In the glass
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.
History
Created to honor Elisabeth Bouchet, great-grandmother of co-owner Stephanie de Bouard-Rivoal. 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 the greatest vintages from five barrels of the estate's oldest Cabernet Franc vines.
- 2003 — Experimental micro-bottlings of old-vine Cabernet Franc begin
- 2016 — First commercial release of Hommage a Elisabeth Bouchet
Facts
- Producer
- Chateau Angelus
- 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