What if we talked about wine in a different way?
With Let’s Talk, the idea is simple: to create sincere, curious and sometimes unexpected conversations, far from the overly technical discourse that often surrounds the world of wine. The goal is to discover great estates and great wines through the people who bring them to life — their vision, their anecdotes and their passion.
In this fifth episode, Anthony Moses speaks with Benjamin Laforêt, Head of Winemaking and R&D at Château Angélus, one of the most iconic estates of the Saint-Émilion appellation, in the heart of the Bordeaux vineyard.
Throughout the conversation, they explore the unique identity of Angélus, its universe, and also Tempo d’Angélus, a wine designed in a more accessible style that still benefits from the same care and expertise as the estate’s great wines.
Between hospitality, music, terroir and moments of sharing, this discussion reveals another way of talking about wine — one that is more human, more spontaneous and deeply rooted in experience.
Château Angélus: More Than Just a Bottle of Wine
Anthony Moses: “How would you describe the hospitality at Angélus?”
Benjamin Laforêt: “Angélus is not just a bottle of wine. When you open a bottle of Angélus, you create a moment, you create an emotion.”
For Benjamin Laforêt, Château Angélus cannot simply be reduced to the production of a great Saint-Émilion wine. Above all, the estate represents a broader experience, where wine becomes a source of emotions, encounters and memories.
Opening a bottle of Angélus does not simply mean tasting a great Bordeaux wine. It often marks a special moment: a dinner with friends, a family celebration or a rare occasion worth sharing. The wine becomes the common thread of the experience, accompanying conversations and the memories created around the table.
At Château Angélus, this philosophy is also reflected in the way visitors are welcomed at the estate. The goal is to recreate the same emotion on the property as the one felt when a bottle is opened. Every detail matters: the atmosphere of the place, the discovery of the vineyard and the exchanges with the estate’s team.
Hospitality thus becomes a natural extension of the wine itself. It is part of Angélus’ identity and contributes to making each visit a memorable experience.
In this spirit, wine is no longer just a product: it becomes a moment of sharing, an emotion and sometimes even a touch of dream.
An Angélus Universe That Goes Beyond Wine
Anthony Moses: “Angélus is also an entire universe…”
Benjamin Laforêt: “It’s not just a wine estate. We are farmers first.”
Over the years, Château Angélus has developed an identity that goes far beyond the simple production of wine. While the estate is now recognized around the world for its great Saint-Émilion wines, its philosophy remains deeply rooted in agriculture and in the connection to the land.
For the team at the estate, wine is just one expression of this agricultural work. The vineyards, the landscapes, the seasons and the respect for terroir lie at the heart of this philosophy.
In this spirit, Angélus has gradually developed a broader art of living around gastronomy and culinary experience. Today, this universe notably includes two Michelin-starred restaurants that are an integral part of the estate’s identity:
- Le Gabriel, in Bordeaux
- Le Logis de la Cadène, in Saint-Émilion
These establishments extend the Angélus experience far beyond wine tasting. They offer another way to discover the estate’s wines through carefully crafted food and wine pairings designed to reveal their full complexity.
At the table, wine naturally finds its place. It accompanies the dishes, interacts with the cuisine and contributes to creating moments of conviviality and discovery.
In this way, the Angélus universe goes far beyond the vineyard and the cellar. It reflects a broader vision where agriculture, gastronomy and the art of living come together with a shared ambition: conveying the emotion of wine through different experiences.
Tempo d’Angélus: A Wine Designed for Sharing
Anthony Moses: “A candlelit dinner or a big table of friends to drink Tempo?”
Benjamin Laforêt: “A big table of friends.”
With Tempo d’Angélus, the estate has a clear ambition: to offer a wine that preserves the DNA and the standards of excellence of Château Angélus, while expressing itself in a more accessible and spontaneous style.
This wine is designed for simple and convivial moments, where the pleasure of sharing takes precedence over the formal aspects of wine tasting. While some great wines invite contemplation, Tempo d’Angélus naturally fits moments of conviviality: a dinner with friends, a large family gathering or an evening where conversations unfold around a bottle.
In this spirit, Tempo represents another facet of the Angélus universe. It retains the estate’s core principles — careful vineyard work, precision in winemaking and attention to balance — but expresses them in a more immediate and accessible way.
Around a large table, wine becomes a true connection between guests. Glasses are filled, conversations continue and memories are created naturally.
With Tempo d’Angélus, wine returns to its primary purpose: accompanying moments of sharing and creating experiences of conviviality.
The Musical Inspiration Behind Angélus
Anthony Moses: “Why the name Tempo?”
