Chateau Angelus 2018

JEB DUNNUCK: "I loved the 2018 Château Angélus from barrel last year and it blew me away from bottle, epitomizing the new, fresher, more elegant style of the estate while still bringing classic Angélus richness and power. The 2018 is a blend of 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc that was brought up in new oak, with a portion of the Cabernet Franc in foudre. A vivid purple color is followed by a vibrant bouquet of blackberries, crème de cassis, crushed violets, spring flowers, and cedar pencil. Beautifully concentrated, full-bodied, and flawlessly balanced on the palate, it has gorgeous tannins, remarkable purity of fruit, and awesome length. I followed this bottle for multiple days and it only improved, picking up additional depth and richness, while never showing a hint of oxidation. Pure perfection, it's going to benefit from 7-8 years of bottle age and keep for 3-4 decades. This is a sensational, magical wine from this talented team, led by winemaker Emmanuelle d'Aligny-Fulchi. Comparing this to the more opulent 2005 and 2009 over the coming decades will be an incredible experience."

JAMES SUCKLING: "The aromas are incredibly complex with dark berries, elderberries, bay leaves, cloves and tile, follow through to a full body with layers of creamy and lightly dusty tannins that deliver a lingering finish and great attention to detail. The flavors range from black fruit to earth and stones. It’s reserved and poised with great intensity and power, in a toned and formed mode. One for the cellar. Try after 2026."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Opaque in color, the perfume, with its wet earth, black cherry, black raspberries, plum liqueur, chocolate, flowers, smoke and licorice is intoxicating. Voluptuous in nature, the cashmere textures that accompany all those unctuous layers of decadently ripe fruit work together in perfect harmony. With time, this could hit triple digits if it continues developing in a positive direction, which I think it will. With the 2018 you have an evolution not a revolution; there is a small shift in style moving to a more refined elegance while retaining all its power. The wine was made from blending 65% Merlot, and 35% Cabernet Franc. With the 2018 only the oldest Cabernet Franc vines were used in the blend."

WEINWISSER: "65 % Merlot, 35 % Cabernet Franc. Sattes Purpurgranat mit aufhellendem Rand und violetten Reflexen. Ein erhabenes Bouquet mit reifem Cassis, Brombeeren und dunklen Röstnoten. Im zweiten Ansatz dunkle Pflaumen, Fliedernoten, Lakritze und Mokka. Am Gaumen eine opulente Delikatesse, die durch Finesse aber auch Kraft beeindruckt, mit dichtem, reifem Tanningerüst und seidiger Textur. Im nicht enden wollenden, sehr aromatischen Finale mit blauen und schwarzen Beeren sowie exotischen Gewürzen. Ein grosser Angélus, der es in der idealen Flaschenreife zur Maximalnote schaffen kann."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2018 Angélus is blended of 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc, aged mainly in oak barriques, 100% new, plus two new foudres. Deep garnet-purple in color, it struts flamboyantly out of the glass with stylish scents of black raspberries, boysenberries and Black Forest cake, plus nuances of rose oil, forest floor, dusty soil and cinnamon toast with a hint of cedar chest. The medium to full-bodied palate is carrying a little new oak at this youthful stage, framing the generous red and black fruits along with ripe, plush grape-skin tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and spicy. Give it 5-6 years in cellar for everything to marry, then drink it over the next 20+ years."

DECANTER: "In bottle since September, still on the edge of reduction (low sulphur additions at Angélus, particularly as this is the first year of organic conversion). Powerful and architectural, with rich black cherry and raspberry flavours, along with the seductive silkiness of Merlot tannins. Clear pepper, rosemary, and sage spices. Needs a decade of softening at least. A low yield of 32hl/ha, with only the estate's oldest Cabernet Franc used. Partly aged in 30hl oak casks alongside the 225-litre barrels. Harvest from September 24 to October 11. Drinking Window 2030 - 2055"

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarter Wasserrand. Zart mit Kardamon unterlegte dunkle Beerenfrucht, Anklänge von reifen Pflaumen, ein Hauch von Feigen, tabakiger Touch. Kraftvoll, reife Herzkirschen, seidig-schokoladige Textur, präsente, tragende Tannine unterlegt, gute Frische, bleibt haften, verfügt über Länge, sicheres Entwicklungspotenzial."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "96–98. Barrel Sample. This is a dense, smoky wine, packed with ripe tannins and a line of fresh acidity that forms a fine contrast. It's a great wine that is rich in tannins while keeping elegance and finesse."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Very gutsy in feel, with lots of tobacco leaf, loam and espresso notes swirling around a core of steeped black currant and warm fig fruit flavors. The muscular finish is a jumble right now, but there's ample acidity coiled within. A wine that clearly wants to stand out from the pack. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Score Range: 95-98"

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Tasted blind. Big, bold, very ripe. Sweet and charming with some floral notes. Really glossy and fun. Lifted and lively. Even though not the most concentrated. A little bit of heat on the end."