2012
Le Premier
AN OUTSTANDING WINE
AND AN HISTORICAL VINTAGE
2012 was an important year for Angélus: it won the status of Premier Grand Cru Classé “A”, and a member of the eighth generation of our family joined the estate’s Directorate, while 2012 was also the 230th anniversary of the Boüard de Laforest’s arrival in Saint-Emilion. The year also saw extension and improvement work done on the estate on a hitherto unequalled scale.
Stéphanie de Boüard-Rivoal decided therefore to highlight this vintage with new packaging - a unique bottle to celebrate an historic vintage.
With its black capsule bearing the Boüard de Laforest family crest, the 2012 bottle also replaced the traditional paper label with a raised gold inscription, which decorates the glass, providing its own sparkle, while emphasizing the Angélus bell.
The entire 2012 harvest is conditioned in these beautiful bottles, some of which are large formats ranging from magnums to melchiors (18 litres).
In its ambition to always match its enthusiasts’ trust by being increasingly demanding on quality, Angélus sought to thank them with this unique bottle.
Raised gold
A sophisticated manufacturing process
A first application of enamel is fired at a temperature of 600°C (over 1,100°F), so that it is vitrified and fully integrated into the glass of the bottle. This is covered with gold, which is then fired at 500°C (930°F) so that it adheres completely to the enamel base. The decoration is then burnished to bring out the elegance and sparkle of the 21.7-carat gold.
The Legendary Years
2018LE PHÉNIX
2014"L'indien"
2012"Le Premier"
2005"L'impétueux"
2000"L'équilibre"
1996
1992
1985
1953
1899
This vintage was also one of the great years for Bordeaux. At Angélus, it was acclaimed with outstanding scores from the greatest critics and unanimously hailed by all wine trade professionals. This unparalleled vintage features harmony, a balance between vigour and freshness, and aromatic precision.
2000 is a fabulous vintage in its own right, but it also conjures up the dreams of the new Millenium. It is a wine that demands superlatives with dazzling fruit that fills the mouth. It is amazingly concentrated and has a magnificent tannic structure.
In the year Château Angélus became a Saint-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classé “B”, the wines had lots of colour and displayed aromas of blackcurrant liqueur and leather. They were dense and big on the palate with finely crafted structure. This vintage showcases all the complexity of a classic great year.
Great terroirs express their distinction and even their superiority in difficult years. In 1992, despite periods of harsh weather, Angélus lavished intense care on its vines and was able to make a great wine, which is one of Bordeaux’s landmarks. It is a delight to taste with its inky robe and its nose of black fruits, liquorice, tobacco and hints of undergrowth. On the palate, it is velvet-smooth and fills the mouth and has balanced, tight tannins.
This year, Hubert de Boüard de Laforest took over the property. This was the first time that decisions concerning the vines and the work done in the cellars were taken by him alone. 1985 is therefore the year in which his initial ideas on adapting vineyard husbandry and winemaking techniques to the actual requirements of the vintage, were first put into practice. This first time, he admits that he was helped by nature, who gifted him some beautiful Merlot grapes. The 1985 vintage is very velvety and appealing. It has a roasted flavour with delicious hints of tobacco.
This very great vintage was harvested from 29th September to 17th October as related in the harvest notes kept by Jacques and Christian de Boüard de Laforest. A few bottles of these wines are opened on very special occasions at the chateau. Delightfully, these wines still have expressive bouquets, mixing tobacco with marmalade and fig jam aromas, and discernible structure supported by an enjoyable freshness.
This is the oldest bottle in the Angélus cellar. Here it lies like a warden of the past and a benevolent minder of its "descendants".
