2021 Chateau Angelus - St. Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classe A

Decanter.com – 96 pts – GH: *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.* - 11/2023

Falstaff Magazin – 94 pts – PM: *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.* - 05/2022

Vinum Magazin – 18/20 pts: *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.*

WeinWisser – 19+/20 pts - TB: *Der grandiose Angélus 2021 bestätigt seine hohe Bewertung und wurde nach der Abfüllung nur von Cheval Blanc und Figeac knapp überholt. Mit 60 % hat der 2021er Angélus den bislang höchsten Cabernet- Franc-Anteil und verfügt daher über einen besonderen Charakter. Schwarzer Farbkern, intensiv. Supersaftig, reif und mit enormer, liköriger Ansprache, duftet der jugendliche Angélus reichhaltig nach Pflaume, Graphit und Schokolade. Im Mund hat er eine noble, superweite, hochdifferenzierte, ewig lange Struktur, die vom hohen Cabernet-Anteil deutlich transparenter und sehr komplex erscheint. Ein großer Angélus, der einfach nicht loslässt, mit extrem festem Händedruck und ewiger Spannung, sowie grandioser Energie und Frische. Dieser Wein wird ewig frisch und präsent erscheinen, mit likörigem, langem Nachhall und feinen, rosinigen Reflexen. Grandios. 13.5 Vol.-%.* - 02/2024

JancisRobinson.com – 17+/20pts – JL: *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.* - 04/2022

Vinous.com – (94-96) pts – AG: *For the first time ever, Angélus is 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot in 2021. There's terrific density and power, especially within the context of the year. Black cherry, chocolate, spice, menthol and lavender all build nicely in the glass. The 2021 has quite a bit of richness, and its 14% alcohol, a bit lower than the recent norm, works quite well in this vintage. All it needs is a bit of time to help soften some of the raw contours that are present today.* - 04/2022

Vinous.com – (93-95) pts – NM: *The 2021 Angélus contains 60% Cabernet Franc, the highest percentage ever, and also reflects an increasing use of wooden /foudres/ (half the Cabernet Franc or 30% of the whole blend). It has a more understated bouquet compared to the bravura vintages of the last three years, demanding gentle coaxing to reveal scents of brambly black fruit, potpourri, hints of orange pith and a little /sous-bois/. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins, and quite sapid, the Cabernet Franc lending a slightly more chalky texture and a linear, focused finish. Displaying fine tension throughout, though not astoundingly long, this Angelus deserves 4–5 years in bottle to show its true potential.* - 04/2022

Thewinecellarinsider.com – (94-96) pts – JL: *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.* - 05/2022