Angélus - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2022

Alexandre Ma

98

byAlexandre Mathe3/10/2025

The 2022 vintage of Château Angélus is truly stunning, its graceful presentation akin to an Elie Saab haute couture masterpiece. Delicate layers of floral and fruity aromas, like lace sequins, envelop its slender body with poise and an ethereal allure. The use of large oak barrels (five foudres for this vintage) and gentle extraction imbue it with a Pinot Noir-like agility, while 40% Cabernet Franc contributes a subtle pine resin freshness, enhancing its elegant profile. Beneath its seemingly weightless body lies a fine aromatic thread, easily bring you to a world of bayberry, cherry, and Chinese five-spice with just one sip. Once a trend follower 15 years ago, Angélus in its 2022 vintage has become a trailblazer, promising even greater brilliance as it matures.

Wine Advocate

97

byWilliam Kelleythe3/7/2025

The 2022 Angélus has turned out beautifully in bottle, reflecting the estate's shift toward a livelier, more integrated style. Wafting from the glass with aromas of sweet cherries, blackberries and mulberries mingled with rose petals and violets, it's full-bodied, velvety and concentrated, with a deep, enveloping core of succulent fruit, integrated tannins and a long, perfumed finish. It was bottled in the last week of July 2024.

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

97

byJane Ansonthe3/7/2025

The added density of the vintage is clear, and this is extremely impressive, great lift through the palate, switchback of opulent texture, rich damson, cocoa bean, black tea, sandalwood and incense, flavourful and delivered with grip and tension. Super impressive, 100% new oak for the barrels, with 20% of the production (Cabernet Franc only) aged in large oak casks. September 8 to 29 for the harvest. First year out of the St Emilion ranking, still delivering at the top of the appellation.

Decanter.com

100

byGeorgina Hindlethe3/7/2025

A vintage of precision and aromatic purity, this is one of the finest Angélus wines ever made. A blend of 60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc, the nose is heady and complex, filled with dark chocolate, cherries, blackcurrants, violets, and rose. On the palate, it’s silky, scintillating, and fresh, with a...

The Wine Cellar Insider

99

byJeff Levethe3/4/2025

Angélus, Château

Jeb DUNNUCK

98

byJeb Dunnuckthe2/28/2025

Moving to the Grand Vin, the 2022 Château Angelus is 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc that spent 21 months in 100% new barrels, with a portion of the Cabernet Franc in foudre. It reveals a pure ruby/purple hue as well as stunning aromatics of black raspberries, cassis, spring flowers, and graphite that show more floral nuances with time in the glass. It's incredibly well-balanced, has fine tannins, and a rare mix of purity, finesse, and richness. It's an absolutely gorgeous Angelus that deserves a decade in the cellar and will cruise for 40+ years. The style here has shifted considerably towards elegance and finesse, sometimes at the expense of texture and richness, yet this classic beauty delivers perfectly balanced richness, depth, and elegance.

Yvesbeck.wine

100

byYves Beckthe2/25/2025

60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc Que de détails et de profondeur, de subtilité, de sérénité dans ce bouquet. Le Merlot et le Cabernet Franc sont les meilleurs amis du monde et ils se complètent mutuellement en créant une synergie régulièrement convaincante, mais encore plus enthousiasmante en 2022 ! Tendre et soyeux en attaque, le vin est vite remis sur les rails de la précision et de la puissance, mais dans une logique constructive, ambitieuse, avec des atouts dédiés à la puissance, à la fraîcheur et à la persistance. En 2022, il y a des vins brillants, des vins exceptionnels et puis il y a cet Angélus qui est non seulement emballant, mais touchant, fascinant, lisible et avec pour fil rouge une innombrable quantité de détails qui génèrent un message très clair : avant d'être un 2022, je suis Angélus. C'est la clé du millésime ! 2027-2057 100/100

Vinous

97

byNeal Martinthe2/12/2025

The 2022 Angélus is still very contained on the nose, therefore, for this sample, I transferred the wine several times between two glasses in order to pry it open. It has a delineated and tensile bouquet, with blackberry, briar and light marine scents percolating through with time. Hints of oyster shell emerge from the limestone soils. The palate is medium-bodied, fresh and saline, with gentle grip, fine tannins and a poised, persistent finish. There is a linearity to this Angélus that I appreciate due to the 40% Cabernet Franc. It’s very minerally on the aftertaste. This is an excellent Angélus that will age perhaps more slowly than its peers.

