For wine enthusiasts and collectors alike, Château Angélus offers a unique holiday gift with their 2022 Le Majestueux (SRP $500). This new release signifies both a milestone and a bold new direction for the estate, located on Bordeaux’s famed Right Bank in Saint-Émilion. Nestled just ten minutes from the village of Saint-Émilion, Château Angélus has deep roots and a storied history, with a legacy spanning 240 years of family ownership of the land. Under the direction of the eighth-generation owner and CEO, Stéphanie de Boüard-Rivoal, the estate has continued to evolve, blending tradition with modern sophistication.
Following its departure from the Saint-Émilion Classification in 2022 (in 2012, they became Grand Cru Classé A alongside three other top chateaux in St Émilion), this exceptional vintage marks the beginning of a bold new era. The 2022 release features a remarkable bottle design adorned with 20-carat gold and mother-of-pearl gilded onto the glass, inspired by astral constellations—a nod to its impressive reception by French astronaut Thomas Pesquet. The design depicts a blazing sun and two ellipses. These motifs evoke the estate’s transition away from boundaries, where Angelus can create without limits. This wine has no label, with all text and adornments integrated directly on the bottle’s surface. Le Majestueux will enhance any holiday tablescape, making it an ideal gift for wine aficionados seeking something extraordinary.
The origins of Château Angélus’s name lie in a 16th-century Catholic prayer called “The Angelus,” a devotional recited three times daily at the sound of church bells. The estate’s vineyard sits within a natural amphitheater surrounded by three villages, from which the chiming bells were once audible—a beautiful, historical connection that inspired the vineyard’s name.
Since taking over, de Boüard-Rivoal has acquired two Michelin restaurants, Le Logis de la Cadène and Le Gabrieland, and three boutique hotels, all in St. Émilion: Le Logis de la Cadène, La Maison de la Cadène, Le Pavillon de la Cadène. In 2019, she also acquired a farm to supply the estate’s restaurants with fresh, sustainable ingredients. While the estate remains closed to the public for tastings, its wines are widely celebrated worldwide.
The hilly portion of the vineyard site with clay soils provides an ideal environment for growing Merlot. In contrast, the foot of the hillside, composed of limestone soils, is dedicated to Cabernet Franc. Nearly 50% of the vineyard is planted with Cabernet Franc, which brings creaminess, spiciness, freshness, and tension to this classic wine.
Le Majestueux (The Majestic) is the special name given to the 2022 vintage of Angelus, their Grand Vin, to be released in November/December 2024. This wine symbolizes a strong sense of the brand’s legacy yet conveys the importance of staying relevant and modern. With the various hospitality elements under its umbrella, Château Angélus will be a key player in the region for many years.
This wine will be available online with Millesima, K&L Wines, Beverly Hills Wine Merchant, and Wally’s Wine.
Brianne Cohen is an LA based event producer, certified sommelier, wine educator, and wine writer. During the pandemic, Brianne entertained over 7,000 people through her “Virtual Vino” online wine classes, regularly highlighting diverse (i.e. Black, BIPOC, female, and LGBT) owned wineries. She now offers both in-person (and virtual) wine tasting experiences for her corporate clients. Brianne regularly judges at international wine competitions, including the International Wine Challenge (IWC) in London and holds the WSET Diploma certificate. She writes on her own blog and for outlets such as Decanter, Vintner Project, and Kiplinger. She also holds an MBA from Loyola Marymount University. Brianne Cohen Wine & Events is a certified woman-owned business with WBENC.
