Angelus - one of the icons of Saint Emilion. Who among wine lovers wouldn't know this "Kingdom of the Bells" ... We visited it at the end of April 2018.
We were greeted by the friendly Anna Tkachenko-Marie, but instead of moving in, Annie leads us in the opposite direction - out almost to the road. I guess she was trying to show us off the many bells of varying sizes up above the entrance. She presses a button on the mysterious box that she has been holding in her hand since the beginning. The bells go off and... is that the national anthem...? I turn to Annie with a questioning look. She smiles, winks and nods. What a nice welcome! :-)
After paying tribute to the guests and their country, Annie tells us about the history of this Chateau. And why it has a bell in its logo:
Centuries ago, it used to be customary for people to pause in their work for a while in the morning, noon and evening to give praise to God through prayer (how inspiring in today's hectic times). This short devotion was called the Angelus. The time to stop was determined by the tolling of the bells of the three churches that stood in Saint-Emilion. And since this winery is located in that particular place where the beating of all three church bells can be heard best, the bell became their symbol.
Inside, in the large hall, we are introduced to the owners, the Boüard de Laforest family, in photos. They have owned Château Angelus for several generations and it is currently run by Stéphanie de Boüard-Rivoal.
Next to it on the wall is a map showing the vineyard routes of Chateau Angelus and the surrounding area.
Stopping briefly at the model of the entire winery, we learn that the owner's family lives here and has reserved the entire east wing, including a piece of the garden, for privacy.
Then comes a tour of the technology and the cellar. I will not bore you with detailed technical data.
Finally, we cross the "courtyard" to the room on the floor, which is intended for tastings. We start with a tasting of Château Bellevue (Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classé), also owned by the Boüard de Laforest family. It's a very classy wine and the experience intensifies after Annie pours us the 2011 Château Angelus (Premier Grand Cru Classé "A"). It is - how else but excellent. We sip, we ask questions, we have fun, we are in no hurry. It's a nice time...
What to say in conclusion? It was a successful visit. It was in a relaxed spirit and everything was underlined by excellent wine. More experiences like this! :-)