Benjamin Laforêt: “The history of Angélus is marked by the musicality of the Angelus prayer.”
The name Angélus is deeply connected to a musical and spiritual dimension. Historically, it refers to the Angelus prayer, traditionally announced by church bells that once marked the rhythm of life in villages and countryside.
In Saint-Émilion, these bells once resonated across the vineyards and surrounding landscapes, creating a distinctive soundscape that became part of the identity of the territory. This musicality has deeply influenced the identity of the estate and inspired many decisions throughout its history.
At Château Angélus, this musical reference goes beyond symbolism. It evokes ideas of harmony, rhythm and balance — notions that resonate strongly with the creation of wine. Like a musical score, a great wine is built on a delicate balance between several elements: terroir, vineyard work, the vintage and the expertise of the teams.
In this context, the name Tempo d’Angélus appears almost naturally. The word “tempo” refers to the rhythm of a musical composition, the pace that guides the interpretation of a piece.
The wine therefore becomes a new interpretation of this composition. The terroir remains the same and the estate’s standards remain unchanged, but the expression is different: more direct, more accessible, while still remaining faithful to the identity of Angélus.
Thus, between music and wine, a common idea emerges: harmony.
If Angélus Were a Celebrity
Anthony Moses: “If Angélus were a celebrity?”
Benjamin Laforêt: “Sean Connery, for his timeless elegance.”
Comparing a wine to a personality may seem unexpected, but the image chosen by Benjamin Laforêt is particularly revealing. Like Sean Connery, Château Angélus embodies a certain idea of classic elegance.
The Scottish actor, famous for portraying James Bond, represents a style that is both charismatic, refined and timeless — a strong presence always accompanied by great finesse.
This comparison perfectly reflects the identity of Angélus wines. They possess remarkable structure and depth while maintaining elegance and balance. The power of the wine never dominates the harmony; instead, it expresses itself with precision and subtlety.
Like Sean Connery on screen, Angélus transcends generations without losing its style. The estate relies on a rich history and recognized expertise while continuing to evolve with its time.
This balance between tradition and modernity contributes to making Château Angélus one of the great names of Saint-Émilion, recognized worldwide for the elegance and uniqueness of its wines.
The Most Beautiful Season at Angélus
Anthony Moses: “What is the most beautiful season at Angélus?”
Benjamin Laforêt: “The harvest.”
Like in most great wine estates, the harvest season represents the most intense and anticipated moment of the year at Château Angélus.
After months of work in the vineyards, this period marks the culmination of an entire season. Every decision made throughout the year — vineyard management, climate observation and monitoring the maturity of the grapes — ultimately finds its expression at harvest time.
In Saint-Émilion, the harvest transforms the atmosphere of the estate. Teams mobilize, the pace accelerates and each vineyard parcel becomes crucial for the quality of the vintage.
It is also a particularly strong human moment. Harvest brings together the estate’s teams around a shared objective: picking the grapes at the perfect moment to reveal the full potential of the terroir.
In the vineyards as well as in the cellar, this period combines precision, dedication and enthusiasm. It represents the very essence of winemaking: transforming the fruit of the vine into a wine capable of telling the story of a vintage.
At Château Angélus, harvest is therefore much more than a simple picking period. It represents the moment when an entire year of work finally takes meaning.
Château Angélus, a Unique Signature of Saint-Émilion
Through this episode of Let’s Talk, Château Angélus appears as much more than a great wine from Saint-Émilion. The estate embodies a strong identity built at the crossroads of terroir, family heritage and a modern vision of wine.
Throughout the conversation between Anthony Moses and Benjamin Laforêt, one idea consistently emerges: Angélus is a place where wine belongs to a broader universe. The experience goes beyond tasting a great wine and extends to hospitality, gastronomy and a genuine culture of sharing.
The reference to musicality, which inspires the identity of the estate, perfectly illustrates this philosophy. Like a musical score, every Angélus wine seeks balance between precision, emotion and harmony.
With Tempo d’Angélus, the estate offers a new interpretation of this composition. This wine, designed in a more accessible register, still retains the same standards of excellence and expertise that define the estate.
Through Let’s Talk, the goal is precisely to tell these stories differently by giving a voice to the women and men who bring these great estates to life. Behind every bottle are perspectives, experiences and passions that give wine its deeply human dimension.
Château Angélus is a remarkable illustration of this vision: a place where tradition, excellence and vision continue to express themselves with each vintage, in the heart of the Saint-Émilion vineyard.
Watch the conversation between Anthony Moses and Benjamin Laforêt
