Angélus - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2021

Jamessuckling.com

95

par James Suckling le 09/04/2024

This is so delicious, with lovely focused cherries, flowers, dried sandalwood and some Indian spices. Medium-bodied with fine tannins and just a touch of wood to the pure fruit and a subtle and refined finish. 40% merlot and 60% cabernet franc, the most cab franc in a long time.

Wine Advocate

94

par William Kelley le 22/02/2024

The 2021 Angélus unwinds in the glass to reveal aromas of dark berries, plums and cherries mingled with rose petals, forest floor, spices and pencil shavings, framed by creamy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, layered and vibrant, it's taut and structured, with a deep core of fruit, chalky tannins and a long, perfumed, vanillin-inflected finish. As readers will remember, it's a blend of fully 60% Cabernet Franc with 40% Merlot, incorporating foudres in addition to 225-liter barriques, and the rich, toasty oak signature of yesteryear is now firmly in the background, even if the wine still carries a youthful patina. The 2021's classically balanced profile will reward a bit of bottle age. 94+

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

95

par Jane Anson le 30/01/2024

Higher Cabernet Franc than usual, and this is strikingly pure in its aromatics, with delicous smoky oak notes. Has really grown into itself over ageing, with waves of damson, saffran, turmeric, tobacco, liqourice root, cigar box, raspberry leaf, pomegranate, rose petal, with the classic welcome of Angelus. It's serious, takes its time to open, less exuberant than the past few vintages at Angélus but classy and with presence. Last vintage labelled as Premier Grand Cru Classé A, after withdrawing from the 2022 classification. 23hl/h yield, no chaptilisation on the 1st wine, 100% new oak barrels + 30hl oak casks for the Cabernet Franc. First full vintage where Benjamin Laforet is technical director, working alongside Hubert de Bouard.

matthewjukes.com

18,5

par Matthew Jukes le 02/08/2022

This wine marks a first in the history of Angélus – a mighty 60% of Cabernet Franc is involved in this blend! Building on the second wine Carillon, and growing the experience in all directions without adding any more weight per se, this is a much more complex and restrained wine and a superb reflection of the Angélus terroir and the precision viticulture deployed in 2021. Of course, winemaking decisions were crucial in 2021, but this is a viti-vintage for Angélus. When one buys fine wine and then looks after it for a couple of decades, it must reflect its origins otherwise, it could conceivably come from anywhere – vinonymous. This wine is Angélus – pure, direct, focussed, resonant, and it is also packed with 2021 grace and tenderness. It is a resounding success in 2021, not just for what it exhibits in the glass but for what it wisely leaves out. 18.5+

Jamessuckling.com

95-96

par James Suckling le 08/06/2022

Beautiful depth here, with currants and blackberries, as well as hints of fresh herbs and wet earth. Medium-to full-bodied, layered and long, with depth and beauty. Savory. Impressive for the vintage. Persistent.

Jeb DUNNUCK

94-96

par Jeb Dunnuck le 02/06/2022

The Grand Vin 2021 Château Angélus is 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot that was brought up in new barrels, with a portion of the Cabernet Franc raised in 30 hectoliter foudres. It offers a ruby/purple hue to go with a gorgeous perfume of pureed cassis and black raspberry fruit, as well as spice, spring flowers, and chalky, almost salty minerality. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has wonderful purity of fruit, ultra-fine tannins, and a gorgeous finish.

Bettane & Desseauve

96

par Bettane & Desseauve le 24/05/2022

Parfums charmeurs de pivoine et de cerise noire. En bouche, on reste admiratif devant la pureté aromatique qui porte le vin jusque dans une finale montante, droite et d’une grande distinction. Un angélus qui plaira aux amateurs de cabernetµ. 60 % cabernet franc, 40 % merlot.

The Vintage Journal

96-97

par Andrew Caillard MW le 17/05/2022

Medium-deep crimson. Intense inky elderberry graphite, cedar, roasted chestnut aromas with hint violet notes. Lovely pure blackberry, mulberry fruits, graphite, al dente textures, attractive mid-palate generosity and underlying roasted chestnut notes. Finishes chalky firm with persistent dark fruits. A very well structured wine with freshness and vigour. 60% cabernet franc, 40% merlot. A cabernet franc dominant wine for the first time in the history of Angelus, highlighting the challenge of the vintage and the fidelity of the grape variety in 2021. Vinification in oak and stainless steel (merlot) and concrete (cabernet franc). 22 months in new French oak.

