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This is 2023 Château Angélus Tempo d’Angélus Bordeaux, and it might be the smartest Bordeaux buy you’ll ever make. Why? Because it’s made by the same team, with the same obsessive detail, as Château Angélus’ Premier Grand Cru Classé A—a bottle that fetches $400+ without blinking.

Tempo is the “insider’s hack” to Angélus. Crafted from vineyard parcels acquired in 2017 on the prized clay-limestone slopes of Castillon, Saint-Magne-de-Castillon, and Sainte-Colombe, just a stone’s throw from Saint-Émilion itself, Tempo is Bordeaux built with Grand Cru DNA. 

Stéphanie de Boüard-Rivoal, 8th generation of the Angélus family whose name traces back to Saint-Émilion to 1544, oversees every detail. And legendary consultant Hubert de Boüard’s winemaking fingerprint is here too—precision, polish, and power, but in a bottle you don’t have to cellar for 20 years.

Wine Advocate didn’t mince words, calling Tempo “very impressive for this price point.” That’s code for: this is a steal. Vinified in the cutting-edge HVE3-certified chai of Angélus, Tempo receives all the modern expertise, all the meticulous sorting, all the care, that goes into the Grand Vin—just in a version you can drink and enjoy right now.

It’s approachable today but built with structure, a wine that bridges everyday enjoyment with the prestige of one of Bordeaux’s most famous estates.

In 2023, the clay-limestone Tempo terroirs find the full expression of their identity through the racy, aromatic, and fresh Merlot, with notes of red fruit and flowers. The discreet presence of Cabernet Franc in the blend brings delicate notes of spice and black fruit and lifts the palate with its silky, velvety tannins.

90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc.

In the glass, expect plush fruit, silky tannins, and a depth that feels far more serious than the price suggests. Think black cherry, plum, violet, spice, and that signature Saint-Émilion elegance Angélus is revered for.

Racy fruit with hawthorn, rose hips, red berries, and cherries. Linear, with a nice structure, but nothing heavy from the fruit flesh in the middle. Fine-grained, with medium body and a chewy but juicy finish. Needs two more years to allow the fruit tannins to round off. More bones than flesh this year. Drink after 2026. ~91 James Suckling

~91 points, Tastingbook

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