Chateau Angelus 2021

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "A brilliant wine that signposts this estate's evolution under Stéphanie de Boüard-Rivoal, the 2021 Angélus is a blend of 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot, with fully half of the old-vine Cabernet Franc maturing in foudres rather than 225-liter barriques. The result is a wine of unprecedented purity and finesse, unwinding in the glass with compelling aromas of plums, raspberries, rose petals, vine smoke, blood orange and warm spices, followed by a medium to full-bodied, deep and layered palate with a rich and fleshy core that entirely conceals its structuring chassis of ultra-refined tannins. Bright and sapid, it's striking for its integration and elegance at this early stage, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it upstage a number of more touted vintages once it's in bottle."

WEINWISSER: "60 % Cabernet Franc, 40 % Merlot, 13.7 Vol.-%, 24 hl/ha. Was für ein subtiles Parfüm, reife Pflaume, Waldhimbeere und verführerisches Veilchenparfüm. Im zweiten Ansatz Lakritze, zarte Graphitnoten und Preiselbeersaft. Am komplexen Gaumen seidige Textur, herrliche Extraktfülle, edle Salznote, straff geschnitten, engmaschiges Tanningerüst und wohlgeformter Körper. Im konzentrierten Finale rote Kirsche, erkalteter Früchtetee und fein körnige Adstringenz. Der höchste Anteil an Cabernet Franc, der je in einem Blend verwendet wurde."

DECANTER: "Blackcurrant purée on the nose, so seductive and heady, concentrated and intense but lively too with some wild flower scents. Succulent on the first sip, you get the mouthwatering red cherry and raspberry fruit but this then turns serious and direct. Linear, focused, driving with layers of flavour giving this both a density but also an aerial element to it. In some ways, there’s a shyness here, a discretion, such sleek silky tannins that softly frame the flavours which are to the fore right now. Red cherry, plum and damson sit alongside clove, cedar, black chocolate and liquorice coming from the Cabernet Franc giving a spicy tang sustaining the wine - the highest amount of Cabernet Franc ever used in the grand vin at 60%. Each element is so well positioned and in high definition, you feel the muscles and backbone but this has exceptional finesse with all the tiny details on show. An excellent effort in 2021. 100% new oak. The first full vintage with technical director Benjamin Laforet."

JEB DUNNUCK: "The Grand Vin 2021 Château Angélus is 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot that was brought up in new barrels, with a portion of the Cabernet Franc raised in 30 hectoliter foudres. It offers a ruby/purple hue to go with a gorgeous perfume of pureed cassis and black raspberry fruit, as well as spice, spring flowers, and chalky, almost salty minerality. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has wonderful purity of fruit, ultra-fine tannins, and a gorgeous finish."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "Composed of 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot, the 2021 Angelus is deep garnet-purple in color. Slightly closed to begin, considerable coaxing reveals scents of redcurrant jelly, black raspberries, and fresh blackberries with suggestions of crushed rocks, tar, truffles, and violets. Medium-bodied, the palate has fantastic intensity and energy, with very finely pixelated tannins and wonderful tension, finishing on a persistent ferrous note."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "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 a freshness and refinement as well as a 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 backend. 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. The yields were low at 26 hectoliters per hectare. Harvesting took place, September 14-October 2. Drink from 2025-2055. 94-96"

VINUM: "Interessante, besonders fruchtige Aromatik, grosser Transparenz; saftiger Auftakt, besondere Rasse, Spannkraft und Länge, herbes, kantiges, tragendes Tannin; besonders charaktervoller Wein im Stil der ”klassischen” Jahre, der hervorragend reifen wird."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Frische Preiselbeeren, reife Weichselfrucht, Nuancen von Brombeeren, ein Hauch von schwarzem Pfeffer, kandierte Orangenzesten. Straff, rotbeerig, gute Dichte, feine, reife Tannine, frische Struktur, rote Kirschen und Johannisbeeren im Abgang, zeigt große Länge, sicheres Reifepotenzial."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "60% Cabernet Franc, 40% Merlot. First time with this much Cabernet Franc in the blend. 23 hl/ha. Cask sample. Dark, bright hue. Discreet floral aromas. Big tannic frame with a chunk of polished tannins. Long and digeste but very embryonic, the oak still apparent. Hopefully the fruit will continue to match the structure. (JL)"