Château Angelus

5/15/2017 Le Figaro - L LE FIGARO - L'AVIS DU VIN (CLUB VIN) : 19,5 / 20 Cerise griotte, fruits rouges frais, pointe épicée, mentholée, très expressif. Bouche ample, tannins ample, très bien structurés, joli fruit croquant, beaucoup de matière, très gourmand. Vin vibrant, très équilibré, frais et dense. 5/10/2017 Wein Wisser WEIN WISSER (RENÉ GABRIEL) : 19 / 20 5/3/2017 Bettane & Desseauve BETTANE & DESSEAUVE ( BETTANE & DESSEAUVE) : 97-98 / 100 L’onctuosité habituelle du cru est là, tout comme l’impressionnant velouté de tannin, mais il y a aussi beaucoup d’énergie et de muscle dans ce vin qui présente un profil élancé, dense, de très grande profondeur. Grande vigueur, grande race. 5/2/2017 Martin WINE ADVOCATE (NEAL MARTIN) : 96-98 / 100 The 2016 Angelus is a blend of 40% Cabernet Franc and 60% Merlot with much of the production zoning in on the more clayey soils that are ideal in a dry growing season like this. Picked from 4 to 21 October and matured entirely in new oak, it has a very intense bouquet with multilayered blackcurrant, blueberry and floral notes, very refined and precise, not unlike the 2010 in some ways, but I would argue this is more sophisticated. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, crisp acidity, symmetrical in terms of focus with just the right amount of sappiness on the saline finish. It is a superb Angelus from the de Boüard family, destined to give pleasure over many, many years. Once in bottle, I expect it to land towards the top of my banded scale. 4/28/2017 Quarin JEAN-MARC QUARIN (JEAN-MARC QUARIN) : 19,5 / 20 Le meilleur jamais fait ! Couleur sombre, profonde et noire. Nez moyennement aromatique, fin, pur, fruité et épicé. Grande entrée en bouche moelleuse, puis le vin se développe riche, sur un corps plus élancé que de coutume, avec beaucoup de goût. La texture particulièrement précise et charnue fond et offre une grande douceur. Grande finale complexe et longue, juste un brin serrée dans le tannin. Assemblage : 60 % merlot et 40 % cabernet franc - Degré d’alcool : 14°5 (moyenne) – pH : 3,75 (moyenne moins) – IPT : 85 (moyenne). Rendement : 40 hl/ha. 4/26/2017 Vinous VINOUS (ANTONIO GALLONI) : 94-97 / 100 One of the more surprising wines of the vintage, the 2016 Angélus shows a level of finesse that has not exactly been the norm here in recent years. Persistent and energetic on the palate, the 2016 Angélus boasts tons of nuance, with plenty of detail in all of its elements. A closing burst of Cabernet Franc-inflected floral and spice overtones give the wine an exotic flair. The 2016 is a fabulous Angélus. It's as simple as that. 4/25/2017 Jukes MATTHEWJUKES.COM (MATTHEW JUKES) : 18,5 / 20 The nose is incredible with stunning intensity and power. The palate is equally bullying but this time the oak takes over and this sours the palate. A very focussed wine, this is so youthful and with such a long way to run it is remarkable. A little too tough for me, but I can report it is in great balance for such a powerful wine. 18.5++ (60 Merlot, 40 Cabernet Franc) | 100% new oak | 14% alc. | 80IPT 4/24/2017 Decanter.com DECANTER.COM (JANE ANSON) : 97 / 100 A wonderful Angélus, rich in the character of this vintage. Stunning length on the silky tannins. This extends outwards, and the architecture is very much more linear than circular (as it is in some vintages), with a lovely freshness and power. I just love how effortless this feels, with deeply intense black fruits and a dried herb edge. The flesh isn't overt but absolutely present. Likely to take on some more weight over time and it will certainly take its time to reach its perfect drinking window. Wonderful sense of energy, power and intensity, yet it's so drinkable now. The 100% new oak is very well-integrated, a brilliant success. Blend is 60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc, with the lowest pH for many years at 3.7 (the 2009 more like 3.9), mainly because the wide temperature differences between day and night slowed down the maturing process and kept freshness. Drinking Window 2027 - 2050. 4/21/2017 Robinson JANCIS ROBINSON (JANCIS ROBINSON) : 17 / 20 Strong balsam notes. Rather luscious fruit and lots of life and interest. Real vivacity. In this wine, in this stable, although it has a drying finish, the fruit is so overwhelming that it distracts from the drying finish. Well done in a distinctly modernist style. Though the finish is a little weak. 17++ 4/20/2017 Le Figaro LE FIGARO (BERNARD BURTSCHY) : 19,5-20 / 20 Le premier millésime de la nouvelle génération est une réussite totale. Vin précis, gourmand et promis à un splendide avenir. 4/19/2017 Wine Enthusiast WINE ENTHUSIAST (ROGER VOSS) : 97-99 / 100 Barrel Sample. This wine is certainly structured, but it is the fruit that gives it its greatness. Beautiful ripe berries and plums burst from the glass. They are backed by ample tannins on the palate, as well as great acidity that gives the year its freshness. It is a very fine wine, packed with fruit and with everything it needs to age for many years. 4/10/2017 Quarin JEAN-MARC QUARIN (JEAN-MARC QUARIN) : 19,5 / 20 Le meilleur jamais fait ! Couleur sombre, profonde et noire. Nez moyennement aromatique, fin, pur, fruité et épicé. Grande entrée en bouche moelleuse, puis le vin se développe riche, sur un corps plus élancé que de coutume, avec beaucoup de goût. La texture particulièrement précise et charnue fond et offre une grande douceur. Grande finale complexe et longue, juste un brin serrée dans le tannin. 4/5/2017 Jamessuckling.com JAMESSUCKLING.COM (JAMES SUCKLING) : 99-100 / 100 Incredible depth of fruit to this Angélus, which is dense yet also agile and energetic. There's just so much dynamic fruit and tannin structure. Makes you want to taste and taste. What a young wine! We will see if 2016 is better than 2015. Both are great.