Château d'Angludet
Encyclopedia
Château d'Angludet or Château Angludet, is a Bordeaux wine
estate in the appellation
Margaux, in the commune of Cantenac
on the left bank of the Gironde
. The estate was classified a Cru Bourgeois
Exceptionnel in 1932, and most recently a Cru Bourgeois Supérieur in 2003, in a classification which has been inactive since 2007.
The estate also produces a second wine
, La Ferme d'Angludet, and a clairet
named Clairet d'Angludet.
had been established, and in the early 18th century the wine sold for a good price.
In 1776 d'Angludet was acquired by Pierre Legas and d'Angludet had come to be considered a fourth growth (in the tiers below the first growth
s), but with Legras' death in 1791, the property was divided among four sons who did not pursue a continuity of standards, and d'Angludet was not mentioned in any of the early classifications of 1820s, nor in Cocks & Féret
of 1846. Omitted for classification in Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855
, David Peppercorn
describes the coverage in the 1874 Féret documents as "a melancholy state of affairs".
With two of the four portions bought by Paul Promis in the late 19th century, there was the start of a revival, under the name Domaine d'Angludet, and under Jules Jadouin in 1891 the former estate was reunited exactly a century after its division, eventually along with a reestablished reputation of excellence. Continuing under a succession of owners, the estate was ranked well at the 1932 Cru Bourgeois classification.
The property fell into a state of neglect following World War II
, and was in ruins until 1961 when it was coincidentally noticed by Peter Sichel, a part owner of Château Palmer
, while on an afternoon stroll, and the derelict direction of the property became reversed. Once acquired, the vineyards were completely restructured, and the property restored, eventually prompting Alexis Lichine
to publish that d'Angludet deserved a higher classification which he incorporated into his Classification des Grands Crus Rouges de Bordeaux
.
In 1989, Benjamin Sichel took over the management of the estate and continued production with a view to optimise the vines’ natural balance. Of Maison Sichel, the family has owned a Bordeaux
négociant
business since 1883 and remains a significant shareholder in Château Palmer.
and Château Giscours
, extends 32 hectares (79.1 acre) cultivated with the grape varieties of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon
, 35% Merlot
and 10% Petit Verdot
.
Of the Grand vin Château d'Angludet there is typically produced 10,000 cases per year, and of the second wine La Ferme d'Angludet about 2,000 cases. There is also a clairet
-style wine made from a saignée after the wines have been in vat for only a few hours, named Clairet d'Angludet.
Bordeaux wine
A Bordeaux wine is any wine produced in the Bordeaux region of France. Average vintages produce over 700 million bottles of Bordeaux wine, ranging from large quantities of everyday table wine, to some of the most expensive and prestigious wines in the world...
estate in the appellation
Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
Appellation d’origine contrôlée , which translates as "controlled designation of origin", is the French certification granted to certain French geographical indications for wines, cheeses, butters, and other agricultural products, all under the auspices of the government bureau Institut National...
Margaux, in the commune of Cantenac
Cantenac
Cantenac, sometimes Cantenac-Margaux, is a commune in the Gironde department in Aquitaine in southwestern France.It is located near Bordeaux.-Population:-Wine:...
on the left bank of the Gironde
Gironde estuary
The Gironde is a navigable estuary , in southwest France and is formed from the meeting of the rivers Dordogne and Garonne just below the centre of Bordeaux...
. The estate was classified a Cru Bourgeois
Cru Bourgeois
The Cru Bourgeois classification lists some of the high quality wines from the Left Bank Bordeaux wine regions that were not included in the 1855 Classification of Classed Growths, or Grands Crus Classés...
Exceptionnel in 1932, and most recently a Cru Bourgeois Supérieur in 2003, in a classification which has been inactive since 2007.
The estate also produces a second wine
Second wine
Second wine is a term commonly associated with Bordeaux wine to refer to a second label wine made from cuvee not selected for use in the Grand vin or first label...
, La Ferme d'Angludet, and a clairet
Clairet
Clairet is a wine that is dark pink in style, and may be described as a full bodied and deep coloured type of rosé. It is considered a specialty of the Bordeaux region and is thought to have originated in Quinsac in Premieres Côtes de Bordeaux...
named Clairet d'Angludet.
History
The estate originates from the 12th Century at least, under the ownership of Chevalier Bernard d'Angludet when there was a manor house on the property. It came to a succession of owners such as the Donisan family, Rampnol de Corn, the Treulon family, the de Makanan family until it was confiscated in 1631 during the religious wars, and eventually passed to Pierre du Mons, by whose period viticultureViticulture
Viticulture is the science, production and study of grapes which deals with the series of events that occur in the vineyard. When the grapes are used for winemaking, it is also known as viniculture...
had been established, and in the early 18th century the wine sold for a good price.
