Wine Score
Owned by the Sichel family since1961, Chateau Angludet is is an extraordinary property situated at the heart of the Margaux appellation, surrounded by forests and Cru Classé vineyards. The estate would almost certainly have been included in the famous 1855 Classification, had it not been broken up as part of an inheritance settlement. In an act of faith (given the property’s state of decay) and belief in Angludet’s potential, the Sichel family bought the estate and since then, have worked tirelessly to restore and, indeed, improve the vineyard and cellars, giving Angludet back the reputation its exceptional terroir deserves.
Chateau Angludet is also the family home to the Sichel clan, a family which has been in the wine business since 1883 and at present includes the five Sichel brothers and two of their sons. For those familiar with the Bordeaux wine industry, the family Sichel is also well-known for its broad range of house brands, negociant wines and, of course, ownership of Chateau Palmer, one of the other extraordinary Grand Cru Classé properties of the Margaux appellation. Benjamin Sichel is responsible for winemaking at Angludet & runs the vineyards along biodynamic principles.
Maison Sichel also owns Chateau Argadens, perched atop one of the highest hills in the Bordeaux appellation, about 60 km south of the capital. Originally called La Salle d’Argadens , the estate dates back to the 12th century. Maison Sichel acquired the property in 2002 with the aim to become one of the benchmark properties in the Bordeaux Supérieur category, taking advantage of its fabulous soils & orientation. The cellars have been completely renovated and Argadens is a thoroughly modern Bordeaux with lots of concentrated fruit and an attractive, supple balance.
Grape Variety
Bordeaux Blend
A Bordeaux Blend is a blended red wine that contains only those varieties that are authorized for use in the red wines of the Bordeaux region of France. Bordeaux is the most famous and highly coveted wine blend in the world. Like many wines with a long history, there’s a lot to learn, so we’re here to just cover the basics.
- Red Bordeaux blend is primarily composed of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, with smaller portions of Malbec and Petit Verdot.
- White Bordeaux blend is primarily made of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, with a splash of Muscadelle in the mix
While there are both red and white Bordeauxs, the name Bordeaux is primarily associated with the red wine blend. Red Bordeaux is a red wine that is always made from blending Cabernet Sauvignon wine and Merlot wine together, though the proportion of each depends on the location of the winery that made the wine.
- Left bank blends : tend to be higher in tannins, alcohol and acidity. They are powerful, rich wines that are said to age a bit better than wines from the Right Bank.
- Right bank blends : tend to be softer, less tannic and lower in alcohol and acidity. Because Merlot is the dominant grape, they are much more juicy and usually ready to be drunk much earlier than Left Bank Bordeauxs, and they’re often less expensive.
