Château Angelus 2018

Interesting, refined and multi-layered nose, still youthful; full-bodied and powerful in character, yet showing particular elegance and refinement. Excellent again this year.

96–98. Barrel Sample. This is a dense, smoky wine, packed with ripe tannins and a line of fresh acidity that forms a fine contrast. It's a great wine that is rich in tannins while keeping elegance and finesse.

In bottle since September, still on the edge of reduction (low sulphur additions at Angélus, particularly as this is the first year of organic conversion). Powerful and architectural, with rich black cherry and raspberry flavours, along with the seductive silkiness of Merlot tannins. Clear pepper, rosemary, and sage spices. Needs a decade of softening at least. A low yield of 32hl/ha, with only the estate's oldest Cabernet Franc used. Partly aged in 30hl oak casks alongside the 225-litre barrels. Harvest from September 24 to October 11.

Sweet tobacco and black olives with some basil and terra cotta. Violets and dark berries, too. Very fine and linear with freshness and beauty. Full and very tight with beautiful depth. It goes on for a very long time. Best after 2025, but seductive now.

As I mentioned in my tasting note from barrel, the 2018 Angélus is the first vintage aged in two new foudres. It is very perfumed on the nose, one of the most floral that I can recall at this early stage. Violet and incense aromas percolate through the precise blackberry and cassis fruit, all displaying fine delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins. This is a velvety-smooth Angélus that would drink young if there was not still some oak to be assimilated. Fine balance and focus on the finish, which seems to firm up with continued aeration. This is a charming and quite sophisticated Saint-Émilion that should give 20–30 years of drinking pleasure.

Opaque in color, the perfume, with its wet earth, black cherry, black raspberries, plum liqueur, chocolate, flowers, smoke and licorice is intoxicating. Voluptuous in nature, the cashmere textures that accompany all those unctuous layers of decadently ripe fruit work together in perfect harmony. With time, this could hit triple digits if it continues developing in a positive direction, which I think it will. With the 2018 you have an evolution not a revolution; there is a small shift in style moving to a more refined elegance while retaining all its power. The wine was made from blending 65% Merlot, and 35% Cabernet Franc. With the 2018 only the oldest Cabernet Franc vines were used in the blend.

Deep dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, delicate watery edge. Delicate dark berry fruit layered with cardamom, hints of ripe plums, a touch of figs, tobacco touch. Powerful, ripe cherries, silky-chocolatey texture, vivid, supporting tannins underneath, good freshness, lasts, has length, secure development potential.

I loved the 2018 Château Angélus from barrel last year and it blew me away from bottle, epitomizing the new, fresher, more elegant style of the estate while still bringing classic Angélus richness and power. The 2018 is a blend of 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc that was brought up in new oak, with a portion of the Cabernet Franc in foudre. A vivid purple color is followed by a vibrant bouquet of blackberries, crème de cassis, crushed violets, spring flowers, and cedar pencil. Beautifully concentrated, full-bodied, and flawlessly balanced on the palate, it has gorgeous tannins, remarkable purity of fruit, and awesome length. I followed this bottle for multiple days and it only improved, picking up additional depth and richness, while never showing a hint of oxidation. Pure perfection, it's going to benefit from 7-8 years of bottle age and keep for 3-4 decades. This is a sensational, magical wine from this talented team, led by winemaker Emmanuelle d'Aligny-Fulchi. Comparing this to the more opulent 2005 and 2009 over the coming decades will be an incredible experience.

Kunz Barrel 19: (65% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc) Concentrated, powerful, dark and velvety bouquet, black berries, fine plums, dried fruits, black pralines, fine eucalyptus, black olives. Concentrated, powerful, aromatic palate with powerful dark fruit, creamy, muscular structure, varied, sweet aromatics, very long, dense, elegant, sweet finish.

(65% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc) Concentrated, powerful, dark, velvety Bouquet, black berries, fine plums, dried fruits, dark pralines, fine eucalyptus, black olives. Concentrated, powerful, aromatic Palate with intense dark fruit, creamy, muscular structure, varied, sweet aromatics, very long, dense, elegant, sweet finish. 19/20 2026 - 2050

A blend of 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet franc, the 2018 Angelus is deep garnet-purple in color. It spills out of the glass with exuberant notes of cherry compote, plum preserves, and blueberry pie, followed by suggestions of Chinese five spice, potpourri, and dark chocolate, with touches of rosehip tea and underbrush. The palate is super concentrated, rich and opulent, framed by firm, velvety tannins and amazing tension, finishing with epic length.

Superb freshness for this first organic vintage, with a very pure aromatic profile and a magnificent finish, driven by the subtlety of fine Cabernet Francs. There's no trace of oak ageing as everything is perfectly integrated.

The year takes a step back. It's the first in organic conversion, and also the one that experienced the most difficult spring for the winemaker due to devastating mildew. But the team working multiple weekends in a row managed to produce a beautiful expression of fruit for a vintage that remains bright and still influenced by wood.

An elegant and subtle nose with plenty of freshness: red and black fruits, pleasantly herbaceous, with a delicate perfume of small pink flowers. On the palate, power tempered by finesse, with a round, velvety entry, quickly followed by a tangy thrust. Very finely integrated oak triggers whispers of undergrowth, smoky, spicy notes, with unfathomable depth and a sinuous, lively and feline finish.

Beautiful dark, intense and purple colour. Intense, refined nose with ripe and subtle fruit. Creamy. Soft on the attack, very aromatic on the mid-palate, with a tight tannic structure and almost chalky notes, the wine finishes long, powerful yet ethereal. It's superb.