Structure

Bodyfull
Tanninfirm
Acidityhigh
Sweetnessdry
Oaknew oak

Drinking window

Best 10 to 30 years from vintage.
vintage10 yrs30 yrs32 yrs

Critic scores

No critic score is published for this bottle that we can cite with a reviewer, a vintage and a review year, so none is shown. The rating in the header is our own.

In the glass

Full-bodiedFirm tanninHigh acidityDryExtraordinary Length, Floral-Mineral Persistence finish

Aroma: dark violet, cassis, iron, dried rose petal, cedar

Palate: crushed blackberry, iron-mineral, silky tannin, graphite, long floral finish

100% Cabernet Franc from two old-vine parcels aged 65-100 years at the pied de cote. Produced in tiny quantities (5-9 barriques) only in exceptional vintages, this is a monument to the iron-mineral potential of old Cabernet Franc on Saint-Emilion limestone.

What it pairs with

  • Venison loin with black pepper jus
    Game intensity meets the wine's iron-mineral structure; the aromatic density requires a dish of equal weight.
  • Truffle-laced beef tartare
    Raw beef and truffle earthy complexity echo the wine's graphite and dark-violet registers.
  • Aged Basque sheep's cheese with quince
    Iron-mineral tannin is softened by the cheese's crystalline texture; quince sweetness provides counterpoint.

How to serve Hommage a Elisabeth Bouchet

Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.

  1. Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
  2. Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
  3. Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass. The bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
  4. Pair with. Venison loin with black pepper jus, Truffle-laced beef tartare, Aged Basque sheep's cheese with quince. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.

History

Created to honor Elisabeth Bouchet, great-grandmother of Stephanie de Bouard-Rivoal (Angelus co-owner and CEO). The Bouchet surname is the historical Right Bank name for Cabernet Franc, making the wine's 100% varietal composition a direct tribute. Experimental bottlings were made from 2003 but the 2016 vintage was the first commercial release. Produced only in selected vintages from five barrels of the estate's oldest Cabernet Franc vines.

  1. 2003: Experimental micro-bottlings of old-vine Cabernet Franc begin
  2. 2016: First commercial release of Hommage a Elisabeth Bouchet

Facts

Producer
Chateau Angelus · visiting guide
Grapes
Cabernet Franc (100%)
Classification
Saint-Emilion Grand Cru
Oak
Aged primarily in neutral foudres (80-100%) with minimal new oak; approach varies by vintage
ABV
14.0%
Price
EUR 700-1000 at retail
Drinking window
10-30 from vintage
First vintage
2016
Organic
ECOCERT

Frequently asked about Hommage a Elisabeth Bouchet

What does Hommage a Elisabeth Bouchet taste like?

On the nose, dark violet, cassis, iron, dried rose petal, cedar. On the palate, crushed blackberry, iron-mineral, silky tannin, graphite, long floral finish. Structurally full-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a extraordinary length, floral-mineral persistence finish. 100% Cabernet Franc from two old-vine parcels aged 65-100 years at the pied de cote. Produced in tiny quantities (5-9 barriques) only in exceptional vintages, this is a monument to the iron-mineral potential of old Cabernet Franc on Saint-Emilion limestone.

When should I drink Hommage a Elisabeth Bouchet?

Drink 10-30 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.

What food pairs with Hommage a Elisabeth Bouchet?

Venison loin with black pepper jus is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Truffle-laced beef tartare and Aged Basque sheep's cheese with quince. Game intensity meets the wine's iron-mineral structure; the aromatic density requires a dish of equal weight.

What grapes are in Hommage a Elisabeth Bouchet?

The blend is Cabernet Franc (100%). The wine is classified as Saint-Emilion Grand Cru.

Tags

cabernet franc cellar worthy cult wine dry firm tannin full body high acid iconic mood contemplative mood elegant occasion cellar occasion gift occasion special old vines old world organic pairs with game pairs with red meat pairs with truffles price collector single vineyard still red

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