CHATEAU ANGELUS 1er Grand Cru Classe A, Saint-Emilion 2021 Bottle

Description

Château Angélus 2021 is an exceptional wine that has garnered impressive acclaim, including 96 points from Wine Enthusiast and 95 points from James Suckling. This vintage features a blend of 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot, showcasing enticing aromas of violets, spice, and black-fruit tannins. Suckling describes the wine as delicious, with focused cherries and hints of dried sandalwood and Indian spices. The Wine Advocate awarded it 94-96 points, noting its purity and elegance, with aromas of plums, raspberries, and warm spices. Decanter rated it 93 points for its expressive aromatics and refreshing acidity. With its harmonious balance and refined structure, this wine is perfect for enjoyment from 2026 to 2061, promising a memorable experience for enthusiasts.

*****

WINE ENTHUSIAST 96 points
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. — Roger Voss

JAMES SUCKLING 95 points
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 and refined finish. 40% merlot and 60% cabernet franc, the most cab franc in a long time.

JAMES SUCKLING (94-96) points
Drinking Window 2031 - 2061
From: 2021 Bordeaux En Primeur: Back to Classicism (May 2022)
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. - By Antonio Galloni on April 2022

THE WINE ADVOCATE (94 - 96) points
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. - William Kelley
Published: Apr 29, 2022

DECANTER 93 points
Tasted by: Georgina Hindle
(at Bordeaux, 01 Dec 2023)
Drinking Window: 2026 - 2035
Beautifully expressive aromatics, really jump from the glass, alive and nuanced, floral, fruity - rosehip, cranberry, cardamom, cinnamon. Supple and lithe, this has movement to it which is so nice. Not super tense and straight, not dense and chewy, somewhere in-between with bright, mouth-watering acidity that lifts the expression. Hints of chalky minerality on the finish brings it back to focus with a moreish aspect. Tannins are great, barely noticeable but still giving the frame and support to the structure. Well delivered. Gorgeous purity, balance and harmonious, really lovely drinking here.

JANCIS ROBINSON 16.5 points
Tasted blind. Interesting, haunting aroma. Sweet, curranty start and marked freshness, not to say astringency, on the palate. A bit stringy on the (long) finish. No transports of delight, alas. (JR)