France

Ch. Angelus

Chateau Angelus Premier Grand Cru Classe A Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

Bordeaux

Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

A blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, the 2023 Angelus has a pH of 3.65 and is deep garnet-purple in color. It needs a little shaking to bring forth an eruption of energetic scents of wild blueberries, Morello cherries, and ripe plums, followed by nuances of cedar chest, clove oil, cinnamon stick, and violets, with a touch of garrigue. The medium-bodied palate is so, so finely knit with a mille-feuille of red, black, and blue fruit layers interspersed with mineral and floral notes, framed by firm, fine-grained tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and earthy. It will need time but it will be a jaw-dropper!

by Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW

Cocoa bean, liquorice, pomegranate, smoked earth, sage, anis, fennel, slate tannins, this combines nuanced and sinewy tannins with a generous supple expansion through the palate, building in power and impact. Beautifully fragrant, measured and skilful. 50% in foudres for Cabernet Franc, 50% new oak for the Merlot. Harvest September 14 through to October 1, Benjamin Laforest winemaker, Stephane de Boüard-Rivoal owner.

Inside Bordeaux

Balansert nese, fin balanse mellom rød og blå frukt. Noe mystisk og gjemt. Derimot flott.

Smak av modne og sorte bringebær, mørke og rød moreller. Fine tanniner. Litt ubalanser per nå. 

94-96p.

Expert

The 2022 Château Angélus is made up of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc with a pH of 3.65. Deep garnet-purple colored, it prances out of the glass with flamboyant notes of red currant jelly, wild blueberries, cassis, and candied violets, followed by suggestions of jasmine tea, star anise, and crushed rocks. The full-bodied palate is impactful from first sip, yet slowly expands in the mouth, ultimately over-delivering on the nose's promise with layer upon layer of perfumed black and red fruits, supported by super fine-grained, silt-like tannins, finishing long and achingly shimmery.

A blend of 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot, the 2021 Angelus has a medium to deep garnet-purple color. It needs a little swirling to coax out notes of wild blueberries, Bing cherries, fresh blackberries, and lilacs, leading to an undercurrent of cedar and lavender. The medium-bodied palate is tightly knit with beautiful tension defining the red berry and floral layers, complemented by a fine-grained texture, finishing long and fragrant. Wonderfully graceful!

This is a vintage at Angélus that grips on from the first moment and expands through the palate, inching open and building layers of concentrated and ripe autumnal fruits of fig and blackberry, with crayon, slate, cocoa bean, chocolate cake, orange zest, smoked caramel. The floral expression of the Cabernet Franc comes in with white pepper spice, gorgeous depth of flavour. Plenty of Angélus exuberance if you give it time, with fresh acidities that lift off towards the finish. There is a tiny slice of Petit Verdot in this wine, but such a small amount that it isn't recorded as part of the blend. Ageing in a mix of oak barrels and larger oak casks,100% new oak. This continues to be bottled as Premier Grand Cru Classé A until the 2022 vintage, following its withdrawal from the ranking.

Grilled oak notes, this is bursting with rich damson, blueberry and blackberry fruits. Stretches out slowly in the palate, showing nudges of liquorice, fennel, bitter chocolate and olive paste, coming in waves but each one taking its time. Great definition and purity of expression, with tannins that are confident but tender. This is less exuberant than the 2018, but it's built to age, and is a total knockout. 100% new oak, some in 30hl oak casks. Harvest September 24th til October 11th. As of 2018 part of the Cabernet Franc has been aged in 30hl oak casks, with the rest in barrel, 100% new oak. Penultimate vintage for technical director Emmanuelle Fulchi.

A blend of 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet franc, the 2018 Angelus is deep garnet-purple in color. It spills out of the glass with exuberant notes of cherry compote, plum preserves, and blueberry pie, followed by suggestions of Chinese five spice, potpourri, and dark chocolate, with touches of rosehip tea and underbrush. The palate is super concentrated, rich and opulent, framed by firm, velvety tannins and amazing tension, finishing with epic length.

Angelus 2017 is a blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc and has a deep garnet-purple color. It prances out of the glass with gorgeous redcurrant jelly, black cherry preserves, and scents of wild blueberries, plus wafts of lilacs, forest floor, and crushed rocks, with a touch of camphor. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has great tension and bags of youthful red and black berry flavors, supported by fine-grained tannins and bold freshness, finishing on a lingering ferrous note.