Jamessuckling.com

99

byJames Sucklingthe2/3/2025

This is a powerful Angelus, showing incredible depth and intensity as well as tannins that are totally melted into the wine, giving incredible energy for such a young bottle. It makes me think of the great reds of the 1940s or 1950s but with modern precision. Full-bodied but agile, this has endless length, the blackberries and crushed stones, light herbs and dark chocolate showing throughout. Such balance. Al dente. 60% merlot and 40% cabernet franc. So attractive now but will age forever.

Wine Maniacs

100

byLin Liuthe5/30/2023

Decanter.com

97

byGeorgina Hindlethe5/25/2023

An excellently constructed and impressive Angélus in 2022 with power, focus and detail. Aromatically expressive; a burst of black and blue fruits on the nose, gorgeous floral scents, liquorice, graphite, damson, juniper berries, dark chocolate, vanilla and cinnamon. Straight and sleek, almost sharp red and blue berries marry with a slate minerality edging the tannins that makes the texture quite firm and mouthcoating but so precise with a playful juiciness on the mid palate and overall appealing coolness. Lovely clarity and layering of flavour, some strictness coming from the Cabernet Franc at this point, but there’s such class, finesse and precision on show. One for the long haul and will reward cellaring. Unlike in 2020 which took three days to harvest Merlot, 2022 took them two weeks, finishing with Cabernet Franc at the beginning of October. No press wine in the grand vin.

Alexandre Ma

98-99

byAlexandre Mathe5/17/2023

Château Angélus 2022 has left me astounded, with its exquisite expression reminiscent of an Elie Saab haute couture masterpiece. Layers of floral and fruity aromas gracefully envelop the delicate body, evoking an otherworldly enchantment. The Foudre (five were used for the 2022 vintage) and gentle extraction grant it a Pinot Noir-like refinement, while the 40% Cabernet Franc radiates a confident elegance. Concealed within its seemingly light body lie silky strands of aroma, and I find myself wholly immersed in a world of waxberries, cherries, and exotic spices, utterly captivated. As the AMA says, the sound of the Angélus is the only remedy for sorrow.

Vinous

95-97

byNeal Martinthe5/17/2023

The 2022 Angélus was cropped at 40hL/ha. It is aged partly in foudres (around half the Cabernet Franc, to be exact) and the remainder in new barrels, the Grand Vin with 14.45% alcohol and 3.65 pH. This takes a few minutes to unfold in the glass. Blackberry, iris petals and crushed stone notes are focused and delineated. There's opulence locked into these aromatics, but that is contained. The palate is medium-bodied with a mineral opening. Graphite and fresh tobacco thread through the layered black fruit, perhaps spicier than recent vintages. A gentle grip on the finish has some wood tannins to resolve, which should be addressed during its élevage. This will need several years in bottle, probably a decade; then I envisage this Saint-Émilion soaring.

The Vintage Journal

97-98

byAndrew Caillard MWthe5/17/2023

Deep crimson. Intense lifted dark plum, blackcurrant, grilled nut, hint marzipan aromas. Generous supple and sweet fruited with dense dark plum cassis, mulberry fruits, fine looseknit graphite tannins, lovely mid palate richness and fresh long mineral acidity. Finishes al dente firm with bittersweet chinotto cigar notes. Beautiful wine. 60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc. Mostly new oak with some Cabernet Franc in large seasoned oak Foudres. 14.5% alc . 97-98+

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

97

byJane Ansonthe5/16/2023

Precision and freshness here, with fennel, aniseed, marzipan, cassis, incense, cigar, black cherry, mint leaf and ink, with a slow build of subtle aromatics, and a cooling uplift on the finish. An exceptional wine that will reward long ageing, but captures the luscious, exuberant quality of the vintage without ever stepping over the line. 100% new oak for the barrels, with 20% of the production (Cabernet Franc only) to be aged in larger oak casks. Organic farming (with their own farm growing produce for their restaurants and for vineyard treatments). This vintage also shows one of the benefits of leaving the classification, which has become official as of 2022 - the de Boüard family is able to expand the footprint for the main wine of Angélus this year with 3ha of Château Bellevue (which has now been officially split and passed entirely back into the hands of the co-owners the de Lavaud family), which brings some cool soil Merlot into the blend. Harvest September 6 to 28.

