Spotlight on.. Château Angélus, 2010
THE APPELLATION AND CLASSIFICATION
Saint-Emilion, 1er Grand Cru Classé A
THE COMPOSITION
Merlot 55%, Cabernet Franc 45%,
THE CRITICS’ VIEWS
99+/100, The Wine Advocate
97-98/100, James Suckling
17.5/20, Jancis Robinson
THE RELEASE PRICE
Château Angélus 2010 was released in June 2011 at €225 per bottle, with a UK price of £2390 per dozen.
THE CURRENT MARKET PRICE
Château Angélus 2010 is currently valued 24% higher than release, at £2963 per dozen, as of 15th February, 2017. There has been a steady value increase since August 2015, at which point Robert Parker (The Wine Advocate) increased its score from 98 to 99+pts (from a previous 94-96pts), signifying the effect of a small group of critics have on value and potential value. Demand for Angélus has also increased significantly after the property was upgraded to the top “Premier Grand Cru A” status in the 2012 Saint-Emilion Classification. The Château subsequently released the 2012 vintage in a 21.7 carat gold-embossed, black bottle, which proved particularly attractive to the Asian market.
COMPARABLE VINTAGES & OUTLOOK
Château Angélus 2010 appears to offer a low-risk investment opportunity, compared to similar calibre vintages, sitting just shy of the 100 Wine Advocate points commanded for the 2005 vintage. Speculation surrounds the 2010 reaching these levels, at which point an uplift of +29%, to reach the £4175 per dozen 2005 valuation, is a possibility. However, the 2010 score is also on par with the 2009 vintage (99+ points), valued +7.6% higher at £3207 per dozen, suggesting positive near-term uplift potential. In regards to long-term potential, the 99-point 2000 vintage is currently valued +35.58% higher at £4600 per dozen.
THE CHATEAU
The property started its modern life in 1921, after a period of family ownership by the de Bouard family. In 1921, Maurice de Bouard de La Forest purchased a 3.5 hectare parcel of vines know as L’Angélus; a name, alongside Clos de L’Angelus, that stood until 1990. Maurice de Bouard de La Forest increased the vineyard holdings by 13 hectares, with further vineyard expansion taking place over the coming years, under the same family ownership. In the early to mid-1980s the estate failed to meet the expectations of highly promising vintages, such as 1982 and 1985. However, in 1988, Hubert de Bouard, who remains at the helm to this day, took control of the property, subsequently raising quality, alongside modernising vinification and viticultural techniques. Hubert’s daughter, Stephanie de Bouard-Rivoal, took on the role of Executive Manager in 2012.
The Château has 39 hectares under vine (50% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon) on primarily sandy clay-limestone soils. Cabernet Franc has been, and is an increasing important component in modern blends and vineyard holdings. Fermentation takes place is 70-75 hectolitre oak vats, stainless steel and cement, for variable constituent parts to any blend. Malolactic fermentation and, subsequently, 18-24 months ageing takes place in new French oak barriques.
Wines produced: Château Angélus, Le Carillon d’Angelus, Number 3 d’Angelus.
THE VINTAGE
An excellent vintage throughout Bordeaux, more classically styled than the hot 2009 vintage. A cold and long 2009-2010 winter encouraged late budburst and flowering. Less-than-perfect, cool and damp conditions followed, with flowering affected and potential yields reduced. June saw unseasonal dampness, with millerandage an issue, especially for Merlot grapes. This further reduced yields, whilst raising potential concentration and quality of the remaining harvest. A long, warm and dry summer followed, with high sunlight hours and cool nights, helping to maintain acidity and balance in a crop with high potential sugar and, resultantly, alcohol levels. Despite 2010 being the driest Bordeaux vintage since 1949, a short period of September rain helped reduced vine stress and improve ripening. Angélus harvested healthy, ripe grapes under clear skies between 28th September and 21st October.
