Château Angelus, a Premier Grand Cru of the St.-Emilion appellation, is one of the most romantically-named of all the Bordeaux chateaux. The estate takes its name from one of its vineyards where you can simultaneously hear the daily devotional ringing of the Angelus bells from three nearby catholic churches. The château has been in the Bouard de Laforest family for eight generations and its 57.8 acres of vineyards are located on the lower slopes of the Mazerat Valley. Though long known for its appealing wines, in the 1980s Château Angelus embarked on an aggressive program to improve its winemaking. The wines since then have been made in small 100% oak casks, and by 1996 the wine was so good that it was elevated to premier grand cru. The estate grows 50% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the average age of the vines is 35 years. About 75,000 bottles of Château Angelus are made annually.