Chateau Angelus 2017

WEINWISSER: 70 % Merlot, 30 % Cabernet Franc. Dichtes Purpurgranat mit violettem Rand. Komplexes rot-blaubeeriges Bouquet mit reifen Himbeeren und frischen Alpenheidelbeeren. Im zweiten Ansatz duftige Veilchen, parfümierter Pfeifentabak und intensiver Holunder. Am kräftigen Gaumen mit polierten Tanninen und grandioser Rasse unterlegt, so eine hinreissende Eleganz habe ich bei diesem Wein noch nie bei einer Primeurs-Verkostung erlebt. Im ewig langen Finale besticht dieses Finessenpaket mit einer Explosion von schwarzen Johannisbeerpastillen und edlen Mokkanoten. Hat seine (schwierige) Aufgabe mit Bravour gemeistert und gehört in die Spitzengruppe von St.-Émilion.

JEB DUNNUCK: "The top wine here is terrific, and the 2017 Chateau Angelus is in the top two or three wines on the Right Bank. Checking in as 70% Merlot and a full 30% Cabernet Franc, it shows the slightly more elegant, polished style favored at the estate these days yet still packs ample richness and depth. Deep purple-hued with awesome creme de cassis-like fruit as well as plenty of unsmoked tobacco, new saddle leather, white truffle, and white chocolate aromas and flavors, this beauty is medium to full-bodied, has ultra-fine tannins, no hard edges, and a great, great finish. This is a wine of power and elegance. You could be excused for drinking bottles even today, but ideally, it should be given 7-8 years of bottle age, at which point it’s going to evolve for 25-30 years."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Blushing fruits, forest floor, truffle, mint and smoke fashion a bouquet that is enough to get you hooked on this outstanding creation. However, if you need more, the velvet textures, parfait of sweet red and black fruits, spice box and a sensuous finish seals the deal. The wine was made from blending 70% Merlot with 30% Cabernet Franc. With 13.5% ABV. The harvest took place September 13-September 29. The Grand Vin was made from 80% of the harvest. Due to the, frost, close to 20% of the vineyard was damaged."

DECANTER: "Emmanuelle has been making wine here for 22 years now. The freshness of the Merlot in 2017 reminds her of 2001 - I would certainly agree, and maybe with a hint of 2014 too. It's a beautiful wine, voluptuous but elegant. These vines were not frosted, but the Cabernet Franc produced less than usual, and they also made an extremely careful selection overall, leading to a yield of 30hl/ha. The wine has great complexity, which is a standout character in 2017, with bilberries, charcoal and plush damson - the Angelus signature of power and glamour. There is good tannic density here and it will clearly merit long ageing. 85,000 bottles of Angelus produced, representing around 80% of total production. Matured in 100% new oak."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "While this wine has density and richness, the structure gives it an ageworthy shape. Its power is tamed and given sophistication, while acidity and black-plum flavors give freshness. The wine will be impressive. Drink from 2024"

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Composed of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2017 Angélus wafts slowly, sensuously out of the glass with notes of warm red currants, Black Forest cake, blackberry compote and pencil shavings with nuances of rose oil, black tea, cloves and cumin seed. The medium-bodied palate is wonderfully elegant and refreshing, sporting very finely grained tannins and layers of red and black fruit preserves, finishing long with mineral fireworks. What a beauty!"

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung, feine Edelholznuancen, ein Hauch von Röstaromen, schwarzes Waldbeerkonfit, ein Hauch von Nougat, kandierte Orangenzesten, Saftig, rund und sehr elegant, zart nach Kirschen und Karamell, etwas Schwarzwälderkirschtorte, seidige, tragende Tannine, hochelegant, bleibt gut haften, wirkt bereits heute schon sehr verführerisch, wird früh antrinkbar sein, hat aber sicheres Reifepotenzial."

WINE SPECTATOR: "This is jazzed up a bit, with dark anise and black tea aromatics leading off, followed by juicy blackberry, boysenberry and bramble notes. Has some flashy spice on the finish and some expensive-feeling toast, but everything is in lockstep as this moves along."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Tasted blind. Deep crimson. Inkiness but refreshment too on the nose. Complete and neat and not OTT but a lovely wine with some sinewy quality. Floral polish on the end."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Quite a rich and succulent wine for this vintage, with fragrant blue-fruit aromas that are neatly wrapped around the moderately tannic core. Attractive licorice and bitter-chocolate character at the long, substantial finish. Very good potential. Drinkable now, but best from 2025. Château Quintus vertical tasting."