Chateau Angelus 2010

99+ THE WINEADVOCATE: "This is another magnificent wine. How much fun will it be to have the 2000, 2005, 2009 and 2010 in future tastings to see which vintage comes out on top? They are all candidates that will flirt with perfection, depending on the state of their evolution. The 2010 has a similar color to the 2009, but is perhaps even more opaque, which seems almost impossible. Subtle barbecue smoke, graphite, blackberry liqueur, licorice and chocolate jump from the glass, and the wine hits the palate with a thunderous cascade of sweet, velvety, full-bodied, concentrated black fruits, nice definition from the tannins and decent acidity. The wine has a majestic, multilayered finish that goes on for a minute. This magnificent wine is still frightfully young and still somewhat unformed, but every bit as prodigious as its older sibling, the 2009. This will probably end up evolving on a slightly slower evolutionary track. However, it has 50 years of longevity in it." Drink: 2015 - 2065 - Robert M. Parker, Jr. 19 RENÈ GABRIEL: "Blutrot mit violettem Schimmer, sehr dicht in der Mitte. Königliches Cassisbouquet, schwarze Oliven, Fruchtblüten und ein Hauch Minze mischen da auch mit, im Untergrund tiefgründig mit Rauch, Teer und Black Currantnoten. Fleischiger Gaumen, füllig, reich an angerundeten Tanninen, wiederum Cassis, jetzt auch mit reifen Brombeeren vermischt. Normalerweise stellt man sich bei diesen Ansätzen auf einen unnahbaren Boliden ein. Dieser Angélus ist aber sehr direkt und ansprechend ohne dass sich dabei das Potential schmälert. Neue Richtung? Es ist also möglich, dass sich unbändige Kraft auch mit zarter Finesse vermischen kann. Das ergibt dann die Würde eines Premier Grand Crus. Immer noch B oder bald A? Das wird sich in Zukunft zeigen…" 99 JAMES SUCKLING: "The nose is impressively rich with an opulence and sexiness with earth, berry, spice and chocolate character. Black truffles! Full body, with seamless tannins and beautiful richness. It goes on for minutes. The layers of fruit and ripe tannins are phenomenal. This is the greatest Angelus ever for me. Try in 2018." 99 THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "This just keeps on getting better and better. Over the years my score has been rising and it´s easy to see why. Combining power, elegance, sensuous textures, mouth filling depth and cashmere tannins, this hits all the right pleasure buttons. The texture is surreal. It´s interesting to note that while the wine reached 15.6% ABV, there is no touch of heat. When this wine hits its stride, I expect the wine could receive 100 Pts!" 97 WINESPECTATOR: "Got patience? You´ll need it to wait this brute out fully. A chunk of tar sits between you and the core of black currant, hoisin sauce and roasted Black Mission fig fruit flavors, while the back end is a road-paving machine laying down a smoldering tarry track of tobacco and freshly ground coffee. And there´s an iron note too, as if this needed it. One of the most backward wines of the vintage. Best from 2017 through 2040. 8,750 cases made." 95 ANTONIO GALLONI: "(15.5 alcohol!): Good deep, bright ruby-red. Extravagantly rich aromas of black raspberry, blueberry, bitter chocolate and coconutty oak. Like liquid silk in the mouth, but with outstanding verve to the huge, palate-saturating flavors of blueberry, violet, espresso and minerals. This is almost too much of a good thing today in a Napa cult wine way, but the wine´s molten, slowly building tannins and outstanding finishing power promise a long and glorious evolution in bottle." - Stephen Tanzer - Jul 2013.