Winemaker Notes
Nestled less than a kilometer away from the iconic Saint-Emilion bell tower, Château Angélus occupies the highly acclaimed 'foot of the hill,' basking in the sun-drenched south-facing slopes. Here, a significant portion of the vineyards is devoted to Cabernet Franc, which imparts its unique character to the estate's signature wines year after year.
Since 1782, Château Angélus has remained under the ownership and stewardship of the de Boüard family. In 2012, a significant milestone marked the transition of power as the 8th generation, represented by Stéphanie de Boüard-Rivoal, took over the management of the estate. Infused with passion, dynamism, and unwavering determination, Stéphanie is resolute in her commitment to uphold and enhance Angélus's esteemed reputation, perpetually driven by the same exacting standards in crafting wines of unparalleled excellence.
Blend: 50% Cabernet Franc, 50% Merlot
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
The pureness of fruit is exceptional, with a long and linear palate of wonderfully curated raspberry, cherry and blueberry aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied. You almost don’t see the tannins, but you know they are there. So silky and endless. It has the core of fruit of the best of the vintage. 50% merlot and 50% cabernet franc.
Barrel Sample: 99-100 -
Jeb Dunnuck
Cassis, graphite, violets, iris, and a wonderful sense of minerality all define the 2025 Château Angélus, another ultra-classic Saint-Emilion from this address. It's a 50/50 blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot, with the Merlot raised in 60% new oak and 40% once-used oak and the Cabernet Franc split between 50% new oak and 50% foudre. Checking in at 14% alcohol with a pH of 3.6, it's medium to full-bodied on the palate, with incredible purity, classy background oak, integrated acidity, and a great finish.
Barrel Sample: 96-98 -
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of equal parts Cabernet Franc and Merlot, the 2025 Angélus is already beautifully harmonious, even at this early stage. Unfurling in the glass with notes of sweet dark berries and plums mingled with notions of violets, licorice and spices, it's medium- to full-bodied, layered and multidimensional, with ripe tannins, lively acids and a long, perfumed finish. Much like its 2022 predecessor, the 2025 underlines that this estate's shift toward greater purity and subtler élevage choices can be sustained even in historically warm years.
Barrel Sample: 96-98 -
Decanter
A great wine from Angélus this year. Blackcurrant and blue fruit aromas with some dried flowers and soft herbal aspects. Round and generous, wide and filling with amazing definition and creamy texture that few wines have this year. Energy and depth, purity and focus – this is juicy at its core with strawberry and red cherry, mouthwatering. Not an immediate showstopper but this grows in flavour and depth with intensity but no heaviness. Beautiful delineation with a sharp, precise, forward persistence. The energy and balance is flawless. Really an elegant, elongated wine with such nuance of flavour. I love this and think they've done a super job – juicy, this brings a smile to your face. The last vintage with this high a proportion of Cabernet Franc (reflecting plantings and similar berry size was 2014 and 1995). 3.6pH. A yield of 30hl/ha. 50% Cabernet Franc ageing in foudres, 50% in new barrels; Merlot 70% new oak and 30% in one-year-old barrels.
Barrel Sample: 97 -
Vinous
The 2025 Angélus (50% Cabernet Franc, 50% Merlot) is a superb contemporary Grand Vin. Aromatic, vibrant and wonderfully fresh, the 2025 dazzles from start to finish. Blood orange, mint, white pepper, rose petal and chalk weave through layers of vibrant red-toned fruit. Here, too, the Grand Vin impresses with its noble purity and understated grace. Élevage is 50% foudre/50% new oak for the Cabernet Franc, and 60% new oak/40% once-filled barrels for the Merlot. I can't wait to see how this ages. –Antonio Galloni
Barrel Sample: 95-97+
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Marked by its historic fortified village—perhaps the prettiest in all of Bordeaux, the St-Émilion appellation, along with its neighboring village of Pomerol, are leaders in quality on the Right Bank of Bordeaux. These Merlot-dominant red wines (complemented by various amounts of Cabernet Franc and/or Cabernet Sauvignon) remain some of the most admired and collected wines of the world.
St-Émilion has the longest history in wine production in Bordeaux—longer than the Left Bank—dating back to an 8th century monk named Saint Émilion who became a hermit in one of the many limestone caves scattered throughout the area.
Today St-Émilion is made up of hundreds of independent farmers dedicated to the same thing: growing Merlot and Cabernet Franc (and tiny amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon). While always roughly the same blend, the wines of St-Émilion vary considerably depending on the soil upon which they are grown—and the soils do vary considerably throughout the region.
The chateaux with the highest classification (Premier Grand Cru Classés) are on gravel-rich soils or steep, clay-limestone hillsides. There are only four given the highest rank, called Premier Grand Cru Classés A (Chateau Cheval Blanc, Ausone, Angélus, Pavie) and 14 are Premier Grand Cru Classés B. Much of the rest of the vineyards in the appellation are on flatter land where the soils are a mix of gravel, sand and alluvial matter.
Great wines from St-Émilion will be deep in color, and might have characteristics of blackberry liqueur, black raspberry, licorice, chocolate, grilled meat, earth or truffles. They will be bold, layered and lush.