Château Angélus - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2005 11166fe81142afc18593181d6269c740

Vinous

97 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe11/15/2015

The 2005 Angélus is the most tannic and forbidding of the three wines in this last flight. Deep, massively concentrated and youthful, the 2005 is going to need at least a few more years in bottle to start drinking well. Even so, its pedigree and class are quite evident. Next to Pavie and Cheval Blanc, Angélus has broader shoulders, larger-grained tannins and more overt ripeness, while the Cabernet Franc is quite evident, especially when compared with the Cheval.Drink 2020-2055.

Wine Advocate

100 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe8/28/2015

Truly great stuff, this wine performed at a three-digit level both in the horizontal tasting of 2005s in Baltimore, as well as in Montreal at this mini-vertical. This sensational, opaque, bluish/purple wine offers up notes of vanillin, spring flowers, blueberry and blackberry liqueur, plus a touch of licorice. The wine hits the palate with a thunderous cascade of ripe, rich, concentrated fruit. It is full-bodied, multidimensional and layered. The tannins are beautifully integrated but still present, and the wood, acidity, alcohol, etc., are all beautifully assimilated in this magnificent, majestic vintage of Angelus. It can be drunk now, but it is still an adolescent and that suggests it has at least another 25-35 years of longevity. The Boüard family, the proprietors of Château Angelus, date from 1544 in St.-Emilion. Located on lower hillsides, with a southerly exposure, their 67-acre vineyard, composed of sandstone, limestone and clay, is planted with 47% Cabernet Franc, 50% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. Hubert de Boüard, who single-handedly elevated the quality from one of mediocrity (vintages such as 1978, 1982, 1983, and 1985 were disappointing), hit pay dirt with his efforts starting in 1988. Since then, there has been a remarkable succession of great wines. Radical viticulture such as crop-thinning, shoot-positioning and the immensely labor-intensive manual destemming are employed. Both a second and third wine are made, as the selection process for Angelus is severe. All of this resulted in the 2012 Angelus being upgraded, along with Pavie, to Premier Grand Cru Classé A, joining Cheval Blanc and Ausone as one of only four estates in St.-Emilion to receive this accolade. Aging takes place in 100% new oak for 18-24 months, after which the wine is bottled with neither fining nor filtration.

Wine Advocate

95 / 100

byNeal Martinthe2/9/2015

The Château Angelus 2005 has a powerful bouquet with blackberry, bilberry, freshly cut violets and minerals all very well defined and poised. The palate is full-bodied with pure, quite toasty and slightly lactic black fruit. There is great depth here, immense density and yet it keeps control and focus right to the finish. Perhaps it does not quite possess the precision as the Canon ’05, but it is still a deeply impressive wine from Hubert de Bouard.

Jancis Robinson

17 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe2/9/2015

Blackish crimson. Thick and sweet with an undercurrent of dark chocolate. Vibrant but dry on the end. Good tension. But for the moment the slightly-too-sweet fruit is overwhelmed by the tannins. Work in progress. 14.5% Drink 2020-2035(17-)

Wine Advocate

100 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe1/29/2015

Following the stunning fragrance of acacia flowers, blueberries, espresso and graphite, this prodigious wine hits the palate with amazing blue and black fruits, sweet tannin, a full-bodied mouthfeel, incredible purity, texture and length. Little is left to chance or imagination in this compelling effort. It is a quintessential style of l’Angélus, only more concentrated and dense than usual. The tannins are sweet and well-integrated, so this is a wine that one can drink despite its infancy at age 10, but it will keep for 40-50 years.

La Revue du Vin de France

19 / 20

the10/20/2014

Nez éveillé, de terre d'humus, de tabac brun, de menthol encore dominé par le bois, comme l'attaque en bouche qui n'offre pourtant pas de rigidité. Les tanins sont lisses, impressionnantes de finition, ce qui lui donne un grand équilibre. Superbe fraîcheur finale entre fruit et graphite. Accessible dans trois ou cinq ans, cet Angélus dispose d'une grande endurance.

