Chateau Angelus 2021

Interesting, particularly fruity aromas with great clarity; juicy attack, distinctive breed, tension and length; firm, angular, supportive tannins; a wine of marked character in the style of the “classic” vintages, which will age beautifully.

Rich and dense aromatics, lovely black cherry and dried flowers, the Cabernet Franc bringing all the aromas. Supple and smooth, so alive in the mouth yet this has density and depth, something to chew on. It’s not plush, but there’s texture from start to finish, with delicacy and finesse to the expression. A highly drinkable Angélus that has really benefited from dialling back on the power. Great freshness and precision, while feeling as if it will age well. Impressively keeps the structure and density but with energy.

This is so delicious, with lovely focused cherries, flowers, dried sandalwood and some Indian spices. Medium-bodied with fine tannins and just a touch of wood to the pure fruit, and a subtle, refined finish. 40% merlot and 60% cabernet franc, the most cabernet franc in a long time.

The nose takes a few swirls to find all the tobacco leaf, flowers, espresso, allspice, cloves, cinnamon, and red pit fruits. The wine is soft, silky, and elegant. There is freshness and refinement as well as purity to the fruits on the medium-bodied palate that you also find in the finish, leaving you with black raspberries, strawberries, a hint of orange rind, and red plums on the back end. The wine blends 60% Cabernet Franc with 40% Merlot, representing the highest percentage of Cabernet Franc in the blend in the history of the estate. In the years to come, I hope they continue increasing the Cabernet Franc in the blend. 13.5% ABV, 3.65 pH. Yields were low at 26 hectoliters per hectare. Harvest took place September 14–October 2. Drink from 2025–2055. 94-96

Deep garnet with purple reflections at the narrow rim. Fresh cranberries, ripe soft fruit, nuances of blackberries, a touch of black pepper and candied orange zest. Taut, red berry fruit, good density, fine, ripe tannins, fresh, well-structured, red cherries and blackcurrants on the finish; great length, certain ageing potential.

The 2021 Château Angélus is based on 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot, aged entirely in new oak, with 50% of the Cabernet Franc in foudre. It offers a gorgeous perfume of black raspberries, wildflowers, darker cherries, graphite, and pencil lead that evolves beautifully with time in the glass. Medium-bodied, elegant, and all about finesse and refinement, it has perfectly integrated oak, ultra-fine tannins, and outstanding length. The harvest ran from September 17 to October 2, coming in at 13.5% alcohol and a pH of 3.65.

Kunz barrel sample 2022: (60% Cabernet Franc, 40% Merlot) Powerful, fresh, silky, elegant bouquet; cherries, mint, Taba bar, dark chocolate, tobacco. Velvety, finely creamy, elegant, fresh palate with dense, delicate fruit, plenty of fine tannins, finely concentrated structure, varied, fragrant aromatics, long, dense, fresh finish. Has room to improve.

(60% Cabernet Franc, 40% Merlot) Powerful, fresh, silky, elegant bouquet, cherries, mint, Taba bars, dark chocolate, tobacco. Velvety, finely creamy, elegant, fresh palate with dense, delicate fruit, plenty of fine tannins, a finely concentrated structure, complex, fragrant aromatics, long, dense, fresh finish. Can improve further. 18/20 2029 - 2050

Higher Cabernet Franc than usual, and this is strikingly pure in its aromatics, with delicious smoky oak notes. It has really grown into itself during ageing, with waves of damson, saffron, turmeric, tobacco, liquorice root, cigar box, raspberry leaf, pomegranate, rose petal, with the classic welcome of Angélus. It’s serious, takes its time to open, less exuberant than the past few vintages at Angélus but classy and with presence. Last vintage labelled as Premier Grand Cru Classé A, after withdrawing from the 2022 classification. 23 hl/ha yield, no chaptalisation on the 1st wine, 100% new oak barrels + 30 hl oak casks for the Cabernet Franc. First full vintage with Benjamin Laforet as technical director, working alongside Hubert de Boüard.

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!

With 60% Cabernet Franc, the highest proportion in the history of the cru, this vintage marks a turning point for Angélus while remaining true to the estate’s DNA. On the nose, the wine reveals a controlled decadence, like sumptuous velvet curtains tied back with richly embroidered tassels, with notes of fruit coulis, melon and basil, a minty, herbaceous freshness, and then delicate floral nuances of lilac. On the palate, it is agile, fluid, graceful like a sylph, with a character that is both energizing and soothing, like the effect of yoga on the body. Its purity is remarkable, its fruit juicy and al dente. A wave of roasted, vegetal gourmandise arrives on the finish, and freshness reigns to the very end.

Angélus had already laid the groundwork during the en primeur tasting! It stays right on point, with a freshness rarely seen at the estate, showing notes of garrigue complemented by nuances of black berries. Even if the wine is Angélus before it is a 2021, the style of the vintage and the high proportion of Cabernet Franc are fully embraced. The focus, therefore, is on the assets that come with this: floral nuances, freshness, elegance, and temperament. A characterful, highly accomplished wine that charts another path and highlights the team’s ability to handle such vintages. A racy, tight, precise, and assertive wine, all in finesse, ready for the decades to come.

Beautiful dark purple color. Very aromatic, delicate nose with pure, ripe fruit. Sun-kissed nuances. Delicate on the attack, highly refined mid-palate, with a supple body and energy from mid-palate to finish; this fine wine progresses slowly and precisely, without showing its tannin. It ends long and, above all, more delicious than ever at this age. Clearly remarkable work in this vintage, and for the first time 60% Cabernet Franc in the blend and 40% Merlot. Alcohol: 13.6% - pH: 3.65. Yield: 23 hl/ha.

The wine has perfumed Cabernet Franc aromas with violet, spice and touches of black-fruit tannins. Smoky with tannins, a serious, dense structure and succulent richness, the wine is powerful, impressively rich, ready to drink from 2028.