The 2016 Angelus is a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc and has a deep garnet color, with a hint of purple. It needs a little swirling to unlock powerful notes of stewed black plums, blueberry preserves, and chocolate-covered cherries, giving way to notes of candied violets, star anise, and fertile loam, with a touch of cumin seed. Full-bodied, the palate is rich and concentrated, featuring loads of opulent black fruit flavors sparked by floral and exotic spice notes and textured with plush tannins, finishing with epically long, lingering, fragrant fruit. Such beautiful poise!

The 2015 Angelus is Stephanie de Bouard-Rivoal’s first vintage as CEO. It is a blend of 62% Merlot and 38% Cabernet Franc and has a deep garnet color. It sashays out of the glass with gloriously opulent notes of Indian spices, sandalwood, and dried roses, with a core of stewed black and red plums, kirsch, and dark chocolate, plus a waft of licorice. Full-bodied, the palate is still tightly wound, delivering beautifully ripe, silt-like tannins and great freshness to frame the generous black and red fruit layers, finishing long and perfumed.

Deep garnet-brick in color, the 2014 Angelus bursts on the scene with bold suggestions of baked plums and blackberry preserves followed by hints of sandalwood, cigar box, and cardamom. The medium to full-bodied palate is rich and plush, with great tension to lend lift though the long earthy finish.

The 2013 Angelus is medium garnet in color. Notions of wood smoke, tobacco leaf, and crushed rocks waft from the glass, giving way to a core of stewed red and black plums and aniseed. The medium-bodied palate is lively and soft-textured, with plenty of bright red and black berry layers and an earthy finish.

Medium to deep garnet colored, the 2012 Angelus comes barreling out with notions of Indian spices, dried mulberries, and prunes with hints of camphor, cardamom, and cigar box. Medium to full bodied, the palate has a sturdy structure of firm, chewy tannins and plenty of freshness to support the exotic, spice-laced fruit preserves flavors, finishing on a lingering mineral note.

A blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, the 2011 Angelus is medium to deep garnet in color, with a touch of brick. It opens with a very minty nose, before giving way to a core of raspberry preserves, dark chocolate, baked plums, and black cherry compote, plus hints of fertile loam and star anise. Full-bodied, the palate is bursting with mint-laced black and red berry layers, textured by plush tannins and a beguiling line of freshness, finishing long and lifted.

A blend of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Franc, the 2010 Angelus has a deep garnet color, with a touch of brick. It erupts from the glass with notes of black cherry preserves, molten chocolate, licorice, and plum pudding, giving way to hints of cedar chest, camphor, espresso, and clove oil. The full-bodied palate is rich and decadent, framed by velvety tannins and compelling tension, finishing very long and very spicy.

A blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, the 2009 Angelus is deep garnet in color, with a touch of brick. It swans out of the glass with gregarious notions of Indian spices, kirsch, blackberry pie, and plum preserves, leading to wafts of candied violets, licorice, and clove oil. The full-bodied palate is so, so plush, jam-packed with multi-layered black fruits, finishing very long and beautifully fragrant.

A blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, the 2008 Angelus is deep garnet in color, with a touch of brick. It bursts from the glass with ready-to-go notes of prunes, baked black cherries, and mulberries, followed by hints of black truffles, black olives, and tilled soil. The medium to full-bodied palate is plush and juicy, with nicely mature black fruit and bags of savory accents, finishing long and earthy.

A blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, the 2007 Angelus is deep garnet in color, with a touch of brick. It races out of the glass with notes of redcurrant preserves, raspberry pie, and kirsch, plus wafts of dried bay leaves, forest floor, graphite, and a hint of leather. Medium-bodied, the palate has a firm, chewy texture and a refreshing backbone defining the savory/earthy flavors, finishing with an herbal lift.

A blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, the 2006 Angelus has a deep garnet color, with a touch of brick. It offers fragrant scents of roses and iris bulb, giving way to a core of kirsch, plum preserves, and mulberries, plus hints of tobacco, underbrush, and star anise. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a velvety texture and just enough freshness to support the generous, slowly developing black fruits, finishing minerally.

A blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, the 2005 Angelus is deep garnet in color, with a touch of brick. It needs a fair bit of patient swirling to unlock notes of plum preserves, blueberry compote, fruitcake, and cigar box, plus suggestions of licorice and Sichuan pepper. The full-bodied palate is concentrated with black fruit and exotic spice layers, supported by firm, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing on a long-lingering aniseed note.

A blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, the 2004 Angelus is deep garnet-brick in color. It opens with notes of leather, menthol, and iodine, leading to a core of stewed plums and blackberry preserves, plus a touch of wild sage and dusty soil. The medium-bodied palate offers lightly chewy tannins and a lively backbone to support the expressive, mature fruit, finishing on a savory note.

A blend of 50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Franc, the 2003 Angelus is medium to deep garnet-brick in color. It needs a little swirling to bring out notes of cherry compote, preserved plums, mulberries, and redcurrant jelly, giving way to scents of dried roses, Indian spices, and unsmoked cigars. The medium-bodied palate is rich and impactful with wonderfully plush tannins and incredible tension, finishing with a lot of brightness and great length!

A blend of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Franc, the 2002 Angelus is deep garnet-brick in color. It sashays out with flamboyant notes of powdered cinnamon, kirsch, dried lavender, and tobacco leaf, followed by hints of fragrant earth and dried Provence herbs. The medium-bodied palate has muscular fruit and lightly chewy tannins, with a refreshing line and an herbal lift on the finish.

A blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, the 2001 Angelus has a deep garnet-brick color. It leaps from the glass with bold scents of redcurrant jelly, unsmoked cigars, crushed rocks, and cumin seed, leading to a core of plum preserves and dried flowers, with a waft of cast-iron pan. Medium-bodied, the palate delivers amazing tension, with a firm frame of grainy tannins to support the intense red and black berry preserve layers, finishing on a lingering ferrous note.

Tasted at the estate during the Connoisseur Week in June 2022, this was the wine of the night among tough competition. Packed with waves of flavour that turn from understated to dominant as it unrolls in the glass, changing each moment in the way that only truly great wines can manage. The texture is dominated by velvety tannins and supple fruits, blackberry, passion fruit, damson puree, turmeric, espresso, tar and smoked earth, with tannins that are just on the edge of austere even at 22 years old, suggesting that although this is at a great moment to drink it is going nowhere. 100% new oak, Hubert de Boüard owner and winemaker at the time.

Almost nothing left at the estate, and hard to find globally. Hard not to gulp down also, as this is delicious. Tobacco, orange peel, baked earth, Christmas spice and sweet raspberry fruits dominate on the opening beats. Melted and silky tannins, we are in full cigar box, leather, sweet liquorice, black truffle and camphor territory. A brilliant wine, at its peak drinking, showcasing seductive tertiary flavours. This was made just a few years after Hubert de Boüard took over full control, and it reflects the fact that something special was happening at Angélus at the time.

This opens with waves of tobacco, cured leather, truffles, smoke, cigar box, liquorice, charcuterie and spice. The most evolved of the six wines in this vintage comparison but gorgeous, with delicate, finely-spun tannins. It softens into sweet strawberry puree and brambled raspberry flesh, a sign that things are on the plateau but still with generosity and a quiet power. The more you sit with it the more it uncurls and draws you in. Hubert de BoÃ¼ard had taken over from his father at this point, with a key point of rupture coming in 1985 after a split over dropping fruit during the growing season, making this a fascinating time of transition at the property, as Hubert then upped density of plantings, carried out soil studies, and generally moved towards the more modern shape of the wine. No records of exact blends, so this is an estimation. One for a book and a quiet corner. Joyous.

Innesperret og luktet sprit de første 20 minuttene. Ikke dekantert, bare luftet fra flaske.

Mørk frukt, myke tanniner og veldig lite syre. 
Dadler, rosiner og svisker

2023	No priceNot available	Extraordinary
2022	No priceNot available	Extraordinary
2021	€ 322,33Not available	Extraordinary
2020	€ 460,17Not available	Extraordinary
2019	€ 524,02Not available	Extraordinary

Category	Red wine
Vinmonopolet no.
Producer	Ch. Angelus
Vintages	2023
Country	France, Bordeaux, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru
Bottle	75 cl

Alcohol	%
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Sugar	g/l

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