Angélus - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2016

The Wine Independent

99

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe2/7/2024

The 2016 Angelus is a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc and has a deep garnet color, with a hint of purple. It needs a little swirling to unlock powerful notes of stewed black plums, blueberry preserves, and chocolate-covered cherries, giving way to notes of candied violets, star anise, and fertile loam, with a touch of cumin seed. Full-bodied, the palate is rich and concentrated, featuring loads of opulent black fruit flavors sparked by floral and exotic spice notes and textured with plush tannins, finishing with epically long, lingering, fragrant fruit. Such beautiful poise!

Vinous

97

byNeal Martinthe8/13/2020

The 2016 Angélus has an intense, powerful bouquet with copious black cherries, boysenberry, orange pith and iodine scents that threaten to overwhelm the senses. The medium-bodied palate offers supple tannins, a fine bead of acidity, a dash of black pepper and impressive detail and persistence on the finish. This is an outstanding Angélus that clearly requires several years in bottle to realize its full potential. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.

Jancis Robinson

17,5

byJancis Robinsonthe2/5/2020

Wine Enthusiast

100

byRoger Vossthe5/1/2019

This is a rich, perfumed wine, with dense tannins and intense layers of black plum and spice. The palate is firmly built yet broadened out by plump dark-fruit tones and honed by a solid, dry core. Drink from 2025.

Wine Advocate

98

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe3/29/2019

The 2016 Angélus is composed of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, aged 18 to 22 months in new barrels and foudres. Deep garnet-purple colored, it drifts effortlessly out of the glass with sensuous notes of lavender, candied violets, garrigue, Ceylon tea and iron ore with a core of warm black cherries, mulberries, ripe plums and aniseed plus wafts of cedar chest and cloves. Medium to full-bodied, the perfumed fruit whispers of great intensity and depth, with the vivacious fruit well knit into the plush, seductive frame of velvety tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and mineral laced. Still very tightly wound with amazing tension at this stage, it truly needs a good 6-8 more years in bottle to deliver the fully expressed layers that this soft-spoken, profound beauty promises.

Yvesbeck.wine

99

byYves Beckthe3/20/2019

Pourpre violacé. Bouquet intense, complexe, se révélant lentement. Angélus commence par révéler du fruit et des épices, dans une mesure filigrane et élégante. Au fil des minutes il gagne en intensité et en complexité. Je relève un peu de mûres, myrtilles et groseilles. Il y a également des notes de lard grillé, de cannelle et une touche de menthe. Au finale les notes crayeuses sont également présentes et gagne en intensité. Quelle force de caractère. Au palais, le vin est marqué par la fraîcheur à laquelle viennent s'ajouter des notes friandes. Le vin a du corps, de la race et de la tension. Les tannins se révèlent lentement en fin de bouche et ont du fil à retordre pour pouvoir contrecarrer la vivacité de la structure. Le point crucial, lorsque l'on déguste un tel vin, c'est de pouvoir atteindre ses limites et de le pousser dans ses retranchements. Les tannins et la structure finissent par se retrouver et forment une très belle symbiose. Bon retour du fruit en finale. Pourquoi noter un vin 99 ou 100. Il y a une différence évidente entre les deux notes : 1 point. Comment l'expliquer sur le papier : il manque une petite dose de fruit et de friandise en fin de bouche. On va y arriver, on va y arriver… tout en rappelant que Angélus 2005 a été noté 100/100 par Beckustator ;-) Bravo à toute l'équipe. 2026-2056 99/100

Jeb DUNNUCK

97

byJeb Dunnuckthe3/1/2019

The 2016 Château Angélus is incredibly elegant and finesse-driven, with a soaring perfume of crème de cassis, white flowers, crayon, forest floor, and spice. Compared to the 1996 by the Angélus team, it has a deep, layered style, its oak is beautifully integrated, there are ample tannins, and despite leaning toward the finesse-driven side of the spectrum, it has thrilling depth of fruit and length. It’s a brilliant wine from this estate that will benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for 30+ years or more. The blend of the 2016 is 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, brought up all in new French oak.

Wine Spectator

96

byJames Molesworththe2/5/2019

This goes for the gusto, with a deep and broad swath of well-roasted tobacco, espresso and loam out front. The core of dark currant and fig fruit will have to catch up, but this red has the energy and juicy drive to eventually do so. When it melds fully, this will be a smoky, alluring, tobacco-fueled wine. Best from 2024 through 2040. 8,333 cases made.  –JM

Jamessuckling.com

99

byJames Sucklingthe2/4/2019

Subtle and profound aromas of blackberries, wet earth and sweet tobacco. Hints of spice, too. Full-bodied and so deep. It’s incredibly vertical and long. Just like looking down a well. Firm and powerful tannins, yet polished and balanced. Goes on for minutes. One of the greatest ever. Try after 2025.

Vinous

96

byNeal Martinthe1/24/2019

The 2016 Angélus has a very well defined bouquet featuring blackberry, melted tar, pencil box and floral notes, though they are less pronounced than they were from barrel. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins. This is well balanced with plenty of freshness and fine grip, and quite dense in the mouth compared to its peers. Notes of blackberry laced with sea salt and a touch of licorice govern the finish to this substantial Angélus, which will benefit from several years in bottle. Patience will be undoubtedly rewarded.

Vinous

98

byAntonio Gallonithe1/21/2019

The 2016 Angélus is a total stunner. Despite its late bottling in September 2018, the 2016 is simply magnificent. Soaring aromatics and layers of bright, vibrant fruit are two of the main signatures in the 2016. The tannins, so often hard in young Angélus, are almost impossibly refined. Pomegranate, blood orange, raspberry jam, wild flowers and mocha are some of the many notes that race through the 2016. All the elements fall into place in a memorable, exquisite Saint-Émilion that is clearly one of the wines the year. Don't miss it!

Wine Spectator

96

byJames Molesworththe1/16/2019

This goes for the gusto, with a deep and broad swath of well-roasted tobacco, espresso and loam out front. The core of dark currant and fig fruit will have to catch up, but this red has the energy and juicy drive to eventually do so. When it melds fully, this will be a smoky, alluring, tobaccofueled wine. Best from 2024 through 2040. From France.—J.M.