matthewjukes.com

19,5

byMatthew Jukesthe5/15/2023

The Wine Independent

98-100

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe5/15/2023

The 2022 Château Angélus is made up of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc with a pH of 3.65. Deep garnet-purple colored, it prances out of the glass with flamboyant notes of red currant jelly, wild blueberries, cassis, and candied violets, followed by suggestions of jasmine tea, star anise, and crushed rocks. The full-bodied palate is impactful from first sip, yet slowly expands in the mouth, ultimately over-delivering on the nose's promise with layer upon layer of perfumed black and red fruits, supported by super fine-grained, silt-like tannins, finishing long and achingly shimmery.

Bettane & Desseauve

97-98

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/10/2023

En 2022, Angelus dispose des merlots issus de la moitié de l’ancien château Bellevue dont les raisins sont intégrés dans le grand vin. Nez plein de vivacité, fruits rouges frissonnants, fleurs poivrées, somptueuse profondeur, il a quelque chose de vibrant et de raffiné. Finale intense et aérienne sur des notes d’amarelle et de violette. Sur ce millésime, la propriété a franchi un palier supplémentaire vers l’excellence et le raffinement.

Jeb DUNNUCK

97-99

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/10/2023

Looking at the Grand Vin, the 2022 Château Angélus is based on 53% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot that will spend 22 months in new French oak, with a portion of the Cabernet Franc aged in foudre. This estate doesn't put a foot wrong, and this is clearly a profound Angélus with a deep purple, almost blue hue, extraordinary notes of cassis, blueberry liqueur, acacia flowers, and scorched earth, full-bodied richness, building tannins, and a dense, concentrated mid-palate, all of which is grounded by a vibrant sense of freshness and purity. While older vintages were more closed and backward on release, this has a certain accessibility given its balance and purity, and I suspect it will offer incredible pleasure right out of the gate. It will evolve for 40+ years as well.

Vinous

93-95

byAntonio Gallonithe5/9/2023

The 2022 Angélus is racy and super-expressive right out of the gate. These days a more restrained style has become the norm at Angélus, and yet there is plenty of mid-palate pliancy and overall richness. As good as this is, the most impressive 2022s I tasted at Angélus were straight out of barrel, which makes me think the Grand Vin could perhaps be at another level with a bit more selection. Even so, the 2022 is quite alluring. Drinking window : 2030-2052

The Wine Cellar Insider

98-100

byJeff Levethe5/5/2023

Deeply colored, the wine is all about its elegance in the texture. The fruits offer a level of purity and refinement that was not present in older vintages. Perfectly balanced, vibrant, long and intense, the wine is incredibly sensuous, velvety, and silky. The level of concentration remains, but the sensation here is now one of sensuality, balance, and sophistication. The silky, pure, red and black pit fruits with a cool touch of orange rind remain with you for close to 60 seconds. Fermentation at cooler temperatures and no sulfur during the fermentations helped maintain the wines elegance and purity. The wine blends 60% Merlot, and 40% Cabernet Franc, 14.5% ABV, 3.65 pH. Harvesting took place, September 6 - September 28. Drink from 2027-2060.

Wine Advocate

96-98

byWilliam Kelleythe5/2/2023

This estate's shift in the direction of gentler extraction and more reductive, less overtly oaky élevage continues, and this extreme vintage only underlines that. Fermented at cool temperatures (20 to 23 degrees Celsius), and with an increasing proportion of the wine's Cabernet Franc component matured in large wooden foudres, the 2022 Angélus wafts from the glass with deep aromas of dark berries and cherries mingled with hints of iris, licorice and pencil lead. Full-bodied, deep and seamless, with a layered core of cool, vibrant fruit, powdery tannins and a long, saline finish, it's a brilliant young wine in the making. The 2022 is a blend of 53% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot.

Jamessuckling.com

98-99

byJames Sucklingthe4/19/2023

So many beautiful primary fruit aromas. Al dente. Peaches. Very floral. Aromatic. Full-bodied and extremely fine tannins with length and beauty that show incredible depth. Superb brightness and reality. Exciting. Cabernet franc freshness and dynamics come through now, even though the blend is 60% merlot and 40% cabernet franc.