smoke, spice and vanilla. Full-bodied with chewy texture and savory, smoky, ink-like flavors. It’s precise and balanced with impressive firmness and clean tannins. Try after 2024. James Suckling

James Suckling | 93 JS

The third wine of Angélus is rock-solid and I'd be happy to drink a bottle. Deeply hued, with a ripe nose of black cherries, blackberries, loamy earth, graphite, and bouquet garni, the 2018 N3 D'Angélus is medium-bodied and has good concentration, ripe yet certainly present tannins, and a great finish. It's approachable today, but this beauty is going to age as well, with 10-12 years of prime drink well within its capabilities.

Jeb Dunnuck | 91 JD

Type of Wine	France Red
Varietal	Bordeaux Blend
Country	France : Wine is the lifeblood that courses through the country of France, pulsing with vigorous pride and determination. Viticulture is not just a hobby or an occupation in France; it is a passion, a cherished tradition that has been passed down through generations of wine stained hands. Winemaking is a beloved art that has been ingrained in the culture, an aptitude instilled in sons by fathers and the hallmark for which France’s reputation was built, allowing it to be renowned as, arguably, the most important wine producing country in the world. For centuries, France has been producing wines of superior quality and in much greater quantity than any other country in the world. It boasts some of the most impressive wine regions, coveted vineyards and prestigious wines on earth. The regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Sauternes and Champagne have become the benchmark, for which others aspire to become. Legendary producers such as Chateaux Margaux, Domaine De La Romanee Conti, Chapoutier, d’Yquem and Dom Perignon are idolized world-wide. France has stamped its name on nearly every style of wine, from the nectar-like sweet Sauternes to hedonistic Chateauneuf Du Papes classic Bordeaux and Burgundy, to its sparkling dominance in Champagne. Many of the most infamous grape varietals in the world, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay originated in France and are not only beloved, but utilized in the creation of some of the greatest wines on earth. French wine production commands the attention of the wine market year after year. With over 860,000 hectares under vine, and numbers close to 50 million hectoliters of wine produced annually, France dominates the market and sets the standard for not only product quality, but also quantity. France’s many contributions to the world of wine have been absolutely indispensable. The country is the originator of the term “Premier Cru,” coined the term Terroir (a French term so complex there is no literal translation) and has laid the blueprint for a structured appellation system, which others have implemented in their own countries. French vineyard techniques and winemaking practices are mimicked world-wide. California vintners have been replicating Rhone style wines for decades, South America has adopted the French varietal of Malbec and countries around the world are imitating Burgundian styled Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. With vast diversity in terroir, France is home to some of the most hospitable winegrowing locations on earth. The combination of topography, geology, climate, rainfall and even the amount of sunlight combined with the long historical tradition of winegrowing and making, has allowed the vintners of France to not only hone their skills, but learn from nature to create a product that like the world in which it resides… is very much alive.
Subregion	Saint Emilion

Producer	Chateau Angelus : The de Bouard family arrived in Saint-Emilion in 1910 which marks the true birth of Chateau Angelus as we know it today. The family slowly acquired prime real estate from neighboring properties until it was a sizeable, coveted vineyard. In a land where time and tradition is so beloved, Chateau Angelus takes its name from an everyday occurrence. The ringing of three local church bells could be heard from the vineyards, inspiring the now famous name of the chateau. The sculpture of the bell sits proudly atop the manor house and its image imprinted on the label as a badge, proudly signifying its importance, not only to Chateau Angelus, but to Saint Emilion and its community. The property is still owned by the de Bouard family and since 1989 has been considered one of the top estates in the Right Bank of Bordeaux. Prior to that time period the property was not making wines as good as their terroir allowed. This changed after Hubert de Bouard took control of the family estate in 1988. After graduating from Bordeaux University, where he studied under the famed French Oenology professor, Emile Peynaud, he joined the family business and began rapidly making changes; vital improvements that would increase the quality of wine and change the history of the estate forever. His first order of business was to change the estate’s name from “L’Angelus” to “Angelus” which he insisted would allow the wine to show up first in alphabetical order. A very wise and strategic move. Hubert de Bouard began employing techniques that were popular in Burgundy but not widely used in Bordeaux, such as fermenting whole berries, aging on the lees, harvesting, and vinifying on a parcel by parcel basis. He was one of the first Bordeaux vignerons to embrace fermenting in open-top vats and conducting malolactic fermentation in small barrels. Many other practices were introduced that took Angelus in the direction of green harvesting (now 100% organic certified); increasing leaf canopies, changing rootstocks to lower-yielding, and improved drainage systems, which at the time were revolutionary. Hubert de Bouard looked to the natural landscape of his 39-hectare vineyard when evaluating how best to harmonize the grape varietals with its terroir. Merlot was planted in soils with more clay and limestone, while Cabernet Franc was planted in gravel, limestone and sand terroir, improving the potential for growth and vitality. Acknowledging that varietal placement was a vital component to the vineyards success was incredible foresight by Hubert. The vineyard is planted to 50% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. De Bouard insisted that introducing Cabernet Franc to the vineyard would increase the quality of the wine. It was planted near the best terroir found on the slopes near neighboring Chateau Beau-Sejour Becot and Beausejour Duffau, where the subsoil was dense clay…perfect for Cabernet Franc. “A great wine is a terroir with the person to reveal it, to make the very best of it and pass it on,” insisted Hubert de Bouard. He has constantly challenged practices and techniques for the benefit of his land and the unique characteristics of the wines grown on it enabling Angelus to be recognized as one of the foremost properties of the Saint Emilion appellation. His bold, brilliant and ambitious efforts were awarded as Chateau Angelus now stands atop the Right Bank as a Premier Grand Cru Class “A” alongside Chateau Ausone and Cheval Blanc. Production for the estate is quite limited as yields are kept low. The flagship wine, Chateau Angelus has an annual production of 8,500 cases. Their portfolio includes a second wine, Carillon d’Angelus, a third wine, cleverly named “No 3” d’Angelus and the most recently added wine, Tempo d’Angelus. These wines have extremely low production ranging from several hundred to 1000 cases per label.

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2018 No. 3 d'Angelus

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