Ringing Success

Bordeaux might be one of the most traditional winemaking regions, but the estates are constantly innovating, including St Emilion superstar Chateau Angelus.

- Weets Goh

Within the commune of St Emillion, Bordeaux, three different churches each ring their bells thrice – once at 7 am, then at noon, and, finally, 7 pm – every day. They’ve done so for the past 600 years under orders from Pope Callixtus III to remind the town to pause and give prayers as protection against an invading Turkish army. The best place to hear these three bells happens to be within the vineyard of Chateau Angelus, an estate named for said bells.

It’s on this piece of land that the Bouard family has been making wine for over 200 years – earning the Grand Cru classification in 1954, and joining the esteemed ranks of Premier Grand Cru Classe A wineries – of which there are just four – in 2012. Stephanie de BouardRivoal, the eighth generation of the Bouard family, currently manages the winery. Since joining the family business, she’s brought her own touches to the winery, including redesigning the bottles and buying a restaurant for the estate.

One of the most interesting projects that the estate has embarked on in recent years though, is the usage of dedicated vines for its second wine, Le Carillon de Angelus. While most wineries will use covers not selected for their final grand vin blend, Chateau Angelus is producing dedicated grapes for their second wine in order to create a label with its own character – a wine that’s softer, more fruit-forward, and readily drinkable at a younger age.