At Angelus, the chime sounded to gather the peasants for prayer, but today, for those who want to listen, it is possible to hear its echo on Place de la Bourse in Bordeaux. Under the leadership of Stéphanie de Boüard-Rivoal, general manager of Château Angélus, the family De Boüard de Laforest has just bought Le Gabriel, a gourmet restaurant, a genuine institution in Bordeaux. But the new generation has more plans to sound the chime ...
After the purchase in 2013 of Logis de la Cadène in Saint-Emilion, quickly distinguished with a first star, followed by La Maison de la Cadene (4 suites also located in the heart of the city) and last year by Auberge de la Commanderie, Château Angélus has acquired, with a wealth of its experience, the iconic restaurant overlooking the water mirror, in the most photographed square of Bordeaux! The keys have been entrusted to Alexandre Baumard, the young chef who is already working at Logis de la Cadène. Consisting of a gastronomic 30-seat restaurant, a bistro of 80 seats, a bar and a seminar room, Le Gabriel, where important works are planned, allows the family De Boüard de Laforest to continue to diversify into gastronomy and hospitality. "It is a sleeping beauty with a lot of potential, because of its size and location," says Stéphanie de Boüard-Rivoal.
Since the arrival of Stephanie, the agenda is full of news at the estate. In 2017, the chime could already have sounded to announce the conversion of the 42 hectares of Angelus to organic farming. It has again sounded in 2019 for the HVE 3 certification that regulates all the good practices preserving the viticultural ecosystem. But it might ring its bells at the next harvest to inaugurate the new green wave in Saint-Magne-de-Castillon.
New cellars should welcome the harvest of ‘Carillon d'Angélus’ and ‘Numéro 3 d'Angelus’. “With the acquisition of new hectares, we have increased from 20,000 to 50,000 bottles for Carillon, we needed a new winery to house this production,” explains Stéphanie, who remains open to the possibility of increasing even more the surface area. The 6,000-sq.m. cellar is currently under construction in the Saint-Magne-de-Castillon business park. A green roof will provide insulation and enable to collect the rainwater. Thought as if it aimed at producing a Grand Cru, in the central aisle that will recall Angelus, suspended vats will be placed. “Carillon was created in 1987, then it was clearly the second wine of Angelus. Today, the ambition is different, we are taking a serious turn and will make a wine in its own right. As it has increased in quantity, we work with my father Hubert on quality especially on extracting more freshness and gaining finesse.” The wine, vinified in Saint-Magne, will no longer be sold under the Saint-Emilion Grand Cru appellation but in Saint-Emilion. Never mind, it is a beautiful gateway to Angelus, 1st Grand Cru Classed A.
Bénédicte Chapard
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