ABOUT MILLE ANGES
History
Château des Mille Anges, owes its name to its location « milange », where one once found the convent of the Sisters of the Assumption, located next to the site of the new church of Saint Germain de Graves. This was rebuilt in the 19th century in neo-roman style with a square clock tower and containing ancient paintings.
The religious order cultivated vines for the table and for mass. Until the second World War, little children were taught and protected by the sisters, but the convent was subsequently closed. Mrs Van Ekris, seduced by the unique panorama, bought the vineyard in 1994.
Today
Major investments have since been made. Including a new cellar for the oak barrels, new storage facilities and expansion and renovation of the property. All vats are individually temperature controlled as are the storage facilities. The “Château des Mille Anges” is so named in memory of the little children who were taught here.
Vineyard
The vineyard of Château des Mille Anges is situated on the right bank of the Garonne river, approximately 30 km. from the city of Bordeaux and has a surface of 25 hectares. Its steep slopes assure natural drainage, and its SE to SW location allows the vines to benefit from optimal exposure. The soil is a harmonious mixture of gravel, while the subsoil consists of clay-calcaire. The mild, oceanic climate of the region works together with the terrain to produce grapes of outstanding quality.
The vines have an average age of 25 years, the younger vines perfectly balanced with the ardour of the older vines. The red wines consist of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc. Château des Mille Anges produces its red wines exclusively by a careful and subtle assemblage of these different grape varieties which are grown at the vineyard. Approximately 10% of the production is a dry white wine consisting of a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sauvignon Gris.
In the vineyard our objective is to grow grapes of the highest quality. The tasks are multiple. This starts with pruning, working the soil, weeding between the vines, limiting the yields, de-leafing to give the grapes more exposure to the sun. All work is executed with the utmost respect for the soil in order to produce wine worthy of the name “Mille Anges”.
Grape Varieties
Merlot, which is dominant, gives the wine the aroma of fruit, spices and flowers, it adds suppleness and complexity to the wine.
Cabernet Franc gives the wine its notes of ripe red fruit: this is all about finesse and intensity.
Thanks to its tannins Cabernet Sauvignon accounts for the fullness and structure of the wine providing length and solidity. The blending of these three varieties results in a wine where each contributes the best of itself.
Sauvignon Blanc is a French variety which matures early. It loves the oceanic climate. Already present in the Graves area in 1736, one finds it thereafter at Pouilly-sur-Loire in 1783. It gives a dry white wine of rich perfume.
Sauvignon Gris is a variant of the Sauvignon Blanc with pink-tinted grapes that take longer to mature.
Production
In order to create wines of the highest quality our yield does not exceed 48 hl. per hectare. The grapes are harvested at the optimum time of maturity and quality. The vinification is very mindful of the quality of the grapes and begins with a cold pre-fermentation / maceration at 8°C in order to extract the best colour and subtle aromas.
The alcoholic fermentation lasts one week and is followed by a long “cuvaison” allowing the tannins to become smooth and round. After malolactic fermentation, the wines are aged in oak barrels for 14 to 16 months.
To create the best conditions for our wine the warehouses are air conditioned. The wines of Château des Mille Anges are authentic and generous with excellent potential for cellaring, but even young they are most enjoyable.
