Château Angélus Saint-Emilion 2015 - 1er Grand Cru Classé A

Bettane & Desseauve

About wine:

In a vintage where everyone was expecting the cru and its new Premier A status, Hubert de Boüard produced a great wine that is smooth and long, with a very characteristic velvety texture. The nose is powerful, complex, expressive, and very ripe, with lovely toasted oak, very present fruit, and a dense, flavorful palate with tight, ripe tannins, fruit, and freshness. Enormous potential. Drink before 2042.

About the estate:

In the heart of the Saint-Émilion coast, in the most prestigious area of the appellation, facing south, Angélus boasts one of the finest terroirs, covering 25 hectares in a single block. This cru, brought to the top by Hubert de Boüard, an outstanding winemaker and the soul of the estate, is now run by his daughter Stéphanie and his nephew Thierry Grenié de Boüard, who have been at the helm since 2016. The estate has few equals. A high percentage of Cabernet Franc (40 to 50%), significant human and financial commitment (the new 2014 winery allows wines of even more impressive precision to be produced, and the recent helium balloon system is there to counteract hail attacks) and, above all, meticulous attention to every detail. All this forms an arsenal of high standards. These constant efforts earned it the supreme rank of Premier Grand Cru Classé A in 2012, an elite recognition that places it on the same level as Cheval Blanc and Ausone. Recently, the transition to organic farming has completed the rise of this wine, which is distinguished by a very unique sensuality and subtle aniseed notes that are found nowhere else. Fresh, elegant, and supported by soft tannins, Angélus remains one of the most complex Saint-Émilion wines on the right bank.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About wine:

Deep garnet-purple in color, Angélus 2015 is a little closed at first, but quickly opens up to reveal wonderful aromas of raspberry jam, ripe black plum, and chocolate-covered cherry, with notes of Darjeeling tea, candied violet, spice cake, and cinnamon stick, with a hint of anise. The full-bodied palate is fabulously opulent, offering layers of black and red fruit coating the mouth, with plenty of floral flashes and a seductive velvety texture, ending with great length and tension. 2023–2050

About the estate:

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

Promoted to the quartet of first growths in the latest Saint-Émilion classification in 2012, no other château has climbed so high in the Bordeaux hierarchy in such a short space of time. This prodigious rise, achieved in two decades, is the work of Hubert de Boüard, a modernist winemaker, great communicator, international consultant, and influential figure in local and national wine-growing circles. 2013 saw the complete renovation and embellishment of the winery, now topped by a spectacular carillon. After restructuring the family estate's vineyards, giving himself every advantage to reach the highest quality levels of the appellation, Hubert de Boüard handed over the reins. In 2017, Thierry Grenié-de Boüard joined Stéphanie de Boüard-Rivoal at the head of the château. The eighth generation took over and made significant changes. Angélus exemplifies the best of the formal and sophisticated perfection of today's great Bordeaux wines. Ten kilometers from Angélus, a new winery will be used for the vinification of Carillon and N°3, the second and third wines, which have their own dedicated plots. With the 2021 vintage, the château will officially become certified organic.

Wine Spectator

Vinous

James Suckling

About wine:

Deep nose of red plums and very ripe black cherries. Very ripe and concentrated, with enormous fine, powdery tannins. They guide the voluptuous, velvety palate toward a distant horizon. The finish is very powerful and dense, but impeccably balanced. Yes, this wine is extraordinary to drink now, but it has so much potential. Drink now, but preferably from 2025 onwards.

Jeb Dunnuck

Yves Beck

About wine:

Garnet red with violet highlights. Such elegance and complexity! The aging process fades away, giving way to notes of black fruit, spices, and a pleasant floral touch. Subtle hints of licorice and graphite. After aeration, notes of red fruit appear. Silky, delicious attack. On the palate, the wine is creamy with powerful, elegant tannins. They are perfectly integrated and in harmony with a healthy acidity that lends freshness and carries the fruit through to the finish. The finish is refined and persistent. What a great success! This Angélus is impressive and marks a new era, or rather a culmination; we are definitely in the big leagues! 2023-2050

Jean-Marc Quarin

About wine:

Intense, beautiful color. Very aromatic nose, fruity, pure, ripe, and complex. Nuances on the palate, the wine develops with flavor. From the mid-palate onwards, it continues to develop and becomes more powerful while remaining graceful. Long, complex, and flavorful finish with a fine texture. Superb!

Vert de Vin

About wine:

The nose is aromatic, elegant, delicate, refined, precise, complex, and quite generous. It reveals notes of blackberry, blackcurrant, and violet, combined with subtle hints of plum, blueberry, spices, a touch of toast, licorice, and a hint of Sichuan pepper. The palate is fruity, elegant, smooth, balanced, precise and offers precision, a lovely tannic structure and a lovely creamy and slightly silky texture. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of blackberry cream and blackberry jam combined with subtle notes of toast, red fruit and coffee on the finish. The tannins are subtle, elegant, tight and slightly firm. Good length and aromatic persistence. A beautiful harmony!

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About wine:

The nose is inviting, even before discovering the truffle, espresso, dark chocolate, black cherry, smoke, spices, and plums. Rich, dense, and concentrated, the wine is voluptuous, ostentatious, and sexy. The velvety tannins are very pleasant as the wine rolls across the palate. The finish goes on and on. Opened in the name of science, this wine will start to make a name for itself around 2027.