Chateau Angelus 2005

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Truly great stuff, this wine performed at a three-digit level both in the horizontal tasting of 2005s in Baltimore, as well as in Montreal at this mini-vertical. This sensational, opaque, bluish/purple wine offers up notes of vanillin, spring flowers, blueberry and blackberry liqueur, plus a touch of licorice. The wine hits the palate with a thunderous cascade of ripe, rich, concentrated fruit. It is full-bodied, multidimensional and layered. The tannins are beautifully integrated but still present, and the wood, acidity, alcohol, etc., are all beautifully assimilated in this magnificent, majestic vintage of Angelus. It can be drunk now, but it is still an adolescent and that suggests it has at least another 25-35 years of longevity." Drink: 2015 - 2050- Robert M. Parker, Jr.

JEB DUNNUCK: "The 2005 Angelus is as good as it gets, and despite having 2-3 decades of prime drinking ahead of it, is as profound a drinking experience as money can buy even today. Offering off the hook notes of blackcurrants, smoked herbs, blackberries, toasted spice, espresso and scorched earth, this beauty is unctuous and opulent on the palate, with incredible depth, yet never seems heavy, cumbersome or over the top. It has more depth and concentration than the 1990 (and I suspect any vintage in the 1990s or 2000s) and will keep for another 30 years or more."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Certainly a contender for the best wine ever produced here, and that´s saying a lot when you consider how many great wines have been released since 1989. But this wine has it all. Still inky, dark in color, this pure sex in a bottle, with its cashmere, silk and velvet tannins. There is so much fruit, you can decide if you want to eat it, or drink it. The finish sticks with you for at least 60 seconds! And the amazing thing is, the wine is only 11 years old. That means it´s still going to get better from here!"

JAMES SUCKLING: "Beautifully focused notes of figs and ripe fruit on the nose, this is very perfumed. A lot of material in this wine, the center palate is incredible, lasting for minutes. This is full-bodied and super silky with fine tannins. A pinpointed ball of fruit, think lychee, and hints of chocolate on the finish. Leave this for six to eight years, should be about right in 2018."

WEINWISSER: "Dunkles Purpur mit schwarzen Reflexen. Intensives Bouquet, viel schwarze Kirschen, Rauchnoten, schwarze Oliven, florale Würze darin. Saftiger Gaumen, gut stützende Tannine, Maulbeeren und Black Currant, geschmeidig, erstaunlich fein und doch kraftvoll. Steht erst in den Startlöchern und bietet durch seinen grossen Anteil an hoch reifen Cabernet Francs eine selten da gewesene Lebensgarantie. 07: Da ich mehr als 10 St. Emilions gleichzeitig verkostete merkt man hier, was das für ein gewaltiger, verlangender Bulldozer ist. Schon fast ein dramatisches Monster mit viel Rückhalt und Tanninen. Da werden die Angélus aber gewaltig auf die Probe gestellt und ihnen auch vielleicht mehr Geduld abverlangt, als gewisse Weinfreaks bereit sind, aufzuwenden. Von der Konzentration her der bisher gewaltigste Angélus. Ob er dann irgendwann, so in 10 Jahren, auch so viel Spass machen wird wie die anderen Grossen? 08: Ein gewaltiger, unnahbarer Brocken. (19/20 ). Ein riesiges Pflaumen- und Cassispaket in der Nase, darin eine zärtliche, verspielte Schoko- und Minznote zeigend. Der Gaumen hat sich extrem verfeinert in der Zwischenzeit, viel schwarze Schokolade im Extrakt und Vanillemark. Ein reicher Angélus mit noch etwass mürben Tanninen. Die Wertung liegt jetzt bei 19.49. Wird bald aufgerundet?"

WINE SPECTATOR: "Black purple in color, with coffee, blackberry and currant on the nose. Full-bodied, with supervelvety tannins and a long aftertaste of toasty oak and ripe fruit. Very close to the 2000. Superb. Best after 2018. 7,000 cases made."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "44% Cabernet Franc. 22 months in barrels and long on the lees. Dark crimson with a ruby rim. Very heady opening out and in very good balance. Just a few dry tannins on the end. Already tertiary aromas. Well mannered and nothing exaggerated. But a bit drying and exaggerated on the end."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "A spicy, densely sweet wine, all ripe purple fruits bursting out of a straitjacket of tannins, with the wood flavors quite dominant at this stage. The wine is firm, but the fruit is so big that the dryness is lost."