Wine Advocate

97 / 100

byNeal Martinthe6/17/2009

Tasted single blind at Southwold. This is much more muted on the nose that other Right Bank 2005s at this stage with scents of blackberry, raspberry, olive compote, cassis and damson jam. Superb definition and you know those aromas would have blossomed if allowed more time. Thick chewy tannins on the palate, immense weight and structure. This is a wine of real dimension. Black fruits, savoury edge, a little austerity just underneath on the finish with a lovely sweet succulent aftertaste with sous bois and fruit cake. Sensational. Drink 2016-2040. Tasted January 2009.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

96 / 100

byStephen Tanzerthe6/30/2008

Good red-ruby. Deep, sweet aromas and flavors of black raspberry, cassis, graphite and licorice. Wonderfully lush, silky and seamless, with a near-perfect balance of fruit and acidity. Very full in the middle palate but with terrific verve leavening the wine's total ripeness. This really coats the palate with flavor and the very long, slow-building finish features utterly sensual tannins. A great performance for this property.

Wine Advocate

98 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe5/7/2008

This 7,000 case blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc will rival or perhaps eclipse vintages such as 2000, 1998, 1990, and 1989. Its dense purple color is followed by an extraordinary perfume of charcoal, espresso roast, blackberries, blueberries, and a hint of wood. In spite of its thick texture, terrific acidity, high tannins, and enormous intensity as well as richness, it is surprisingly approachable, but given how slowly the 1989 and 1990 have aged, I would recommend cellaring it for 8-10 years. It should keep for three decades. A brilliant wine!

Wine Spectator

96 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe2/22/2008

Black purple in color, with coffee, blackberry and currant on the nose. Full-bodied, with supervelvety tannins and a long aftertaste of toasty oak and ripe fruit. Very close to the 2000. Superb. Best after 2018. 7,000 cases made.

Jancis Robinson

17 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe11/21/2007

Deep vibrant crimson .Very rich and ripe on the nose with some notes of real velvet. Superripe tannins insist pretty quickly on the palate but all covered by fruit that verges on overripe but is utterly seductive in the modern idiom. Heady - this wine should have a long life of drinking possibility even if one might ideally want to wait until those tannins melt a little. I was very severe on this wine en primeur because it is not my style of Saint-Emilion but have marked it up now (from 15) with perhaps a better explanatory note.

Wine Advocate

96-99 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe5/3/2007

It seems like proprietor Hubert de Bouard has the Midas touch no matter what he does. The profound 2005 Angelus (a 7,000-case blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc that achieved 14.5% natural alcohol) may be the finest wine produced at this estate since 1990 and 1989. An amazingly rich bouquet of espresso roast interwoven with blueberry liqueur, violets, and graphite is followed by a wine of enormous richness, full body, superb acidity, huge tannin, and nearly perfect symmetry. This staggering effort is more backward than such recent vintages as 2003 and 2000, but after 5-10 years of cellaring, it will provide immense pleasure for three decades or more. It is a titan in the making!

Wine Advocate

96-98 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/2006

Could this be the most profound Angelus yet made by the brilliant Hubert de Bouard since he turned this once under-achieving estate around in the mid-eighties? A blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, the spectacular, inky/blue/purple-hued 2005 (7,080 cases; 14.5% natural alcohol) exhibits an extraordinary projected nose of blueberries, blackberries, liqueur of minerals, flowers, and subtle, toasty new oak. Magnificently concentrated, displaying a seamless integration of acidity, wood, tannin, and alcohol, a soaring mid-palate, and a finish that lasts over 60 seconds, this is a wine of compelling potential. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2030+.

Wine Spectator

92-94 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe3/30/2006

Very, very pretty aromas already of violets, mineral and blackberry. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and a delicate, complex finish. Very subtle. Refined. Will it be better than 2000? —J.S.