Château Angelus 2013

One of the most balanced Angelus wines, where for once the alcohol does not dominate; tight, firm tannins and perfectly controlled extraction. Top class.

Dark and loamy-edged, with a generous feel to the layers of warm fig paste, blackberry coulis and plum sauce, quickly followed by smoldering tobacco and bittersweet cocoa notes. The tarry spine imparts a muscular feel overall. Shows more power than purity, but pulls it off. Best from 2018 through 2025. 6,667 cases made.

Bright redcurrants with hints of blackcurrants, lemon zest and mint. Sleek and crisp, but with good red-berry fruit. A line of herbal character runs right through this. Moderately dry mid-palate, but the finish is slightly drying, the tannins slightly edgy. Drink or hold. Château Quintus vertical tasting. SP.

Medium-bodied, forward wine focused on its fresh, sweet red-berry core, with caramel, smoke, thyme, fresh herbs, flowers and cherries in the mix. If Burgundy made Bordeaux, it would probably taste like this.

Finely roasted notes, spices, tobacco, new wood and dark berries. The palate is dense and chewy with a core of dark fruit, grainy tannin, fresh and vibrant with a long and concentrated finish.

62% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Franc. Production: 55,000 bottles, almost half a harvest. Deep purple-garnet, dense at the core, with violet highlights at the rim. Intense bouquet, initially slightly gluey, with milky-lactic notes, then cooked black cherries, cassis, coconut, and dark pralines. On the palate, full-bodied with juicy, rounded tannins. This time it shows a rather elegant side, and you don’t get the feeling that the limits have been pushed. To put it in English: a “catch of the sound of this vintage!” In other words, a well-understood vintage melody. However, as a new Premier A, this milder Angélus variant will come with a hefty price tag.

(62% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Franc) Deep, velvety, dense, aromatic bouquet, damson plums, black cherries, a touch of eucalyptus oil, dark chocolate, tobacco. Tightly knit, powerful and balanced palate with intense, sweet fruit, plenty of fine tannins, a dense, well-muscled structure, complex, layered aromatics, and a very long, powerful finish with plenty of lingering flavors. Has room to improve. 17/20 2020 - 2036

The 2013 Angelus is medium garnet in color. Notions of wood smoke, tobacco leaf, and crushed rocks waft from the glass, giving way to a core of stewed red and black plums and aniseed. The medium-bodied palate is lively and soft-textured, with plenty of bright red and black berry layers and an earthy finish.

Far from its usual breadth, the 2013 is a restrained, cautious Angélus that is slowly settling into place.

A beautiful dense, silky wine, more Merlot than usual, with charm and fine tannins. 62% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Franc.

Garnet red with purple highlights. Subtle bouquet revealing notes of black berries and licorice. A peppery touch. Filigreed entry on the palate. Balanced and juicy character on the palate, a beautiful symbiosis between the different components. A wine that stands out for its finesse and delicacy but also its capacity to evolve. The tannins are elegant and reveal themselves slowly. They have texture and a power that may not be apparent at first. Their ability to stand up to the acidic structure is surprising. Only the finish is still struggling to emerge, but that should not take long.

A refined, elegant and complex wine. The nose reveals notes of blackcurrant, blackberry and spices (notably pepper and blond tobacco). The palate is velvety, full-bodied, indulgent, with beautiful substance and great elegance. It delivers perfectly defined, precise and pure notes of ripe black fruits, combined with hints of cherry, raspberry, subtle spices and, more delicately, cocoa.

Logo on the capsule: inverted T (Trescases) Dark, intense and beautiful colour. Fine nose with ripe, pure fruit. Melt-in-the-mouth palate, very fruity, tasty and fragrant, caressing the palate with a normal length. Decanting gives it more ease in the mid-palate and on the finish.

94–96. Barrel Sample. This is a very fine wine, richly textured and concentrated. The acidity is forward, although it's roundly ensconced and cushioned by the rich, ripe fruitiness.