Alexandre Ma

94-96

par Alexandre Ma le 16/05/2022

If the previous three vintages showd me the huge changes Angélus has embraced, the 2021 vintage will be defined as a “thorough rebirth”. In this vintage, Angélus blends 60% Cabernet Franc to bestow us with a Musigny show in Bordeaux. With the fresh and elegant rose fragrance, the gentle and light flavor of crab apple, velvety tannins, and smooth body, it is delectable even in the stage En Primeurs. The word “seamlessly” fails to convey its beauty. It should rather be seen as an overall organic body. The 80% selected press wine is the soul. ?????????????Angélus?????,?2021?????“????”????????Angélus?60%????????????“Musigny???????”?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????“????”????,??????????,??????????80%???????

The Wine Cellar Insider

94-96

par Jeff Leve le 16/05/2022

The nose takes a few swirls to find all the tobacco leaf, flowers, espresso, allspice, cloves, cinnamon, and red pit fruits. The wine is soft, silky and elegant. There is a freshness and refinement as well as a purity to the fruits on the medium-bodied palate that you also find in the finish, leaving you with black raspberries, strawberries, a hint of orange rind and red plums on the backend. The wine blends 60% Cabernet Franc with 40% Merlot, representing the highest percentage of Cabernet Franc in the blend in the history of the estate. In the years to come, I hope they continue increasing the Cabernet Franc in the blend. 13.5% ABV, 3.65 pH. The yields were low at 26 hectoliters per hectare. Harvesting took place, September 14-October 2. Drink from 2025-2055. 94-96

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

95

par Jane Anson le 13/05/2022

Vinous

93-95

par Neal Martin le 12/05/2022

The 2021 Angélus contains 60% Cabernet Franc, the highest percentage ever, and also reflects an increasing use of wooden foudres (half the Cabernet Franc or 30% of the whole blend). It has a more understated bouquet compared to the bravura vintages of the last three years, demanding gentle coaxing to reveal scents of brambly black fruit, potpourri, hints of orange pith and a little sous-bois. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins, and quite sapid, the Cabernet Franc lending a slightly more chalky texture and a linear, focused finish. Displaying fine tension throughout, though not astoundingly long, this Angelus deserves 4–5 years in bottle to show its true potential.

Vinous

94-96

par Antonio Galloni le 11/05/2022

For the first time ever, Angélus is 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot in 2021. There's terrific density and power, especially within the context of the year. Black cherry, chocolate, spice, menthol and lavender all build nicely in the glass. The 2021 has quite a bit of richness, and its 14% alcohol, a bit lower than the recent norm, works quite well in this vintage. All it needs is a bit of time to help soften some of the raw contours that are present today.

Anthocyanes

95-97

par Yohan Castaing le 06/05/2022

Assemblages non réalisés. Pourcentage de cabernet franc historique pour le cru. Éclat aromatique, des notes de fruits noirs, de violette, de graphite et de mure. Très complexe et frais. Petite pointe d'épices et de graphite à l'aération. Bouche droite, charnue, des notes de fruits noirs et d'épices en bouche pour un Angélus un peu terrien et racinaire avec des arômes de réglisse et de gentiane. Beaux amers. Un vin construit sur la tension et la linéarité. Très identitaire. 95-97+

Wine Advocate

94-96

par William Kelley le 29/04/2022

A brilliant wine that signposts this estate's evolution under Stéphanie de Boüard-Rivoal, the 2021 Angélus is a blend of 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot, with fully half of the old-vine Cabernet Franc maturing in foudres rather than 225-liter barriques. The result is a wine of unprecedented purity and finesse, unwinding in the glass with compelling aromas of plums, raspberries, rose petals, vine smoke, blood orange and warm spices, followed by a medium to full-bodied, deep and layered palate with a rich and fleshy core that entirely conceals its structuring chassis of ultra-refined tannins. Bright and sapid, it's striking for its integration and elegance at this early stage, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it upstage a number of more touted vintages once it's in bottle. (94 - 96)+

Jeb DUNNUCK

94-96

par Jeb Dunnuck le 04/04/2022

The Grand Vin 2021 Château Angélus is 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot that was brought up in new barrels, with a portion of the Cabernet Franc raised in 30 hectoliter foudres. It offers a ruby/purple hue to go with a gorgeous perfume of pureed cassis and black raspberry fruit, as well as spice, spring flowers, and chalky, almost salty minerality. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has wonderful purity of fruit, ultra-fine tannins, and a gorgeous finish.