Château Angelus 2025

Expressive and deep, with dark and red berries, a hint of tobacco, floral notes of violet, and a touch of herbal spice; on the palate, the attack starts almost innocently, then builds momentum. The fruit is perfectly ripe; fine-grained tannins only show at the very back of the palate, adding grip and holding the wine together, along with racy acidity, into a long, lingering finish that is salty and ends on wild berry aromas. An outstanding, fresh, and delightfully elegant Angelus.

A great wine from Angélus this year. Blackcurrant and blue fruit aromas with some dried flowers and soft herbal aspects. Round and generous, wide and filling with amazing definition and creamy texture that few wines have this year. Energy and depth, purity and focus – this is juicy at its core with strawberry and red cherry, mouthwatering. Not an immediate showstopper but this grows in flavour and depth with intensity but no heaviness. Beautiful delineation with a sharp, precise, forward persistence. The energy and balance is flawless. Really an elegant, elongated wine with such nuance of flavour. I love this and think they've done a super job – juicy, this brings a smile to your face. The last vintage with this high a proportion of Cabernet Franc (reflecting plantings and similar berry size was 2014 and 1995). 3.6pH. A yield of 30hl/ha. 50% Cabernet Franc ageing in foudres, 50% in new barrels; Merlot 70% new oak and 30% in one-year-old barrels.

The perfume starts with a strong floral bouquet before you dig into its wealth of red, black, and blue fruits topped with an array of spices and chocolate. The palate opens with a sublime purity of fruit, silky tannins, and zesty acidity, so you find energy, meshed with concentration and elegance. The long, seamless finish is complicated by accents of pepper riding alongside the seamless layers of fresh, clean fruits. The wine blends 50% Merlot, with 50% Cabernet Franc, 14% ABV, 3.6 pH. The wine is aging in a combination of vessels, with the Merlot aging in one-year-old barrels, while the Cabernet Franc is aging in foudres and new French oak barrels. Harvesting took place from September 10 - September 20. Yields were 35 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2030-2060. 97-99 Pts

The depths are immediately apparent: clear polished stones, liquorice root, olive pit, espresso, cappuccino, full of the luscious signature of the estate, clutches of sage and freshly cut herbs, savoury with a pumice stone climb through the palate. Benjamin Laforêt, technical director. Harvest September 10 to 20, 30hl/ha yield, 3.65ph. The Boüard-owned Château Bellevue plots have been included in here as of 2022, and you can imagine that this vintage really benefited from its limestone soils. As of the 2026 vintage Angelus will be made in the new cellar.

It is indeed the freshness of Cabernet Franc that takes command of the bouquet… and that bodes extremely well for the Merlot, as it allows it to shine where it usually does, but with restraint, through nuances of ripe black berries, sweet spices and licorice. The attack, somewhat intimidated by this imposing bouquet of freshness and complexity, takes on a more filigreed profile. It first highlights the freshness already present before handing over to elegance and precision. These two elements set the stage with serenity and efficiency. Thus, the wine benefits from the subtle support of tannins that gradually reveal themselves, building in intensity on the finish, while the acidic framework channels their conquering drive. The aim is to find common ground and create balance. The harmony is obvious and accomplished, as the performance does not make you wait. The proportions between temperament, breadth, charm and vivacity are remarkably coherent. There are many elements, but never too many; there is astonishing power and thrilling acidity; there is simply an extraordinary balance that brings together paradoxes and opposites, leading them toward a joyful fraternity! A deep wine that masterfully channels its energies and lays down the essential markers that herald a great wine. An Angélus that stands on its own, that highlights its authenticity, that does not seek to cast a spell; it wants to convince, to exhilarate, and to invite everyone to listen to it, interpret it and love it. Ah, aren’t love stories made of paths that meet and clash so they can understand each other better? A truly great Angélus!

Dark, intense, vibrant color. A very fruity, floral, subtle nose. Juicy on the attack, very, very aromatic on the mid-palate, with a slow, powerful build; the wine melts across the palate. The finish is long, certainly structured, and very persistent. Blend: 50% Merlot, 50% Cabernet Franc. Alcohol: 14° - pH: 3.6 - IPT: 90. Yield: 35 hl/ha.