In 1776 d'Angludet was acquired by Pierre Legas and d'Angludet had come to be considered a fourth growth (in the tiers below the first growth
First Growth
First Growth status refers to a classification of wines primarily from the Bordeaux region of France.-Bordeaux reds:The need for a classification of the best Bordeaux wines arose for the 1855 Exposition Universelle de Paris. The result was the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855, a list...
s), but with Legras' death in 1791, the property was divided among four sons who did not pursue a continuity of standards, and d'Angludet was not mentioned in any of the early classifications of 1820s, nor in Cocks & Féret
Cocks & Féret
Cocks & Féret or simply Féret, is the colloquial name of a Bordeaux wine directory originally created by Charles Cocks and Michel-Édouard Féret in 1846, which was published under the name Bordeaux, its Wines and the Claret Country and translated into French and published as the first edition of...
of 1846. Omitted for classification in Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855
Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855
The Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855 resulted from the 1855 Exposition Universelle de Paris, when Emperor Napoleon III requested a classification system for France's best Bordeaux wines which were to be on display for visitors from around the world...
, David Peppercorn
David Peppercorn
David Peppercorn is a British Master of Wine, French wine importer and author, known for his books about the wines of Bordeaux and long experience in his field, having collected tasting notes since the late 1950s. He is married to fellow MW and wine writer Serena Sutcliffe. They were the first...
describes the coverage in the 1874 Féret documents as "a melancholy state of affairs".
With two of the four portions bought by Paul Promis in the late 19th century, there was the start of a revival, under the name Domaine d'Angludet, and under Jules Jadouin in 1891 the former estate was reunited exactly a century after its division, eventually along with a reestablished reputation of excellence. Continuing under a succession of owners, the estate was ranked well at the 1932 Cru Bourgeois classification.
The property fell into a state of neglect following World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and was in ruins until 1961 when it was coincidentally noticed by Peter Sichel, a part owner of Château Palmer
Château Palmer
Château Palmer is a winery in the Margaux appellation of the Bordeaux region of France. The wine produced here was classified as one of fourteen Troisièmes Crus in the historic Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855...
, while on an afternoon stroll, and the derelict direction of the property became reversed. Once acquired, the vineyards were completely restructured, and the property restored, eventually prompting Alexis Lichine
Alexis Lichine
Alexis Lichine was a Russian wine writer and entrepreneur. He played a key role in promoting varietal labelling of wine, was a masterful salesman of wine, and owned Château Prieuré-Lichine and a share of Château Lascombes in the Médoc. He was married to actress Arlene Dahl from 1964 to...
to publish that d'Angludet deserved a higher classification which he incorporated into his Classification des Grands Crus Rouges de Bordeaux
Alexis Lichine's classification of Bordeaux wine
In considering the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855, Alexis Lichine held the opinion that the list, some hundred years after the selection was made, no longer expressed the whole truth concerning the ranking of Bordeaux wine...
.
In 1989, Benjamin Sichel took over the management of the estate and continued production with a view to optimise the vines’ natural balance. Of Maison Sichel, the family has owned a Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
négociant
Négociant
A négociant is the French term for a wine merchant who assembles the produce of smaller growers and winemakers and sells the result under its own name....
business since 1883 and remains a significant shareholder in Château Palmer.
Production
The vineyard area, situated next to the vineyards of Château du TertreChâteau du Tertre
Château du Tertre, or Le Tertre, is a winery in the Margaux appellation of the Bordeaux region of France, in the commune of Arsac. The wine produced here was classified as one of eighteen Cinquièmes Crus in the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855.- History :Located on the tertre from...
and Château Giscours
Chateau Giscours
Château Giscours is a winery in the Margaux appellation of the Bordeaux region of France, in the commune of Labarde. The wine produced here was classified as one of fourteen Troisièmes Crus in the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855.-History:The first written reference to the domain of...
, extends 32 hectares (79.1 acre) cultivated with the grape varieties of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world's most widely recognized red wine grape varieties. It is grown in nearly every major wine producing country among a diverse spectrum of climates from Canada's Okanagan Valley to Lebanon's Beqaa Valley...
, 35% Merlot
Merlot
Merlot is a darkly blue-coloured wine grape, that is used as both a blending grape and for varietal wines. The name Merlot is thought to derive from the Old French word for young blackbird, merlot, a diminutive of merle, the blackbird , probably from the color of the grape. Merlot-based wines...
and 10% Petit Verdot
Petit verdot
Petit Verdot is a variety of red wine grape, principally used in classic Bordeaux blends. It ripens much later than the other varieties in Bordeaux, often too late, so it fell out of favour in its home region. When it does ripen, it is added in small amounts to add tannin, colour and flavour to the...
.
Of the Grand vin Château d'Angludet there is typically produced 10,000 cases per year, and of the second wine La Ferme d'Angludet about 2,000 cases. There is also a clairet
Clairet
Clairet is a wine that is dark pink in style, and may be described as a full bodied and deep coloured type of rosé. It is considered a specialty of the Bordeaux region and is thought to have originated in Quinsac in Premieres Côtes de Bordeaux...
-style wine made from a saignée after the wines have been in vat for only a few hours, named Clairet d'Angludet.