Wine Guide
Producers
Alter Ego de Palmer Carillon d’Angelus Carruades de Lafite Château Angélus Château Ausone Château Belgrave Château Calon-Ségur Château Cantemerle Château Cantenac Brown Château Climens Château Clinet Château Cos Labory Château Cos d’Estournel Château Coutet Château de Camensac Château de Ferrand Château de Fieuzal Château d’Yquem Château Ducru Beaucaillou Château-Figeac Château Fleur Cardinale Château Fombrauge Château Giscours Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste Château Gruaud-Larose Château Haut Bages Libéral Château Haut Batailley Château Haut-Brion Château Haut-Marbuzet Château Kirwan Château La Fleur Petrus Château Lagrange Château La Gurgue Château La Mission Haut Brion Château Lafite Rothschild Château Lanessan Château Langoa Barton Château Larrivet Haut Brion Château Latour Château La Tour Carnet Château Latour Martillac Château Léoville Las Cases Château Léoville Barton Château Léoville-Poyferré Château L'Evangile Château Les Grands Chênes Château Lynch-Bages Château Malescasse Château Margaux Château Marquis d’Alesme Château Maucaillou Château Monbousquet Château Montrose Château Mouton Rothschild Château Palmer Château Pape Clément Château Pavie Château Pédesclaux Château Pétrus Château Phélan Ségur Château Pichon-Longueville Baron Château Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande Château Pontet-Canet Château Pouget Château Poujeaux Château Rauzan-Ségla Château Rieussec Château Sigalas-Rabaud Château Taillefer Château Talbot Cheval Blanc Echo Lynch Bages Le Petit Mouton Marquis de Calon Pagodes de Cos Petit Haut Lafitte Vieux Château Certan
Producers
Carillon d’Angelus
Perhaps one of the finest second wines in all of St. Emilion, le Carillon d’Angelus is by no means second rate. And it’s no wonder - with Carillion’s heady pedigree, you’d be a fool for not looking beyond the first wine for a taste of something spectacular.
An Angelic Baby
Carillion is a relatively new addition to the famous Angelus family. First released in 1987, the wine might still only be in its twenties (and who doesn’t remember the folly of their youth?) but has all the maturity of something more than twice its age. This is largely due the rigorous standards that Carillion is put through prior to going on sale: vinification and ageing techniques are as per its big brother, but are adapted to the newer wine with precision. This attention to detail, sense of tradition and vast savoir faire has taken Carillion to the next level. Carillion d’Angelus has in fact proved so successful that owners Stephanie de Boüard-Rivoal and her cousin Thierry Grenié today dedicate a sizable percentage of their Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon vines to it.
Rich Family Heritage
Despite the de Boüard family being in the St. Emilion region for over 700 years, Angélus is still a baby compared to many other Bordeaux wines; not having been born until 1782. Yet the estate only began properly in 1909, when Maurice de Boüard de La Forest inherited the vineyard and began purchasing neighbouring land. Angélus now has 42 hectares of land on south facing St. Emilion slopes, with 27 being devoted to Château Angélus and the other 20 to Carillon d’Angelus and Nº3 d’Angelus, their “more approachable” wines.
A drinking wine - so investors need to be savvy!
Despite (or perhaps because of) its popularity the wine is becoming increasingly hard to find. Its reputation of drinkability precedes it and even though it is one of the most expensive red wines from Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, prices have been climbing steadily over the past five years. Today (Q4 2020) both the 2015 and the 2017 vintages can be picked up for less than €100, offering potentially great returns for the investor, yet still being affordable enough for the dinner table. Both have a respectable 90/100 score from the Wine Advocate.
Notable facts and vintages
  • Chateau Angelus is of course famous as being James Bond’s wine of choice. While we’re not expecting Mr. Bond to downgrade to Carillion any time soon, it’s nice to know that we can all be a little bit more Bond by investing in a bottle or two!
  • 2017’s vintage is notable as the Bordeaux region suffered both terrible frosts and wildfires that year. Eighty percent of the vintage was lost, yet the remaining 20 is stupendous - earning 87/100 by Neal Martin in February 2020.
  • 2015’s Bordeaux blend of 2015 Merlot 50%, Cabernet Franc 40% et Cabernet Sauvignon 10% has proved successful. The vintage is considered as one of Bordeaux “most exceptional” by Robert Parker, who gave Carillion 2015 a whopping 90-92/100 points. Other vintages to consider are 2005, 2009, 2010 and 2016.