Chateau Angelus 1994

WEINWISSER: "Recht dunkles, sattes Purpur, immer noch rubiner Schimmer darin. Wuchtiges, dichtes und extrem tiefgründiges Bouquet, sehr aromenintensive Cabernet-Franc-Expression, schwarze Pfefferkörner, Oliven und Lakritze, ähnlich dem 1988er an einen grossen Hermitage erinnernd. Im Gaumen fleischig, momentan recht verschlossen, deutliche, noch fordernde, tendenziell maskuline Adstringenz, komprimiertes Extrakt, ähnliche Würzbitterstoffe wie beim 1989er. Ein Wein, der mindestens noch fünf Jahre Flaschenreife bis zum ersten Vollgenuss braucht, kann dann noch einen Punkt zulegen."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "In the new classification of St.-Emilion, justice was certainly served with the elevation of Angelus to premier grand cru classe status. No Bordeaux estate has been making as concentrated and consistently high quality wines as has Angelus since 1988. Even in the rain-plagued vintage of 1992, Angelus produced a wine of uncommon power, ripeness, and intensity. This estate is in many ways symbolic of what heights Bordeaux can achieve when a property is managed by someone as passionate and driven as Hubert de Bouard. As I have been writing for the last decade, these are wines to buy at first release; they can only go up in price given their quality. Another inky, purple/black-colored wine, the 1994 offers up heavenly scents of smoked meats, barbeque spices, hickory wood, and plenty of cassis and kirsch liqueur. The fruit's phenomenal purity and denseness, as well as its overall balance is admirable in view of the massive, muscular personality of this huge, full-bodied wine oozing with extract. It is a tour de force in winemaking. Anticipated maturity: 2000-2020."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "The last bottle from my original case. You were fun while you lasted. The nose, with its floral, cherry pipe tobacco, earth and hint of truffle was quite nice. The wine has good concentration of flavor. On the palate, there is sweet fruit, soft textures, but the finish is a little dry and there is a distinctive green, olive note that takes away from the overall experience. Splash decanted, I am sure the wine will last another decade, but it is not going to improve."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Angélus continues its hot streak. Super color and concentration for the vintage. Exotic aromas of berries, red fruits, toasted oak and minerals. Full-bodied, with full, silky tannins and a long minty, fruity finish. Fine for drinking now. Best after 1999. 10,000 cases made."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Magnum. 30% Cabernet Franc, 70% Merlot. Ruby and nuanced colour. Mineral nose. Lots of evolution and lovely harmony. Power underneath – nothing feeble about any of these wines so far! (Back from youngest.) Slightly drying out but lovely length. Really quite rich and burgundian (high praise). Lots of mature pleasure."